Rachel managed to stop giggling for a moment. “You’ll think about it though?”
Cassie nodded, and she meant it. Rachel knew her well enough to know that she didn’t make a decision on a dime or a whim. She needed to process, and process she would, but right now, she just wanted to eat and chat with her best friend as if she really was living life in all its glory.
Chapter Thirty
“And you’re sure your ranch could accommodate a camera crew?” Micki, bouncy marketeer number one, said.
“Easily.” Andi nodded. “The ranch house has eight bedrooms, and there are ten yurts on the property. And I’ve got hook-ups and plenty of space to camp—under canvas or with RVs.”
“I bet that influencer Sage Samara would be interested in hanging around for a week or so,” bouncy marketeer number two, Lisa, said. “She’s got a huge following on ZimTak, and that would hit a younger market and potentially a whole seam of unmined talent.”
“She follows quite a few of us already, including me. I could reach out personally if you think that would help.” Taryn tapped the end of her pen on her notepad, not that she’d used either item. Her heartbreak daze continued to affect every aspect of her life, and she was increasingly unhappy about it… Which added to her high-intensity sorrow that was vibrating harshly, barely hidden beneath her skin.
“That’s excellent,” Micki said and gestured to Lisa.
Lisa scribbled on her iPad, adding to the list that was cleverly projected onto the wall of the huge boardroom space Bernice had arranged for them to use. Everyone was excited. Everyone except Taryn. Mustering anything like enthusiasm had been proving too difficult for over two weeks now, and she feared she was slipping into a low-level depression, something she’d been grateful never to have experienced before. Something she didn’t have time for either. Though what she was supposed to be doing with the rest of her time on earth still eluded her. And her irritation with herself overwastingher time added a layer of anger onto her fully loaded emotion cake.
“Taryn?”
She looked up at the sound of Andi’s voice. “Yeah?”
“The camera crew?” Andi widened her eyes and looked expectant.
Taryn shrugged. “Yeah. They’ll fit in at the ranch, and I might even cook for them.” Maybe being a chef would be fulfilling… “What’s the problem?”
Andi chuckled and shook her head. “I asked if you’d want to work with the crew who shot our last ZimTak promo? I remember the director really enjoying it. What was her name?”
Taryn knew what Andi wasn’t saying, but the last thing Taryn wanted to think about was sex with another woman. “Helen.” They parted on good terms; both had known it was nothing serious. “Yeah, she and her team were really professional, and the finished content is our most-watched video.”
Andi looked at her contemplatively for a moment, then she turned to everyone else gathered in the room. “Okay, let’s take a break and get some fresh air and something to eat.”
The two marketing bunnies looked puzzled at the abrupt break. “How long should we be gone?” Micki asked.
“Go wild; take an hour,” Andi said and grinned.
They collected their purses and left. Taryn got up too, but Andi put her hand on Taryn’s shoulder and pressed her back into the chair.
“Not you.”
Taryn blew out a long breath and relaxed back into the plush leather seat. She flicked at the thick cotton stitching, trying to decide what she’d do if this was an intervention. “I know I’m being a wet blanket,” she said. “I’m just feeling a bit…melancholy, that’s all.”
Andi sat on the edge of the table beside Taryn. “Melancholy? Is that what you’re gonna call it?”
Taryn shrugged. “It’s a good word. It was good enough for a whole ode from Keats, so it’s got to be good enough for me.”
Andi rolled her eyes. “I don’t know who that is or what the hell an ode is,” she held up her hand to stop Taryn from responding, “and I don’t need to know, before you try to distract me with an English lit lesson.” She punched Taryn’s shoulder lightly. “But I do know you look like you need a break. Maybe an extended one.”
Taryn scowled. Another waste of time. “And what would the point of that be? Especially when we’ve got so much going on. We’re on a timeline, and that doesn’t include me disappearing for no reason.”
“It wouldn’t be for ‘no reason’ though, would it? And since the whole development revolves around youractiveparticipation, there’s no ‘point’ in having a timeline if you’re not fully engaged. Is there?”
Taryn didn’t appreciate Andi’s repetition of her own excuses. Echoed back at her, they sounded weak and easily dismissed. “Okay. I’ll buck up.” She didn’t know why she was promising something she had no idea how to do.
“You’re not hearing me.” Andi laughed gently. “The show is under control. Fig is on top of things. This development can wait a couple of weeks while you rest and recuperate.”
Taryn didn’t meet Andi’s gaze until the silence became awkward. She looked up, and Andi stared at her with an irritatingly all-knowing expression. “I don’t need to rest. I need to work.”
“Do you? I don’t think you’re going to be any good to anyone until you get your doctor off your mind. Visit Ralph in Miami, hook up with some women, spend some time with your family to remind yourself it’s not so bad back here.” Andi laughed again, but her expression was serious.
