Hot Off the Press (Ridgemont University Book 1)
Page 21
Simon spent the next few weeks working furiously on the story, trying to make sure that every detail was captured perfectly. He was growing a bit of an unkempt stubble, and he had even let his files fall into a state of relative chaos. Only one thing was important to him, and that was finishing the story.
Ian had been texting him constantly, but he would only see him when they were working on the story together, and tried to avoid him at all other times. Despite feeling closer to Ian than ever before, what Margeaux said had stuck with him. Maybe he was just holding Ian back, and Ian really was better off making a perfect little life with a perfect wife. Simon didn’t want it to be Margeaux, especially knowing that she was seeing someone else, but what could he really do to stop her? She had promised him mutually assured destruction if he tried to speak to Ian about what she had done.
Besides, he thought, if he wasn’t seen around Ian that much, the rest of the office couldn’t gossip about them anymore. He couldn’t believe what a fool he had been, trying to so desperately and so transparently chase after someone who was way out of his league.
If he couldn’t have Ian, at least he could still be editor by writing one of the best pieces of investigative journalism the Weekly had seen in years.
He sat in his room one afternoon. The sun shone faintly through his window, not as hot as it once was, and Simon scratched the stubble on his face. He stared at his computer screen, and realized: it was done. He had said everything he could say about the story, and it was finally in good enough shape to show others. He would have to get it to Ian soon, but first he wanted the one person most affected by the story to read it. He sent Zuko a message, It’s ready. Meet me at our regular spot and I’ll bring a copy along. Are you free at around 7? Simon didn’t know exactly what he was feeling. He should have been relieved, but he still felt uneasy. Perhaps seeing Zuko would give him a sense of closure.
Olivia walked into Simon’s room then, carrying a mug of coffee, “Hey there, handsome stranger. I thought I’d bring you some refreshments. You’ve been stuck in here for so long I was worried you were dead and would be smelling up the place soon.”
Olivia frowned as she walked over to Simon with the mug of coffee. “Never mind. It smells like you’re already dead. Are you keeping fresh, sailor? What if Ian comes over here and gets a whiff of this?”
“He won’t be coming over,” Simon said, without looking at her. “Let’s not talk about him. Thanks for the coffee. Guess what? I just finished the article. I’m about to head over to see Zuko to let him read it. It’s a bit longer than I had wanted, but there was a lot to say. I found so much. Conrad Riley was apparently reported for assault before, but the charges were dropped. I also have some witnesses from the residence who gave me more details on how much abuse goes on, and how long Conrad had been planning an attack on Zuko. He was just waiting for an excuse. I think there’s a lot here.”
“Wow, sailor, that’s amazing! I’m proud of you. Now you can finally get the recognition you deserve as an excellent writer… and hopefully get a shower and shave too. Seriously, I don’t know you like this.” Olivia looked around Simon’s room at the scattered files. Her eye caught the picture on top of his closet, the one that looked so much like Ian. She was secretly hoping to find it hanging on his wall again, or at least moved from the spot on top of his closet. Simon seemed to be regressing again, fighting his feelings for Ian, and this time it seemed worse than ever. But he wouldn’t talk to Olivia when she asked, and she was too afraid of setting him off again, like the last time they fought, to pursue it too aggressively.
“I get obsessive about things sometimes. You know this about me. But the story is done. I better get ready to go and see Zuko.”
Simon walked past her to the bathroom, not touching the coffee she had prepared for him. She wondered if there was something she could do to help him.