We have so much to cover.
Call me when you’re back.
xo – S
I roll my eyes and toss the note in the garbage. I’m sure it’s more for my benefit than Bast’s anyway. I don’t think Steph knows anything is going on between us, but I do think she’s afraid I’m going to veer into her territory and wants to make it clear that I’m not welcome.
The temper I didn’t even know I had rears up again. Though I try to take a few deep breaths and let it pass, it remains.
Not wanting to have to deal with anyone else this afternoon, I shut the office door. Maybe they’ll think no one is in here and leave me alone. As I walk back to my desk, my eyes snag on the noise-canceling headphones sitting on the corner. I use them when I’m working and want to listen to music so that I don’t disturb Bast.
Once I sit down, I slip them on and find my Christian rock playlist. I may not be going to church right now, but focusing on God always makes me feel more centered and like everything will be okay.
I’m not sure when Bast is expected, but I know I don’t want to be in this mood when he arrives.
A couple of hours later, I’m still working at my desk when I take a break to roll my neck and stretch my arms. Sometimes I can get in the zone and it’s like there’s nothing else around me.
I’m rolling my neck side to side when I stop.
What is that smell?
I sniff a bit and still.
Is that smoke?
I turn my chair to look at the closed door and see the smoke coming from under the door like a spirit creeping into the room. I simultaneously bolt up out of my chair and toss my headphones onto the desk.
My stomach turns to lead and drops to the floor when I hear screams coming from outside the door. Panicked, I race for the door and yank it open to be met with a wall of smoke.
I cough and look down either side of the hallway. Flames roll up the opening leading to the main room and the front entrance, so I bolt to the back door. I can barely see through the thick smoke, sucking in some of it and coughing, but when I push on the door to get out, it doesn’t open. I try again to no avail, so I keep pushing, trying to get a cleansing breath.
I look over my shoulder. Having no choice but to find another way out since the door won’t budge, I rush back to the office and slam the door closed. My eyes burn and water from the smoke. I concentrate on the steady stream of smoke filling the room from under the door.
I grow nauseated and panic. What am I going to do? Grabbing my phone off my desk, I huddle in the corner, my forehead against my knees, arms wrapped around my legs as I rock back and forth.
My phone is still gripped in my hand. I should use it to call 9-1-1 and tell someone I’m here, but I’m too frozen in terror to do anything but sit.
39
BASTION
All last night, after my conversation with my dad, all I thought of was Hattie. I can’t continue to lie to myself that she means nothing to me. How much I missed her. That’s when it occurred to me that she’s no longer a pawn in this game. She’s embedded herself in me, and I want her to be mine. Shit, it’s going to be tricky, and I’m not sure she’s even going to want me if she ever finds out about the scheming I did.
“What is taking so long?” I ask, wanting to see her, to touch her, to hold her.
“Don’t think I can get much closer. Something must be going on up there.”
I look up from my phone to see where we are. We’re just down the street from the club. Smoke is rising into the air from the side of the street the club is on.
“What the fuck?”
I’m out of the car in seconds and running down the street toward the commotion. My panic rises as I get closer and see that myfucking club is on fire. A bunch of the staff are standing on the other side of the street in shock, looking at the building.
By the looks of it, the fire department has just arrived. They’re hooking up their hoses to the fire hydrants.
I quickly survey the crowd and don’t spot Hattie. Fear grips me so tight you’d think I have a noose around my neck.
Maybe she’s already at the condo. It’s a little later than she normally stays. I was going to call her to see where she is, but I had to stop by the club first to check on things. I figured if she were here, I’d see her, and if not, I’d see her when I got home.
