Page 75 of 7 Miles High
Until we speak,
Ahmad Dura
There’re little pin pricks all over my skin and it’s not just because I’m cold. I don’t know whether to be over the moon happy or deflated. For the first time in my life it’s not clear what I want. I don’t really want to live in Dubai for a year. It would be at the cost of my clients here. The business I’ve built. But I’d be passing up on the opportunity of a lifetime. This could catapult me to another level. There would be no doubt it would be a great addition to my resume and I’d command the attention of every broker and buyer that knew.
But even so, I’m not feeling excited. What the fuck? Why not? Quit looking away. It’s Parker. I had myself set on him being the biggest part of it. Now in one day I have to rethink everything. I know I would have gladly passed on the offer if we had stayed together.
The cell again. Unknown caller.
“Hello?”
“Don’t hang up! Listen to what I have to tell…”
I hang up. So he’s borrowed someone’s phone. Probably that whore’s. Even as I think it I’m admonishing myself. She’s no whore. Just a young girl who likes him. Can’t blame her for trying to remind him of whatever they had. Apparently it was more than he admitted to.
I dress in sweats and a T-shirt and make my way back into the living room.
Again with the phone! But this time it’s Bliss. That’s a first. We just exchanged numbers the last day of shooting. Oh, I get it! Parker has enlisted his friend to do the talking for him. To plead his case. He figures I won’t hang up on her. I’m a little too smart for you, boy. I’m just not going to answer. Let it go to voice mail.
I wait the required amount of time. Finally a ping indicating her voice message. I access it and listen.
BLISS: Hi! Hope your trip back was smooth. Listen, Nicki and I were talking about something we want to bring you in on. It’s too much to leave in a message. Call me!”
Hmmm. She didn’t even bring Parker up. Maybe I’m overthinking his ability to get at me.
What is it about today? The moon must be in retrograde or the stars must be aligned. Whatever makes seemingly random shit happen to a person. Parker, Dubai, Bliss. Two potential positives and one huge negative.
I make myself a Cup of Noodles and pour myself a glass of wine. It’s only three here, but it’s six on the East Coast so I feel like I can give myself permission. I may drink the entire bottle and pass out for the rest of the night. Not that I’ve ever done anything close, but it’s a definite possibility today.
Wait. I’m going to call Violet. She’s always asking me to join her on one of her pub crawls. This will be the closest thing I’m going to get to it. We can metaphorically crawl around my apartment.
I tap her name.
“Hello?” The low voice betrays her sex.
“It’s me. Want to come up and get blasted with me?”
“Are you kidding, girl? I’ll be there in a few.”
And she’s gone. She might be afraid I’m going to change my mind. My lightweight status with alcohol is known by all my friends.
It takes a mere thirty seconds for me to hear the knock on my door.
“What took you so long?” I say, swinging the door open.
This look is new. She’s wearing a crop top with fringe and tight short shorts. Where she tucks it is a mystery.
“I had to grab this,” she says, lifting a bottle of Patron Silver.
“Well, why not. My life calls for it.”
Violet looks at my face and sticks her bottom lip out. “What’s wrong baby girl? Don’t tell me it has anything to do with that hunk of man.”
My chin starts quivering and the tears build in my eyes.
“Let me get rid of this wine. It’s for pussies. Sit down. I’ll bring you a shot of tequila. That’ll put hair on your chest. Then we’ll match!”
I laugh at her sense of humor and do as she says, curling up in a corner of the couch.
