The woman stumbled back, tripping over her shoes. “I found the ticket she left me.”
I shouldered past the few bystanders watching this grim show take place. “Come on,” I said, grabbing her arm and guiding her out of on of the several exits. My buddy Brian looked relieved. “I’m Eliza's boyfriend. Where’d you get the ticket?”
She gave me a lazy smile, and for half a second it reminded me of Eliza. “I found it in the mailbox. Mom and Dad always hide a spare key there, at least they used to.” She pouted. “Didn’t find any key, but I found the ticket! Got a ride from my dealer just to get here! I just want her to know I’m so proud of her.” She reeked of vodka and smoke.
“Go wait in the car with your ride. It’s almost over,” I lied.
“You got any cash?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes at me. My stomach rolled.
“What do you need?”
“Fifty?” she asked, trying, and failing, to flirt.
“For?”
She shrugged. “I owe my guy for gas and some other stuff.”
I gave her a twenty. “That’s all I’ve got.”
She snatched it from my hands and wandered back into the parking lot, leaving a trail of sour-smelling air behind her.
I glanced at my watch. Eight. This thing should have been over half an hour ago!
I searched for my buddy Brian. He was busy trying to look busy. “Yo, why isn’t it over?”
“It is. They left.”
“What the hell?”
Buddy Brian shrugged again. “There are lots of entrances and exits around. I think they left out the back. I gotta deal with this rush.”
I should have noticed the giant influx of people. It would have been my first clue that the presentation was over. I ran around the perimeter, looking through the shelves, asking a few people where Eliza was. They looked at me like I was nuts.
I’d missed her. I ran through the cars in the parking lot, hoping to find her battered Honda. No luck. I called her. I texted her. Nothing. I hopped into my truck, peeling out of the parking lot. It was going to be a long night.
31
ELIZA
I’d spent the night on the fourteenth floor of a super nice hotel. It was a gift from my publisher. God, that sounded weird! I’d still have to be my old cheap self, but maybe less intense considering they were already wanting to look at compiling another collection. I wasn’t stupid. I knew how rare this opportunity was. So why did I spend half the night in the bathtub crying and drinking moderately priced champagne? Despite my flawless presentation and interview, I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t find his face in that crowded room and I realized it was time to finally stop looking. I gave him another chance. He chose to stay tangled in their web. I left my phone in my car, determined to have a calm and quiet night.
I cried for Rosalie. Drake called and gave me some updates. The rage I felt when I found out who was behind it was pale compared to the absolute fury Drake had. I was thankful Rosalie had Drake on her side. I contemplated skipping out on my trip but Drake pushed me to go. “There’s literally nothing you can do. She just needs some time to heal. She’ll be bored in a few days when the medications wear off and she’s not sleeping so much but I took a few weeks off. She’d want you to go.” I had to agree. Rosalie would be pissed if I gave up this crazy plan of mine just to sit around and be bored with her.
I ordered room service for breakfast and pushed the tears away. I think part of me had hoped Trask and I would work it out. It was just a few weeks of poor communication. He hurt me by choosing his family over me, but he was right. I didn’t know the pressure he was under. But damn it, I wouldn’t be second to his parents who clearly hated me. They would always pit Trask against me. I refused to be the reason he resented his family. It was better this way. It was easier to tell myself it was self-sacrifice than wondering if it was a mistake.
When I’d finished the pancakes and coffee, I checked out well ahead of when I needed to, but I was itching to start the drive.Thor’s Hammer, here I come!Well, I’d be there in a few weeks. I had to make all of my planned pit stops first.
Taylor Swift kept me in great company as I drove the long, winding roads. The plan was to go through the high desert of eastern Oregon, all the way down through Nevada, cut back into California, and head south to San Diego. I’d spend some time there and then cut east to Joshua Tree and back up to Utah, where I’d get to see Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park.
I screamed “Love Story” at the top of my lungs. Eastern Oregon was severely less dense than the west side of the mountains. Once I crossed the mountains, I saw very few cars on the roads and tried hard to not let anxiety sleep in. It was a dumb way to go. It technically added a few days to the trip south, but I wanted to see the painted hills, but not before swinging by one of the oldest covered bridges in the state. It wasn’t my thing, but it felt right to stop. That had been Trask’s contribution (among many others) to the trip. It felt strange not to go with the plan we’d spent so much time dreaming up. I even had the sun over my shoulder when the bridge came into view. It was pretty, white with a gray roof. It looked like something I might have seen on the set ofAnne of Green GablesorLittle House on the Prairie.
Then my car coughed and sputtered. My high hopes just weren’t enough to carry my old Honda across the finish line. Hell, we’d barely even started the race.
I pulled over to the side of the road when she started smoking. I burned my hand trying to pop open the hood.
“Fuck me sideways.” I wasn’t entirely sure who to call. I was thinking Rosalie, maybe she or Drake had some towing service they liked. Cold panic settled in my bones when I was faced with my next problem. There was absolutely no cell service. None. Nothing. Just a constant “searching” signal. Curse my stupid cheap ass. Maybe a real phone plan would have coverage out here. I scanned the desolate road, looking north, south, east, and west. There was really nothing for miles.
I pulled the maps from my glove compartment. What was I thinking? I needed a phone that had GPS, but I just assumed Trask would be here with me, with his fancy truck and fancy phone. Instead, I was stuck figuring out which map I needed and which town was closest to me.