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 shake my head and leave the room.
Chapter Six
Dragon
I walk back toward the large window. I have an amazing view—much better than my room at the hotel.
There’s a TV and a remote. A small desk set up for a computer. I don’t have a computer, but I do have a phone. It’s my computer for now. I noticed there was a computer in the living area off to the side—a little alcove Diana probably uses as a home office.
Maybe Diana will let me use her computer.
I don’t know, though, and I wouldn’t ask her anyway.
This is all so strange.
I look around the room. Diana has some interesting art on the wall. I’m drawn to a print of a greenish-blue octopus, its tentacles waving in opposite directions. I empathize with the creature. I too feel pulled in multiple directions at once.
Maybe I should have just gone back home to the western slope. But my therapist was right. Being close to him as well as the rehab facility gives me a safety net if things go wrong.
But should I really be staying with Diana? My best friend’s sister-in-law?
If we had grown up together, were as close as Jesse and I are, then I’d have no problem crashing at her place for a few weeks or even longer if I were paying rent or buying groceries.
I’m not even doing that. She doesn’t need the money, of course. The Steels are loaded, and she apparently has this great job lined up.
Still, something just doesn’t feel right about this.
I could be happy here. I want to be happy here.
I can’t dwell on that right now. First thing I need to do is get some groceries. I take a few minutes to unpack—that’s all it takes because I have so few belongings—and then I walk out. Diana’s in the kitchen putting away groceries.
“Do you want some help?”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’m just clearing off a shelf for you in the refrigerator. You won’t need more than one shelf, will you?”
I shrug. “I’ll make do. I figured I’d go out and get some groceries. Where do you normally shop?”
“I don’t have time to shop,” she says. “I have all my groceries delivered. I can give you the info if you’d like.”
I can barely afford the groceries the way my finances are right now, let alone the delivery fees and a courier tip.
“No, I feel like getting out.”
“Good enough. I’ll have to buzz you up, though. At least until I can get down to security and get your key.”
“That’s fine.” I leave the penthouse and walk to the elevator.
There’s a grocery store near my rehab center. That’s where I’m used to doing my shopping. I really only asked Diana where she shopped to make conversation. I’m not one to worry about conversation in general, but for some reason, I want to talk to her. Even about something as mundane as her favorite grocery store.
I arrive at the market, walk in, and grab a basket. No cart since I’ll have to walk back. I grab a couple loaves of bread, cold cuts for sandwiches, a few condiments, and some eggs and bacon. Last is produce. Apples and pears and some celery and carrot sticks. One bag of potato chips and that should do me for the week. I pay with cash, leaving me with about two hundred dollars.
In my bank account, I have about two grand left from my bonus. That’s it. I don’t know why I was thinking I could pay Diana rent. As the words left my mouth, I knew I’d be royally screwed if she actually took me up on the offer. Renting a room in her high-class penthouse would be at least two grand a month, which would wipe me out.
If I can’t find any percussion students, I’ll have to get a job until the band is back in business, and that’s at least two months away because Jesse and Rory are both taking long-ass honeymoons.
Not that I begrudge them that. They’ve earned it. Their amazing dual-lead vocals are why the band did so well in Europe. It certainly wasn’t because of me. I wasn’t there.
I fucked up and had to go to rehab.
Frankly, I’m lucky they’re all still speaking to me.
I load my groceries into two reusable bags and walk back to Diana’s building. Once I make it to the entrance, I press the intercom for her penthouse.
“Yes?” Her voice comes through loud and clear.
“It’s me, Dragon. I got my groceries.”
“Great.” The door clicks open.
I walk in through the lobby and to the elevators. I’ll look around later today once I get a key. To the right is what looks like an amazing fitness center. I should probably make use of it if I can.
I wait for the elevator along with an elderly couple who look me up and down.