Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 78142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I’m sure they’re taking in my black army boots, camouflage coat, and faded blue jeans. And of course my long hair.
Probably not the kind of person they expect to see in this building.
“How’s your day going?” I ask them.
“Just fine,” the woman says. “And yours?”
“Fine, ma’am.”
The elevator arrives and the doors open. I wait, letting the elderly couple get on before I do. Then, when I get on and press the button for the top floor, they look at each other, the woman’s eyes wide.
I take a look at the elevator pad. They live on the floor below Diana and me. Or they’re going to visit someone there. It’s Saturday morning, so it could be either.
When the elevator stops and opens on their floor, the woman smiles at me. “Have a wonderful day, young man.”
“You too,” I say as the doors close.
Her husband—I assume—looks back at me and frowns.
They don’t see my type a whole lot here. Certainly not going to the penthouse.
With my luck, they’ll probably call the cops on me the minute they’re back in their place. Report the unsavory-looking guy with the long hair who’s heading toward the apartment of the gorgeous woman living in the penthouse.
I huff out a breath. Despite all the bullshit I’ve gotten myself into over the years, I’ve never been arrested. Even when I should have been. Small mercies, I guess.
A moment later I’m knocking on Diana’s door.
“Hey,” she says as she opens the door. “You want some help with those?”
“I got it.” I walk in and head straight to the kitchen.
She crosses into the kitchen and opens the fridge. “You’ve got the bottom shelf in the refrigerator and on the door, for condiments. In the pantry, I gave you the high shelf since you’re taller than I am.”
“Got it.”
I put my groceries away and then head back to my room.
Now what?
I like to keep busy. Helps keep my head on straight. Keeps me from thinking about how much I want a drink or a hit.
And it keeps me from thinking about the horror of my childhood.
Keeps me from thinking about Griffin.
But the thing is, I’ve got nothing to do. When I was in rehab, there were all kinds of activities. I was able to keep my mind and body busy.
My body… I head back out of my room. Diana is still in the kitchen.
“So I was wondering,” I say. “About the fitness center.”
“What about it?”
“Am I able to use it?”
She cocks her head. “I don’t see why not. You’ll have to wait until you get your key. You’ll need that to access it.”
“Got it.”
“Like I said, I’ll go down to security and take care of it as soon as I can. Sometime today. But I’ve got someone coming at two.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Just somebody from maintenance to do some work.”
“I’m pretty handy. Maybe I can do it.”
She looks away. “Don’t be silly. That’s what maintenance is for. They’ll take care of it.” She glances down at her phone sitting on the counter. “Looks like I’ve got time, so I’ll go ahead down to security and take care of your keys.”
“All right. I’ll be here.”
Diana nods and heads for the door.
I take a seat on the couch. It’s in a gorgeous brown leather. Italian, maybe. I don’t know a whole lot about leather. But I know it’s got to be expensive.
Like this whole apartment that I’m staying in for free. Guilt gnaws at my throat.
I crane my head toward the door. “Diana?”
She turns around slowly. “Yes, Dragon?”
“What are you having done? I know you said you have a maintenance guy, but I’d like to do something to earn my keep if you won’t take money.”
She presses her lips together. “It’s nothing too crazy. Just something for my bedroom door.”
I cock my head. “You’re having maintenance done on your door? What are they doing?”
She takes a deep breath in. “If you must know, I’m having a lock put on.”
Something twists around my heart. I hang my head slightly. “Oh.”
She takes a few steps into the apartment. “It’s not that I think you’re a bad guy, Dragon. Far from it. Brianna and Jesse think the world of you. It’s just… I don’t really know you.”
She’s silent for a moment. The awkwardness hangs in the air like a dead fish.
“I’m happy to ask them to put a lock on your door, too.”
I shake my head. “No need. And I get it. You don’t have to feel bad about putting a lock on the door. I’m sure I’d do the same thing.”
“Right.” She shifts her gaze around the room. “Well, anyway. See you later.”
She walks toward the door.
I can’t help but watch her. She’s wearing black yoga pants and sneakers. A burgundy-colored sweatshirt with Steel Vineyards and their logo printed on it. Her long hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, and she’s not wearing any makeup that I can tell.