Chapter 6

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.

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.

She’s still the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I let myself stare since her back is to me.

But as she opens the door, she looks over her shoulder and meets my gaze. “For real, Dragon. The lock is just a precaution. Please don’t read anything into it. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Make yourself at home.”

I nod, leaning back on the couch.

I will myself not to feel weird about Diana’s lock.

If Griffin were still around, and she were staying with a man she hardly knew, I sure as hell would want her to have a lock on her door to keep him out at night.

Especially if…

I sigh.

Especially if it were a man like me.