Page 32 of Quake
A deep melancholy had settled in my chest, and nothing I did managed to budge it. The tram ride into the city was spent in a zombie-like state, commuters moving around me as they got on and off, the haze over my eyes blocking them out even though I was aware they were there. I couldn’t even remember the elevator ride up to the office I was that numb to everything. Not even the energy drink I’d popped once I got to my desk gave me a boost.
Last night had been the ultimate ‘almost kiss’ moment at my front door, but everything leading up to it had been a complete and utter mess. I’d freaked out, a panic attack almost claiming me and forcing Caleb to babysit me all the way home.
There were so many things wrong with our relationship, including my backstory. I hadn’t exactly lied to him, but I hadn’t told him the truth, either.
Staring at my full inbox and the list of items on my to-do list that Jade had added to overnight, I sighed and took another sip of my energy drink. I couldn’t stand coffee, so I had a stash of sugary fizzy drinks in my bottom drawer for occasions such as these, but today… Well, today stank already.
I glanced up as Jade flitted from her office, surprised she was already here. I was forty-five minutes early, and she looked like she’d been here far longer than that.
“Juliette,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re early.”
I nodded, setting down my can of drink. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I like your attitude,” she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “Are you always early?” She laughed and shook her head. “What am I saying? Of course, you are. How goes the slush pile?”
I felt my cheeks begin to heat, the temperature rising. “I…”
Jade waved her hand. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I did the exact same thing when I was in your shoes. Raiding the slush pile was a favorite pastime. Unfortunately, I never found anything there, but you never know.”
“Am I in trouble?” I asked, knowing I had the copy ofThe Fighterin my bag as we spoke.
“Pfft, no,” she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Just don’t tell anyone else.”
“Thanks.” Sighing in relief, I sank back into my chair.
“Are you okay?” she asked, perching on the edge of my desk. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” I attempted a weak smile to punctuate the notion, but I wasn’t really feeling it.
“You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?” Jade went on. “It’s a big deal moving far away from family and friends for a job. Are you doing all right with it?”
I shrugged. “It’s difficult. Starting over, I mean. More than I thought it would be, actually. I didn’t know anyone here…”
Jade ran her gaze over me, her eyes lingering on the can of energy drink before standing again. Brushing off her skirt, she checked her mobile phone and smiled.
“You’re doing a good job here,” she said to me. “Just know that. Things get tough now and then, but that’s life, I suppose. Imagine how boring it would be if everything was as smooth as a baby’s ass cheek.”
Despite myself, I laughed, the weight on my chest lightning a little.
“See, you know it,” she declared. “Now, we’ve got a full list today. The expo is next week, and we have to make sure all the marketing materials have been delivered downstairs. The boxes have to be triple-checked, and I want to make sure the banners have been printed correctly this time. They made an absolute dog’s breakfast out of the last lot, the morons. We’re running out of time to send them back if they’ve stuffed up again.”
“I’ll make sure it’s all checked today,” I said, glad for the distraction the expo would give me from my fighter problem.
Jade smiled, her shoulders sagging. “You’re a star, Juliette. An absolute bloody star.”
At least someone thought so.
* * *
When lunchtime rolled around, I was still eyeballs deep in a carton of flyers promoting Slattery’s latest and greatest book release when my phone beeped. It never beeped, so my heart skipped a beat, and I jumped to the conclusion that it was from my mum, who’d been oddly silent since the anniversary of Mel’s death.
I’d snapped her head off, but she needed to hear it. Sometimes, I felt like it was the only thing that would bring her back into the land of the living. A good slap in the face with some raw emotion.
Steeling myself, I slipped my phone from the pocket in my skirt and checked the screen. The message wasn’t from my mother at all, but it was from the last person I expected to hear from, given the circumstances in which he’d left me at my door the other night.
Caleb.
Jules, are you coming back? I need to see you.
