Page 69 of Breaking Hollywood

“Working.”

“Oh. What on?”

He looks back to me. “Work.”

I stretch my legs out and look at my bare feet. My toenails could do with a fresh coat of varnish on them. The red I painted on is starting to chip. Maybe I’ll do that once the cleaners are gone.

“How long will they be here for?” I ask Gabe.

“The cleaners? A few hours or so.”

I lean my head back on the headrest and stare up at the ceiling.

I’m so bored.

I really need to get out today.

I look over at Gabe, who’s squinting at his screen. “Do you want to go out today?”

He sighs and leans back in his desk chair. “Where do you want to go, Speedy?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere. We could just go out and get some fresh air.”

“You’re not going to let me work until we go out, are you?”

I smile wide.

“Fine. But I’m bringing work with me. I need to start learning this script.”

“Can I help?”

“Yes, Speedy, you can help.”

“Cool. So, where shall we go?”

“I have just the place.”

“Can Gucci come?”

He sighs. “Yes, Speedy, the goat can come.”

Ava

I pull Gabe’s car to a stop on a roadside outside a field in Beverly Glen.

“This is where you want to go?”

“Mmhmm.”

“A field?”

“Yep.”

“Well, I guess Gucci will like it here. But can I ask, why have we come to a field?”

I was thinking he meant like a café or something when he said he had somewhere for us to go.

Gabe opens his car door and puts the messenger bag that he brought with him over his head, so the strap is across his chest. Then, using his crutches, he gets out of the car.