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“Goddamn it."

"But he'll be fine! I promise, he'll be fine."

“Uh-huh. Well, if he’s not, I’m never coming back."

"To the movie?"

"To Hollywood."

"Don't be dramatic, Lore. Okay, I’m going for real. Buh-bye now."

Who was being dramatic? This was the last thing I needed.

I drained the Blantons while stripping off my costume, packed my shit, and found my driver.

"Where to, boss?" Hugo said, looking at me in the rearview mirror of the Escalade.

"Um." I considered. "Airport."

"Gotcha."

It hadn't been enough whiskey to get me drunk, just good and tipsy. So I was a little unsteady on my feet as I made my way to the counter at LAX, looking at the departure board through my wayfarers. I felt eyes on me and tugged my hat lower, and then pulled my hood up, even though I knew it'd make me stand out even more.

There weren't many options at this hour, apparently. A red-eye to London? No. Phoenix? Fuck no, too hot. San Diego? Nah, still Cali, and I needed to get as far away from the mess that is my life as possible.

Seattle? Sure. Why not.

“One first class ticket to Seattle, please."

Welp, I'm in Seattle. Now what?

I stood in my penthouse hotel suite staring down at Seattle with absolutely zero interest.

City lights? Seen 'em once, seen 'em all.

The more I paced, the more claustrophobic I got; it felt like everything was closing in on me.

So I did what I do best, lately: look for the solution to my fucked up life in an upside-down bottle.

“No offense, man, but you look like shit." This was a video call with my one and only real friend, Danny.

Danny was no one, in the best way.

Not famous, not rich, just a damn good guy who'd known me since I was a pimply dumbfuck failing 9th grade math.

"I feel like shit, I am shit, my life is shit, my career is shit, this hotel is shit, Seattle is shit, everything is shit."

Danny laughed. "Well now, that's a lot of shit, brother."

"Yup.”

"Seattle isn't shit, though. Seattle is awesome."

"I know, I know. It's me—I’m a disaster. I don't know what to do. I can't breathe. I can't…I don't know where to go."

“I’ve heard Alaska is nice this time of year."

I stared at him, befuddled. "Did you talk to Adam?"