Page 90 of Broken Rock

‘Get yourself together. This is for Chloe.’

He knows she’s nervous about tonight, but he wants her to see this side of him. It’s a part of his job and he would love for her to join him at every single event. Assuming there will be more of them of course, which he very much doubts. She might as well go to one while she still can.

He looks over his shoulder at the fridge sitting under the enormous TV on the far wall. There’s no alcohol in it. He already checked and he hates himself for that. He doesn’t doubt Ellen had a hand in making sure all temptation had been removed before he arrived. For some reason that irritates him more than it should. Then again, he opened the damn fridge in the first place. Not a great start.

He doubles over as a wave of nausea hits. Would he have shut the fridge door again without taking anything out? Or would he have had a glass to steady his nerves?

The way he feels right now he’s not sure which way it would have gone.

He groans as his phone rings on the table beside him.

‘Hey Gregg.’

‘Hey buddy. We’re heading in about fifteen minutes. You going to be on time or fashionably late?’

‘On time.’

Gregg pauses for a second. ‘Put on the video on.’

‘Gregg, I—’

‘Video, Tate.’ He taps the button and Gregg’s face appears on the screen. ‘Hey. Nice suit, buddy. Oh dear. Is the colour off or are you a tad grey?’

‘I’m trying not to throw up so make it quick.’

‘Sit down, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Quit glaring at me and just do it.’

He does as he’s told and little by little the queasiness eases.

‘Gregg?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I checked out the mini bar. I mean opened it to see... you know...’

Gregg’s face drops a little. ‘Yeah, thought you might.’

‘You asked them to clear it? I thought it was Ellen.’

‘Nope. All down to me. Better safe than sorry, buddy. It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just know every other time you’ve been to one of these things you’ve had a little help.’

Tate drops his head into his hand, hating, but also unbelievably grateful that Gregg knows him so well. ‘Fucking predictable, right.’

‘Just watching out for you. You feeling any better?’

‘Think so.’

‘Look at the screen again. I can only see your arm.’

Tate lifts his head and looks down at the screen. ‘Happy now?’

‘Ecstatic. Seriously though, you’ve got this, Tate. Stop second guessing yourself and walk down that red carpet like you’ve done who knows how many times before. You became a fucking superstar without any help from drink or drugs. That was all you. Get your shit together and show Chloe how monstrously boring these events are, then take her back to the hotel room and make it up to her.’

Tate smiles down at the screen at Gregg’s wide grin. ‘Will do. Thank you, Gregg. I mean that.’

‘Any time. You good now?’

‘Guess so.’ He looks over at the door when someone knocks. ‘I got to go now.’

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