"Pick up, pick up," I murmured to myself, as I dialled her number again, and, again, she didn't answer.
Stubborn, little, chocolate-headed … faaaaaaark!
Unable to help myself, I sent her another text.
Elliot: Danielle, if you don't answer, we can't talk. And if we can't talk, we can't discuss what we need to discuss.
I was about to place the phone down when it chimed an incoming message. Yes! Thank God!
Mum: Why haven't you called? Why'd you leave the garden so suddenly on Sunday? Are you okay?
Damn it! Not now.
Elliot: Been really busy at work, Mum. Everything is fine. Call you tonight.
* * *
Mum: But why'd you leave early? Did you and Danielle have a fight? Seriously? The woman was better than a Customs sniffer dog.
* * *
Elliot: No. I'll call you tonight.
* * *
Mum: Yes, please do. Jeanette said Danielle is upset and won't tell her why. I'm worried. We both are.
Jesus fucking Christ! Maybe I should just pass my message on to Mum who can then pass it on to Jeanette who can then pass it on to Danielle and vice versa. Because at the rate I was going, Danielle and I would probably communicate better that way.
Elliot: Everything is fine. Stop worrying.
As I was about to put my phone down and headbutt the desk continuously, it chimed again. MUM, ARGH!
Danielle: We don't need to discuss anything. Clearly, you would've discussed what needed to be discussed if anything was worth discussing.
Her smartarse retort made me smile despite the circumstances.
Elliot: Of course I want to discuss things with you. I've just been busy. Work is ridin' me hard at the moment.
* * *
Danielle: Sorry to hear. Hope it settles down soon. Feel better.
* * *
Elliot: Please don't be like that.
* * *
Danielle: Like what? Like me?
Bloody hell! She possessed more defence than a porcupine. I should put her on my legal team.
Elliot: You know what I mean. You're dismissing me. I want to talk to you. Will you answer the phone if I call again?
* * *
Danielle: Fine.
Dialling her number yet again, relief flooded me when she answered … until I heard her tone of voice.
"Make it quick. I only have a minute. A customer just came into the store."
"Should I call back then?"
"No. You didn't really need to call in the first place."
"What are you talking about? Of course I needed to call. You're upset. I want to fix this."
"Elliot, let's just say it like it is."
I shook my head, confused. "Like what is?"
"Look. I can't talk. I have to go."
"Danielle, like what is?"
She didn't answer before disconnecting the call, which left me sat there, dumbfounded, staring at my phone, the screen lighting up when her incoming message flashed across the screen.
Danielle: Friends should never fuck.
WHAT?
Shit! My plan had backfired.
Fuck!
Fuck!
Fuck!
As soon as I was able to leave the office, I did, and drove like a perfectly legal madman to the Essendon Football Club merchandise store, catching Danielle as she was locking up.
"Danielle!" I called out, slamming my car door shut in my hurry to stop her from leaving without seeing me.
She spun around, startled, a gust of wind blowing her hair around her like a fan at an 80s hairband concert. "Elliot, what are-"
"You're right," I said, interrupting her, a little puffed from my jog. "Friends shouldn't fuck."
Her chin trembled for the slightest of seconds, distracting me from finishing what I had to say, which was at the exact moment my stupid phone rang, displaying Rebecca's name.
"Sorry." I cringed, knowing I had to answer it so held up my finger, apologising. "I have to get this. I'll just be a minute."
Turning around, I answered the call. "Hello, Rebecca."
"Hi, Mr Parker. I just wanted to let you know that-"
"Look, I'm just in the middle of something right now. Can I call you back?"
"Sure. It's not urgent. I can emai-"
"Excellent. Thanks." I hung up, abruptly, and turned back to Danielle, only to find she was no longer standing there. "Shit!" I cursed, my stomach figuratively plummeting to my feet.
Frantically scanning the space surrounding me, my searching eyes bouncing from traffic to storefronts and dodging pedestrians as they passed by, I spotted her shutting her car door, tears streaming down her face.
"Danielle, wait! I didn't finish what I was saying," I called out.