Thiscannotbe happening.
I could have sworn Mari told me they were leaving me the keys. Nobody takes the keys from the counter unless they know the person locking up has another set. And I just explained this to them on the phone. But they then very rightly pointed out that if that was the case how could they have locked the door behind them. And apparently I told them I had a set. I told them this as I was thoroughly distracted by Benji Smith walking back into my life.
I didn't realise. And I didn't think to check that they had left the keys before they were on their way to Bristol Airport.
It was all a bit of a blur, them leaving, because Benji had just walked in and I recognised him and my body was apparently firing all manner of neurons around while also diving Deep into memories filed away a long time ago. Yes, Ihad been preoccupied. And by fucking Benjamin Smith, of all people!
Not that it's his fault. At all. It's completely my fault, and yet he is the reason I lost my focus. I refuse to let him be the reason I lose my composure now.
“It's fine,” I tell him. He's standing at the end of the counter looking panicked and confused and more than a little lost. Maybe he has kids to pick up from sports or something. Or a nagging wife expecting him home in time for dinner. “I'll just call my boss, Keeley. She lives locally and she has keys. She should be able to get here in twenty minutes or so.”
Benji’s shoulder drop a little with a slow exhale. “Okay, yeah. That sounds good.”
Keeley is quick to answer her phone, which gives me another jolt of hope.
“Dion, hey, what's up?”
“Kay, hi, er, I'm at the studio, and I'm kind of locked in.”
“What?”
“It's fine. No big deal.” I avoid Benji’s gaze when I say this. My previous reaction very much suggested it was a huge deal. “But Mari has left with the keys and I can't unlock the door to get out.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah, exactly.” I laugh awkwardly. “So could you possibly pop over and let us out?”
“Us?”
Fuck.“Oh yeah, there's a client stuck here with me too.”
“Jesus Christ,” Keeley says, and I can detect a slight crack in her sense of humour.
“I'm so sorry. It was my mistake. Do you have time?”
“I have time, Dion. I'm sitting on my arse doing nothing, but I’m...approximately one hundred miles away.”
“What!?”
There isn't even a sniff of composure in the way I just spat out that word.
“Yeah, Dove and I are on our way to London to meet her agent, hang out with my friend Violet, her friend Jake and his husband Rami, and then...Sorry, you don't need to know all that.”
I don't, but her waffling gave me a moment to calm down at least. “What do I do?”
“Who else has a set of keys?” I ask, my desperation audible.
“Dove.”
“Who's with you,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Right, yeah. Mari, obviously.”
“Who's halfway to Bristol right now.”
“Oh yes, their flight's in a few hours. I hope they don't miss it.”
I'm pretty sure Keeley can hear me grinding my molars down the phone line. “Anyone else?”
