Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Diana

Silence between us doesn’t seem so awkward. Once we’re back at the penthouse, Dragon goes to his room.

Fine with me. It saves me from having to make conversation.

Seems a waste of my last Saturday night before I’ll be working my ass off, but really, what else is there to do?

I could call some friends. Maybe go out to a club.

My friend Teddy Holmes is an executive assistant at the architecture firm where I did my internship. She’s always up for a good time, although she probably already has plans.

Still, what the hell? I grab my phone from the counter where I set it when we got home, and I’m about to call her when it buzzes.

It’s Brianna.

“What’s up, Bree?” I say into the phone. “Aren’t you supposed to be humping your new husband on your honeymoon?”

“Don’t be so gross,” she says. “Jesse’s in the shower, and I wanted to give you a call. Thank you again for what you’re doing for Dragon.”

“Consider it my good deed for the week.”

“How’s everything going?”

“He just moved in today, Bree.” I glance toward the door to Dragon’s room. It’s closed, probably locked. “But it’s fine. Once I start work, I’m not going to be here for more than sleeping, so we certainly won’t get in each other’s way.”

“Thanks for doing this,” she says again. “It means so much to Jesse and to me.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me. I’m glad to do it.” Maybe not glad exactly, but it’s not imposing on my life that much. “What are you guys up to?”

“A lot of lying on the beach… A lot of sex…”

My little sister is having way more sex than I am, but oh well.

“How are you liking Jamaica?”

“Oh my God, loving it. The food is to die for, the beaches are gorgeous and serene, and the people… So friendly.”

“I was surprised you and Jesse didn’t decide to go back to Europe after you didn’t get to finish the tour with them.”

“We’ll go to Europe eventually. But Jesse just spent several months there, and he totally needed a relaxing honeymoon. And Jamaica is so relaxing. Even the activities we’ve done—hiking up Dunn’s River Falls and horseback riding on the beach—it’s all been sublime.”

I scowl at the thought of hiking on a vacation. “A hike was sublime?”

“Absolutely. You actually hike up the waterfall, but remember we’re at sea level, Dee. Compared to living at elevation in Colorado, there’s so much more oxygen in the air here, not to mention the oxygen pouring off from the water molecules… It’s invigorating. An amazing experience.”

“Sounds awesome. Maybe I’ll get to Jamaica myself sometime soon.”

“You totally should. That’s where your next vacation should be.”

I laugh out loud. “I’m not going to have a vacation for a while, Bree. This new job is going to keep me on my toes. I have to prove my worth if I want to get on that mountaintop project.”

“You will. You’re the best they’ve got.”

I smile into the phone. My little sister and I have always gotten along pretty well. We’re four years apart and different as night and day. At her age, she can keep her svelte body without even thinking about dieting. Now that I’m inching toward my late twenties, the same can’t be said about me.

Of course, Brianna also runs ten miles a day and works a lot of calories off outside in our family’s orchards. She’s a cowgirl all the way, whereas I’m more comfortable in an urban setting, despite how I grew up.

“I’ll let you go,” Brianna says. “Thanks again, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

I chuckle. “You’re kidding, right? You really want to give me carte blanche to call you while you’re on your honeymoon?”

She giggles into the phone. “You know what I mean. If you need anything or have questions about Dragon or whatever. Jesse’s the guy to ask. He knows Dragon better than anyone.”

I look back at Dragon’s door and frown. “I get the feeling that no one really knows Dragon.”

“You may be right,” she says. “Jesse has kind of alluded to that, though he’s pretty sure he knows Dragon better than anyone else does. Besides Dragon…maybe.”

“Jesse and his therapist at rehab, I guess,” I say. “Have a great time, Bree. Soak up that sun and as much relaxation as you can. I’m a bit envious.”

“Are you kidding? You’re going to love this new job, Dee. You’ve always been happier when you’re working.”

“You’re not wrong.”

“Nope, I’m not. Keep Jesse and me posted, okay?”

“I will.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.” I end the call.

Then I punch in Teddy’s number. It’s still early, so even if she does have plans, she may still be home.

“Dee!” she shouts into the phone.

Murmurs of voices permeate the line.

“Hey, I just wanted to check and see if you had plans for tonight. I want to go out.”

“You’re not going to believe this,” she says. “There’s an impromptu party going on at my place. I swear to God, I didn’t plan it, or of course I would’ve invited you. But please, come on over.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Seriously. A couple of friends from out of town popped in to say hi, and they brought a bunch of booze and some really good pot. I know you don’t drink much and you don’t smoke at all, but we’ve got some music playing, and my cousin and a couple of my neighbors stopped by. Come on over.”

“Okay.” I check the time on my phone. “This is my last night to party before I start a new job, so yeah, I’ll be there. I just need to change.”

“Awesome. See you in a few.”

Teddy lives in a loft a couple of blocks away from my building, and her place has a great rooftop for parties. I imagine that’s where we’ll end up if the weather holds.

I love a good party. Even though I don’t drink and I’m more the quiet type, I love music and good conversation.

I love the big city and everything it offers. Granted, Denver is not as huge as Chicago, New York, or LA, but I love it. It’s home.

I head to my bedroom and take a look at myself in my full-length mirror.

I decide not to change after all. What I’m wearing is good enough for an impromptu party. Jeans and my sweater. I let my hair down out of its ponytail, and it falls over my shoulders. I also apply a little bit of makeup—just some lipstick, blush, and mascara. Once I’m satisfied, I leave the master bedroom.

To my surprise, Dragon is sitting in the living area reading something on his phone.

“Oh, hi,” I say. “I’m going out for the evening.”

His gaze stays fixed on his phone. “Okay.”

“This is my last night to party before I start that new job, which may be taking all my waking hours.”

Why am I explaining myself to him? I’m an adult, as is he. We’re allowed to have our own lives.

He doesn’t look up. “Got it.”

Invite him to come with you , a little voice says inside my head.

No.

“Anyway, I’ll see you.”

I walk toward the door, grabbing my purse and phone on the way, and then take my leather jacket from the coat rack. I’m ready to leave when something seems to take over my body as I look over my shoulder.

“You want to come along?” I ask.

“What?” Dragon looks up from his phone.

“It’s just a casual party over at my friend’s house.” I frown. “Well, not house so much as a loft. It’s a couple of blocks from here. Some friends of hers came in from… Oh, never mind.”

“Never mind?”

“I’m so sorry.” My cheeks warm. “Teddy—that’s my friend—mentioned that some friends came in from out of town and they brought a lot of booze and pot.” I cross my arms, feeling blood rush through them. “So, yeah. I am so, so sorry that I wasn’t thinking. I should never have invited you to go.”

He rises then, his forehead wrinkled. “You don’t think I can handle it?”

“No. I just mean…” I twist a lock of hair around my finger, embarrassment surging through me. “I don’t know what I mean.”

“Part of recovery is being able to resist,” he says. “It might be good for me to be around that stuff.”

“You’re staying in Denver because you want to be close to rehab, right?”

“Yeah. In case I relapse. But I can’t stop living life, Diana. I’m going to be around drugs and alcohol. I have to deal. You do, don’t you?”

“I don’t touch pot,” I say. “I really hate it, to be honest. I have a drink or two, but not much.”

“Yet you can be around people who are getting shit-faced.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m not…”

“Not an addict?”

God, have I dug myself a giant hole.

I take a deep breath. “No. I mean, I hate to be so blunt, Dragon, but I’m not an addict.”

“And I am.”

“Well… Yeah. I don’t think that’s ever been an issue.”

He raises a hand in front of him. “I don’t mean it that way. I am an addict. It’s part of who I am. I can’t escape it no matter how I try, but I can control it. I can’t change who I am, but I can change how I deal with it. Just like I can’t change my past.” He stops abruptly.

And I can’t help myself. “Is there something you wish you could change?”

“I don’t talk about that,” he says. “My point is only that there are some things I can’t change. There is no point in trying because it would be fruitless. But what I can change is my attitude, my behavior. Maybe going out tonight—being around the stuff I need to avoid—would be a good test for me.”

“You were around booze at the wedding.”

“I was, but I also had all my friends around me then as well. Jesse was there, looking after me.”

“And you don’t think I would be looking after you?”

“Why would you? It’s not like we’re friends, Diana.”

His words strike me with something I’m not prepared for.

He’s right, of course. We’re not friends. We had all of one or two conversations—short ones at that—before he moved in with me.

We’re not friends. We’re roommates. That’s it.

I’m not sure how to respond to his comment, though, so I simply say, “Are you coming or not?”

“Sure. Let me get my jacket.”

The doorman at Teddy’s building knows me, and he waves us through. Once we get to her loft, I knock loudly, as I can already hear the music blaring.

Teddy answers the door clad in black skinny jeans and a peach camisole. She looks amazing, of course, her flaming red hair always a showstopper.

“Dee!” She grabs me into a hug. She breaks the embrace with wide eyes. “And who’s this?”

“This is my new…roommate. Dragon.”

“Not the Dragon.” Teddy’s eyes widen. “From the band?”

“One and the same,” Dragon says.

Her jaw drops. “Oh my God! I can’t believe it! Come on in, both of you. This is quite a treat.” Teddy takes Dragon’s arm and pulls him inside.

Teddy’s loft isn’t huge, which is why her parties often end up on the roof. But although the music is loud, only about eight people are here.

“Let me introduce you guys to everybody.” Teddy turns to a man standing by her stereo. “Turn down the music, will you, Bud?”

Once the music goes down and we can hear ourselves think, Teddy grabs Dragon. “Most of you guys know Diana,” she says, “except for Bud and Tracy. This is my great friend Diana Steel. But this is so exciting. Not that you aren’t exciting, Dee, but we have a bona fide rock star here!”

Everyone gushes.

“This is Dragon. The Dragon of Dragonlock.”

“The drummer?” a young woman dressed in shorts—yes, shorts and fishnet hose—asks.

She must be Tracy, since I don’t recognize her.

“Yeah,” Teddy says. “The band that opened for Emerald Phoenix on their European tour earlier this year.”

Except Dragon wasn’t there. He was at one concert before he came home and went into rehab. He’s not correcting her, though, so I figure it’s not my place to do it either.

Tracy—or so I assume—flits over to him. “Can I get you anything? A drink?”

“Just water,” Dragon says in his low voice.

“But I brought this delicious craft IPA. You’ve got to try it.”

“No, thank you.”

“Pretty please?” She turns her lips into a flirty pout.

I’m about to open my mouth to tell her to shut up, that he’s an addict, but he actually gives her a smile.

It’s a small smile, but it’s a smile. More than he’s ever given me.

“I’m an addict,” he says. “So no, thank you.”

She drops her jaw. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t know.” That’s all he says.

She’s still holding on to his arm. “Let’s get you that water, and then I want to talk to you all about your career.”

I sigh and turn to Teddy. “Guess I don’t have to worry about him having a good time.”

“Tracy’s such a groupie. I doubt she even knows much about Dragonlock. She’ll screw anything that even slightly exudes rock and roll.”

“Oh?”

“Oh, yeah.” She smirks. “I mean, she’s one of my closest friends, but she’s a total…you know. We went to college together.”

“So she and Bud aren’t together?”

Teddy cracks a sly smile and narrows her eyes. “Depends on what you mean by together . They’re friends with benefits, but they both screw whoever they want. Sometimes together.”

I try to cover my surprise.

But Teddy just laughs. “You’re such an innocent, Diana.”

“Growing up on a secluded ranch on the western slope will do that.”

Except I’m not an innocent. Maybe when it comes to things like sex. And that, you know, I like it to be with one other person max.

The thought of Dragon getting naked with Tracy—or taking Tracy to bed, not to mention Bud—affects me in a way I don’t expect.

I wouldn’t call it jealousy exactly. But I definitely don’t like the idea.

“Let’s get you a drink,” Teddy says.

For an instant, I consider whether I should be drinking. Maybe I should be setting a good example for Dragon.

But you know what? He’s my roommate, not my ward. He’s an addict, and he has to deal with that himself. He’s the one who wanted to come here. Now that Tracy knows he’s an addict, she most likely won’t try to sway him.

And if she does?

File that under Not my problem .

This is my last night to unwind for a while, and I’d like to make the most of it.