We enter our numbers in to each other’s phones, Phyllis and Sonny watching weirdly over us thewholetime.
‘Oh, and here.’ Phyllis holds out her hand to drop something into mine. ‘I wanted to give you this before you go. It will help yourelax.’
I open my palm to find a small, fat, oddly rolledcigarette.
‘It’s clean, no resin. Just pure herb, top drawer.You’llsee.’
Weed?She’s givingmeweed?
I make to give it her back – besides Rescue Remedy I have never taken a drug in my life and I don’t plan on starting now – but Phyllis looks really thrilled at her kindness. And I must admit I’m touched that she thought to help me after she already helped so muchyesterday.
I swallow and quickly shove the joint in my bag. ‘This is really nice of you. Thank you,Phyllis.’
‘You’re welcome, honey. Hey, you should try screwing on that stuff. It’s incredible, rightSonny.’
‘Hellyeah!’
Okay. I definitely need togonow.
‘Bye and thanks again!’ I yelp, shifting past Seth and Sonny and Phyllis and jogging my way downstairs and out ofthebar.
Once outside, I lean my head back against the bar window and take some deep breaths, gulping as much air in as Ipossiblycan.
The sun is crazy bright today, and beyond the slightly damp glitter of the grey pavements you would never guess that last night this here was the scene of a treacherous storm. It looks serene and quiet, like nothing at allhappened.
But something did happen. Something big. Something major. Something from which I don’t think I cangoback…
I had a sexual awakening. My vajeen has risen. And… I think I want more.Lotsmore.
OceanofPDF.com
ChapterTwenty-Four
Text from Birdie:YOU KISSED THE COMEDY WRITER? YOU KISSED A STRANGER! YOU GOT STORM HORN? Not sure that’s a real thing but OKAY! Who are you right now, Brewster? This is too exciting for me to handle. You know my heart is weak already! What does he look like? Wait… I’m gonna googlehimstat!
Text from Birdie:Oh Olive. YASSSS. He’s got a Harrison Ford in the 1980s vibe going on. But, like, nerdier. In a good way. Hubba. Hubbaindeed.
Text from Birdie:Don’t know why you’re freaking out! Maybe you can have a one-night fling with him? A quickie before you catch the plane back. Just have a ride on him, see how you like it. Super casual. What happens in Manhattan stays in Manhattan. Not everything has to be a big deal,youknow?
Text from Birdie:Seriously.Hubba.
As the cabpulls up outside of Chimes Investment, I feel a mixture of trepidation and excitement. I’m finally going to meet the man who Birdie loved for so long. The one that got away. The man too cool for even the slightest whiff of social media presence: Chuck Allen! I have an appointment. I have the letter. I am in the right place. Nothing can gowrong.
At floor eighty-four I get out of the lift, my knees wobbling at the notion that I am really really really high up in the building. My chest tightens alittle.
‘Everything is fine. If I relax, it will pass,’ I mutter to myself, breathing deeply like Phyllisshowedme.
It helps. I still feel scared and I will be avoiding all windows up here. But I don’t feel like I want to be sick and that’s definitely animprovement!
I head over to the reception desk, where a very neat and pretty woman is sitting, tapping quickly on akeyboard.
She looks me up and down with a sneer. Can she tell that I am wearing yesterday’s clothes? Is she judging my hair, which – due to a lack of straighteners at Trickys – is now poofed up in all of its gigantic curly glory. ‘Yes? Can Ihelpyou?’
Hmmm. I don’t like herattitude.
I find myself lifting my chin up and blasting into the plummy voice I used yesterday on the phone call to Chuck’sassistant.
‘I am Olive Brewster!’ I declare. ‘I have an appointment with Chuck Allen. I… would also like a coffee please.Atonce.’
