Page 2 of Big Bad Bully
The computer is still on–it comes out of sleep mode when I move the mouse–so I quickly scroll and follow the instructions I memorized on how to clone the entire hard drive. Once I get that copying, I also download the entire mailbox, not that I think there will be anything of use in there, but you never know.
I hope this gives us something to go on!
It says the cloning will take another thirty minutes, so I slip back out of the office and head upstairs to my mural in case the security guy comes around again. I use the time to clean up my area, rinse my brushes, and fold up the drop cloth for tomorrow.
My phone rings, and I check the screen. “Madi,” I answer the call. She’s probably just leaving work now. Her job as head of Torrent Cosmetics fully occupies her now. More than the Moon Co job, even, because at least Brick had boundaries. He didn’t work weekends or too late at night.
“Aubrey!”
“Hey you.”
“Hi! How are you? I’m sorry, it feels like forever since we’ve hung out.”
The familiar ache in my chest at losing my BFF to her fiance throbs. “I know. I’m good. Can we do something together? Just you and I?”
“Yes. I’d love that. How about…” I picture my bestie flipping open the calendar app on her phone and scrolling through it. “How about next Thursday evening?”
“Does that mean a week from this Thursday?” I clarify.
“Yes. I’m sorry, I’m slammed this week, and Brick and I are going to the Adirondacks over the weekend.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed that she never invites me there, other than for their engagement party.
“Yeah, okay. Next Thursday it is,” I say hollowly. I really need to get a life. A boyfriend. Someone to fill the gaping hole left when Madi moved out.
“What are you up to right now?”
“I’m actually painting a mural at the Sentient building this week.”
“What?” At least Madi is appropriately shocked. But it guts me that she doesn’t even know why I’m here or what I’m up to. She doesn’t know anything that’s going on in my life right now.
“There’s a good reason. I’ll tell you all about it when we get together.”
“Wait, no! Tell me now. I have to know.”
“I would, but I’m here working now, so…I can’t really talk.”
“Oh, my God! What is this about? Now I’m dying.”
“Good. Then I can be sure you won’t cancel our date.”
“Aubrey, I’m sorry about last time.”
“No, no. It’s all good. We’ll chat next week. Ooh–you know what? There’s a good eighties cover band playing at All Night.”
Eighties music is my favorite. I’m obsessed with the whole decade as a result of my parents’ taste in music. In college, Madi and I had a Go-Go’s cover band, and we played at All Night.
“Perfect. Let’s meet there.”
I perk up. It will be like old times. “Yay! I can’t wait to catch up.”
“Okay. Me neither. Love you!”
That wrenches a smile from my lips. “Love you, too. Bye.”
I check the timer on my phone. Twenty-six minutes.
The download should almost be complete now.
