Page 70 of Surrender

If his father is reaching out, the instincts I’ve been battling are correct.

I try calling his phone, it goes straight to voicemail. I know texting will be a fruitless venture. I have to resort to something I only use as a safety measure in larger crowds. I search for the geographic position of his cell phone. It’s the one thing I know he won’t turn off, no matter what.

I expect his icon to show up perhaps downtown or somewhere within walking distance of the studio. Instead, the tracker goes nearly an hour southwest of the city. I zoom in to see the cross streets. I know where he is. Now the question becomes why.

Chapter eighteen

Rafael

The hand on the back of my neck starts to tingle at the fingertips. They feel like they move independently from the rest of my body. I feel glued to this spot for several reasons. One, I don’t know that I could stand on my own two feet without help. Two, at least here I can be alone but not be alone. Lastly, it’s the closest I’m going to get to Ava. I want to drink her in, and my cocktails, as long as I possibly can before they both fade away.

A half empty basket of fried food, six tall glasses, and two double shot glasses are in various positions on the table in front of me. At least I think there are only six. I could be seeing double at this point. I don’t know and I don’t care. I want to be numb. I feel all day long and right now I have no desire.

I swirl my finger around the rim of my most recent shot, dipping it inside the glass, pulling any bit of liquid left onto my finger. I watch a drop run down my digit to the first knuckle before I draw it into my mouth. The woodsy taste refreshes just as a woman in a dark top and jeans stands motionless next to my table.

”Is this seat taken?”

In fact, it is. It always will be. She’s here now if I look hard enough. “Yes. I want to be alone.”

“Unfortunately for you, that isn’t an option.” The familiar voice slides in next to me, forcing me into the spot I’ve stared at for the better part of three hours. “I’m glad I was able to find you before they started charging you rent. Do you realize you’re the only patron left here?”

“Nico? Why are you here? This is not a place for you. Go home.”

“Antonio texted me. If you think I’m pissing your father off, you’re crazy.”

“Crazy. I think I am. I might be.”

“You’re the only actor I know who could drink in the privacy of his own home but chooses to find a hole-in-the-wall to drown in.”

“I’m comfortable here. Why do you care anyway? I’m not creating a scene. I’m communing with the past. Let me do that.”

“You’re going to need a ride home. No rideshare in their right mind would come and pick you up. Come on. Let’s go.”

“No. I’m staying. You may control my career, but I’m not on the clock. Fuck off.”

Nico grabs around my wrist, covering my bracelet. “You do not get to speak to me that way.”

“Don’t. Touch. That,” I growl.

Her hand instantly releases. “Get up and walk. I don’t want this to turn into something I have to clean up tomorrow. If you don’t give a shit about that, what about the Stones? Ava?”

“Don’t say her name.”

“You’re certainly full of what I can and can’t do today.”

She leans down. The smell of her perfume instantly makes me feel sick. “I’m not doing well.”

“Okay. Outside in the air. Now.”

Nicolette tugs on my body, urging me to the end. With her left hand she tugs my hand around her shoulder so she can leverage my body up next to hers. I wobble from my toes to my heels before I find a pseudo center against her frame. She rotates me slowly toward the open back door.

The air outside feels like a warm slap. It makes the queasiness amplified. “I swear if you vomit on me, I will leave you where it happens. My car is just over there. It’s less than fifty feet. You have to stay on them until I can get you in the passenger seat.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“I tracked your phone because your father asked. He was worried. I was worried. Rafael, what happened to your face?”

I stay silent as we weave right to left in the longest fifty feet of my life. Nico worms her way out from under me. My body folds against the warm metal, while she reaches inside to move the seat back and recline it.

---