Page 76 of Hidden Gem
“It’ll just mask the tiredness, give you some energy. I promise to bring out the big guns and conk you out later. Tomorrow, maybe. I’ll check what Brenda has.”
Brenda was the Parliament House receptionist and general go-to person with seemingly unlimited supplies of anything one might need – ironic that the lawmakers of the country seemed to operate above the law, doling out prescription drugs from under the counter.
“I thought she only had antibiotics and such?”
“Officially, yes. But she’s well connected and very obliging.”
“I don’t want anything stronger. Just the stuff I’m on now.” He pointed at the bottle on the nightstand. “I’m trying to wean myself off.”
“Sure, you are.” Malcolm gave him a placating smile.
Jason shook his head at the insanity of it all but decided not to argue. He couldn’t afford to. Taking a deep breath, he swallowed the small, white pill and washed it down with a glass of stale water on his nightstand. As it travelled down his throat, his phone pinged again.
It’s a date!Luna exclaimed, this time with no photo. He could only hope she still wore clothes in public.
Jason pulled on chinos, a shirt and a jacket, and checked his outfit in the mirror. One day, he’d have to buy makeup to cover those dark circles around his eyes. Apart from that, he looked the part, even if he didn’t feel like it.
“Dapper,” Malcolm confirmed, giving him a wink. “Go charm her socks off! Or whatever piece of clothing she has left.”
Jason shook his head, noting an ache right behind his eyes and slight dizziness. Great. “Are you going to escort me to the bar? Or can I walk by myself?” He turned his phone onto silent.
Malcolm got up from the bed. “I trust you. Or rather, I have to be somewhere else”—he checked his watch—“half an hour ago. But I’ll call you later to make sure you didn’t bail.”
Malcolm held the door, leading them to the lifts.
Outside, he turned Jason to steer him in the right direction. “Two-hundred metres that way. You can’t miss it.” The big guy’s voice dripped with sarcasm – Jason had only been to that bar about twenty times.
Wandering down the footpath shadowed by tall apartment buildings, Jason glimpsed the dark sky with remnants of indigo still hanging in the horizon. The blue moment, the fleeting evening light he hadn’t seen in months, maybe years. He no longer had enough time to stare at the sky. His life had turned into a to-do list. What if he stopped? What’d be left of him? Who’d be left in his life? His old friends had moved on. If Marnie wouldn’t have him, who would?
Did he really believe this other woman had nothing more than a superficial interest in him? The heaviness in his chest spread to his legs, making them stiff and unwilling. Part of him wanted to believe, wanted to keep open that tiny possibility that there was someone out there who really cared and would choose him, warts and all: the baggage of publicity, the guilt, the darkness. What else could he do other than go forth, put one foot ahead of the other and fight to not lose all hope?
Chapter 36
Jason recognised LunaBella’s cleavage before he recognised her face. The pair of breasts bulging out of her dress matched the ones he’d just seen on his phone screen. This time, there was no flyer. Thank God.
“Great to see you!” She gestured at a chair next to her.
