“Yeah.”
As rational as that sounds I can’t help but think there is something wrong. I have this gut feeling that’s usually spot on.
“I have no way of contacting her family. We didn’t exchange numbers or addresses.”
“Can’t you contact her brother via Facebook? He commented on one of her pictures of you both. They both did, I’m sure.”
“Yeah, that’s a plan. If I don’t hear from her in the next couple of hours, I’ll do just that. I don’t want to look like a stalker.”
“I’ll take this.” Lucca reaches over my desk and drags the bottle of alcohol away from me.
I want to scream at him for taking what’s mine, but I know he’s right. I shouldn’t be under the influence when I hear from Harleigh. I need a clear head.
“Go have a lie down. I’ll wake you if I hear anything.”
“Maybe.” I stand from my desk, grab my phone and wallet, and leave my office. I walk through my hotel and go straight to Harleigh’s room. I’ve told everyone to keep the room empty just now. It’s the only room that still smells of her perfume. It’s the one room where I still feel a connection to the woman who has stolen my heart and soul.
I climb onto the bed, hold her pillow tightly, and close my eyes. I’ve been awake since 4.30 this morning, since my parents were flying back to Italy. I feel like the walking dead, and the whiskey has just made that worse.
***
“Giovani!” I hear being yelled somewhere in the distance.
Am I dreaming?
“Giovani, wake up.” I feel myself being pulled several different ways.
I wake up with a jolt and sit forward. I feel disorientated. Where am I? I look around and see that I’m in a hotel room. Harleigh’s hotel room. That’s all the recognition I need to snap my attention to Lucca.
“What is it? Where’s the fire?”
“It’s Harleigh.”
“What?” Dread fills my stomach. “What’s wrong with her?”
“We got a call here at the hotel from her father. I took it because I wasn’t waking you up until I knew what was going on. Harleigh and her brother have been in an accident. She’s in Forth Valley Royal hospital. I don’t know the details, but it doesn’t sound good, Giovani.”
My whole body feels like it’s in shock. I can’t seem to think about what I need to do or say.
“What do you want to do?” asks Lucca.
Lucca sits beside me on the bed and squeezes my shoulder.
“I thought she was just ignoring me,” I breathe out.
“Never mind that now. Harleigh needs you, Gio.”
I nod. I need to get to her. I need to see her with my own two eyes.
“I need a flight. I need to pack a few things and go to her.”
“I’ll book a flight. I’ll book you a rental. Just go home, pack a few things, and I’ll call you with all the details. I’ll print everything you need and meet you in the office.”
“What about you?”
“We both can’t go. Someone needs to hold the fort here. Just keep me updated on everything.”
I climb off the bed like I’m in a drunken state. My legs feel like jelly. My head is a jumbled mess. I wish I’d kept her here with me. I wish I told her to forget about going home. Better still, I should have gone home with her and faced her family. Now, I’m flying across the globe to see Harleigh, to see what state she’s in, and meet her family.
