“Girl this place is a mess,” she says the second she steps inside the apartment. Since I called, all I managed to do was stare at the same spot on the floor.
And like she senses my unease, she breezes past me and begins to open all the blinds. “You need some daylight in here,” she says, pushing a second window open. “Why don’t you take a bath, and I’ll have a quick clean around.”
I nod, dragging myself away from my memories and going to the bathroom.
I don’t know how long I lay in the bath going over the last few months, but it’s long enough that Court comes looking for me. She pops her head around the door, “Jesus, is that water cold?”
I blink, then push to sit, realising it’s stone cold. She grabs a towel and passes it to me. “The food’s here.” And then she disappears.
I find her at the table dishing up Chinese food between two bowls. “I hope this place is still your favourite.”
I take a seat, inhaling the sweet scent of the red sauce as she pours it over the fried chicken balls.
“How have you been?” I ask.
She takes her seat and slides a bowl my way. “Covering for that slag Olivia,” she says, rolling her eyes. I smile at her words, relieved that some things never change. “Yah know how she said she twisted her ankle, well, now she reckons it’s broken. I mean, it’s already taken three-weeks to heal. Now it looks like she’ll be out for another six at least.”
“Think of the tips,” I mutter, stabbing my fork into the chicken.
I feel her eyes on me, and then she eventually sighs. “What happened?”
I want to laugh out loud. It’s such a simple question, but the answer is ridiculously crazy. The sort no one would believe unless they read it in a book.
“Warren Baxter happened,” I say firmly. “Warren goddamn Baxter.”
WARREN
It’s late, and despite wanting to stalk Leoni, to turn up at her place and see what she’s up to, I decided to come into the office and catch up. Firstly, because she isn’t ready, and secondly, I have to act like I usually do.
My father marches in the second he spots me behind my desk.
“You’re back,” he states.
“I am,” I confirm, not looking up from my computer.
“And business went… well?”
I can sense the annoyance in his tone; the that fact he doesn’t know what I’ve been up to pisses him off, or maybe just the fact I was so close to his brother without his permission.
“How were things here?”
“Fine. I created this business, Warren, I know how to run it when you’re not around.” His tone is clipped as he moves to the window and stares out. “How was her visit… with her father?”
I clear my throat. “She didn’t say much but it was the first time she’s been in contact since he got sent down.”
“And did she mention you?”
I shrug. “I don’t think so, she didn’t say.”
He sighs heavily. “If she had of, she would have said something,” he mutters, “He would have warned her to stay away from you.”
“Why?” I ask, but when he doesn’t reply, I add, “She’s been fine, normal.”
“The funeral has been arranged. Friday,” he states.
“That’s soon,” I mutter, wondering if Leoni knew and just didn’t tell me.
“The fact you don’t know, tells me you’re not as close as you think you are.”
