A/N – sorry about the update emails on previous chapters you might've received over the last two days. Just fixing errors and getting my head around the publisher.
New chapter, hope you're all still with me. Enjoy ! 😊
It was nearly ten o'clock on the Saturday evening when Riley pulled up into the short-term parking back at Reno Tahoe International.
After arriving last night and checking into their hotel in Tahoe, Riley spoke to Maya on the phone. As soon as Maya saw who was ringing, there was no preamble when she answered.
"Zay rang you, didn't he?" she said in a quiet voice.
Riley smiled and sat on her bed at the Hampton Inn.
"Yeah he did Peaches…" Before Riley could continue, she could hear a sniffle through the phone.
"I'm so sorry Riley…I should have rung and spoken to you about all this, but I just didn't want to bother you all the way out there and…frankly I wasn't sure myself what the hell I was thinking or feeling and even when I did I just wanted to deny it and tell myself to stop kidding myself and…" she babbled away, letting all her emotions bubble over in one breath.
Riley smiled again before she continued.
"Maya, none of that matters. Honestly… I'm just glad that you got it out, and you shouldn't be apologizing at all. I'm the one that should be. I've known you've been off for weeks, if not months…I could tell when you spoke but I just chalked it up to work and I second guessed myself because I'm not around like I was anymore…" Riley's voice started to crack as well, her own pent up emotions of being separated from her loved ones came flooding to the fore.
"I let you down…" Riley whispered as she deflated and flopped back.
"We've let each other down…" replied Maya. "And I don't know what to do."
Riley sat up again.
"Yes, you do and you're not wimping out either. Give me your flight details, I'll pick you up at the airport. Do you have a room?
"No, I don't," replied Maya as she wiped her eyes and nose.
"Don't worry, I'll sort it now give me the details." Demanded Riley as she grabbed a pen off the room desk.
They spoke on the phone for another hour before Maya begged off, falling asleep after an exhausting day, both emotionally and physically.
Riley and Michelle spent the day at the Ritz Carlton down on Lake Tahoe, where the press conference was being held by Minkus Corporation. Several other news crews from the big networks ABC, NBC, CNN were already at the resort, setting up in the ballroom, muscling their way in for the prime spots. Michelle was a veteran camera operator and was giving no quarter to the network crews.
Riley noticed the senior Minkus Public Relations, Shelby Connor speaking with the CNN technology correspondent Laurie Segall. Laurie was the epitome of who Riley wanted to be. Respected, dedicated and also well paid on a cable network with millions of subscribers and viewers. She was able to hunt down the big technology articles, and Riley wanted to use that exposure to angle her love of the positivity of humanity; to bring some goodness back to the chaos that was network television. Shelby was the gateway that Riley was going to use to get to Farkle.
And I have to do it for Maya.
So, with a burst of adrenalin and a swallow of fear, Riley confidently walked over to her idol and her best friends ticket to happiness and rolled her dice. Riley stopped and stood between Shelby and Laurie, capturing Laurie's attention.
"Excuse me for a moment, Laurie if I may," and without waiting for a response, she turned her head to the blonde-haired Shelby Connor.
"Good afternoon Shelby, I'm Riley Matthews from ABC Seven in San Francisco. I was wondering if I can have a moment of your time?"
There, that didn't sound too bad at all. And look Laurie is leaving. Oh, she's leaving… Oh god I've done it now… What? She's holding out her hand to shake it?...
"Ah Miss Matthews, it's a pleasure to meet you. I have been looking for you."
Did you hear that right? Riley asked herself.
"Ahh, really?" Riley questioned without doubting herself too much, giving away a slight tilt to her head in confusion.
Shelby smiled the smile of someone who was holding a little secret.
"Yes, Miss Matthews. Or can I call you Riley?"
Riley extended her hand again and shook Shelby's once more.
"No, please… Riley is fine..." she beamed. Shelby laughed.
"Excellent, follow me away from the rabble here. I have something to discuss with you."
And far out, did she have something to discuss with her.
Riley's reminiscing of the day's discussions was broken by the announcement speakers overhead.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have you attention please. JetBlue flight Eighty-one arriving from JFK has now landed, with passengers disembarking through Gate 11. Baggage can be collected from Bay 3. Thank you."
Riley stood up and started to look for her pint sized best friend. Within five minutes, she heard a shriek that could come from no one else.
"RILLEEYYY !"
Riley looked and sure enough running through the crowd was Maya. Riley bolted forward and they both crashed into each other, enveloping themselves in a tight embrace. After what seemed like an eternity they broke apart, tears evident in their eyes, and laughter shaking from their chests.
"Oh my god it's soo good to see you Maya," cried Riley as they held hands and looked at each other.
Maya laughed a nervous yet relieved laugh.
"I know! I've missed you so much, I was bouncing off the seat as we started to descend." Maya gasped out. They looked at each other, before their emotions kicked in and they embraced once more.
"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you Maya," whispered Riley as they hugged. Maya let go and looked at Riley in the eyes.
"I've been just as bad Riley. I'll admit that work drags it out of me but it's still no excuse."
Riley smiled before squeezing her shoulders.
"Oh I dunno…Doc.." she smiled. Maya dropped her head with a smile before looking back up at Riley.
"Still giving me heaps huh?" she coaxed. Riley shrugged her shoulders as she took the backpack off Maya's shoulders and guiding her to the luggage collection.
"Only 'cos I can."
They walked over and waited for the conveyor belt to start. Riley was sitting on news she couldn't contain anymore.
"I have some good news," she started. Maya looked up at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Don't hold out on me girl…Spill it!" she demanded. Riley smiled.
"I spoke to the head of Minkus PR. She has got me a quiet meeting with Farkle tomorrow lunchtime. Apparently, he wants me do a one on one interview."
Maya's heart reeled, in both excitement and fear at the same time. Her hands started to shake, which Riley noticed and took into her own.
"It's ok Maya. Easy…" she soothed. "I'm going to speak to him, and organize for a time for you both to get together and talk. Privately."
Maya nervously looked up at Riley as the conveyor swung into motion.
Riley looked into Maya's eyes, her gaze full of conviction and sincerity.
"He will. He sought me out, that's the only break I need. Trust me."