Griffin looks up as we enter. His phone is pressed to his ear as he paces up and down in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, which have spectacular views over Central Park.
But all I see is the stiffness in his shoulders and the tired lines at the edges of his eyes as he finishes his conversation with whoever he’s talking to.
“Harley,” he says as he walks to his desk and places his phone down.
He looks at me with his brilliant blue eyes, a question held in them.
How are you?
Except I know he won’t allow his lips to ask it, because the answer is obvious in my frantic wringing hands and the wildness in my widened eyes.
“Where has he gone?” I whisper.
“He’s got another live interview to film.” Griffin holds my gaze.
“About the announcement he’s made?” Maria asks.
“That, and questions about the investigation into Dennis Vincent and Graham Hutchings, I would expect.” He glances at Maria, then back at me. “They will want his comment on it. The city has lost faith in the mayor’s office and Reed needs to gain public trust back.”
“But he didn’t do anything wrong,” I cry.
“I know. And he’s a big boy, he’ll be fine. But he will be caught up all day. You’ll not reach him.” Griffin raises his brows at me and my heart sinks.
“I need to see him.”
“We know,” Maria says, reaching out to rub my arm again. “And you will. He’s going to be finished at some point, right?” She looks at Griffin, who runs his hand down over his tie and clears his throat.
“Double check with Stuart, but you’re probably looking at this evening at the earliest.”
“This evening?” My knees struggle to keep me balanced as pins and needles run down both of my arms.
That’s hours away.
“I can’t… I need to know he’s okay.” I whip my head between Maria and Griffin, panic clawing at my chest.
“Harley.” Griffin’s calm, authoritative voice stills me, and I stand mute. “Heisokay.”
“Are you—?”
“I spent half the night talking with him. And we spoke again this morning. He knows what he’s doing. He’s made some big decisions about how he wants to deal with this. And I respect them.”
“He’s made big decisions?” I scrunch my face up as I search Griffin’s eyes for an explanation. He just looks back at me, his lips pressed into a flat line.
Big decisions. Like moving on, making a fresh start.
“Oh,” I say, unable to form any other response.
“I know this isn’t easy for you, Harley.” Griffin’s expression remains grim as he speaks. “And I understand if you want to take some time today for yourself.” He looks at Maria.
“Yes. Come up to our apartment. I’m not working today. You and I can keep each other sane.”
She rubs my arm again. It’s comforting. But only to the extent of if it were soothing a small hurt. Not the pain of having my heart ripped from my chest. Every comforting hand in the world combined could never soothe the pain that causes.
Not unless that hand belonged to Reed.
He’s the only one who can make me feel anything other than complete devastation right now. Even if he’s made his mind up and our story is over, just to hear his voice and confirm to myself that he’s all right, that he’s coping, would mean everything to me.
“Um, yes… Okay… I guess.”