Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Maybe I will.”
“Come on. It’s been enough time that you should be settled in by now.”
“I am, I am. I’ll probably go out. I want to get this project done first.”
“Well, don’t make it so much of a priority that you screw over your personal life. I appreciate how dedicated you are to the job, but I don’t want to hear that you’re killing yourself over it, okay? You shouldn’t live to work. You should work to live.”
I smile. “Thanks, Tiny.”
“No problem, kid.”
He heads off, and I finish up a couple of things on the file I’m working on before I head out. I take the L to my condo in Boystown. It’s a little nicer than Lance’s and my place since I can afford a little more on my salary. I’m leasing month-to-month right now. Figured I should get familiar with the area before I purchase anything.
I put some noodles in a pot of boiling water. I’m making chicken Alfredo tonight, and all I can think is how nice it’d be if Cody was here for me to share it with.
I miss him.
I’ve missed him ever since I moved here. Miss that pretty smile. That ginger hair. His fucking piercings, especially the most surprising one.
This is the shot I’ve always wanted. It fell right into my lap, and I couldn’t have asked for more, but I didn’t expect it to feel this lonely. Not even just because of Cody, but because Gary and Derek aren’t here either. Because I miss Mom. In some ways, I think I imagined the job would be the secret to everything. That it would make me happier than I’ve ever been, but at the end of the day, it’s just a job.
Still, I know I need to tough it out. It’s hard for anyone to adjust to a new city and job right away.
I can’t blow this opportunity.
I decide to call Mom, see what she’s up to.
“Hey, sweetie,” she says. “What are you up to tonight?”
“Another amazing date night with me and the TV, I figure.”
“You’re not going out? It’s a Friday night.”
It seems like everyone else gets that I should be out and having a good time. Mom’s mentioned it a few times, but I’m not really in the mood.
“I’m just trying to adjust, still.”
“It’s been a month, Hayden. You can get out and enjoy yourself a little bit.”
When we finish chatting, I fix the chicken Alfredo and camp out on the couch. I get out my phone. I want to text Cody, but I know better. Tiny and Mom are right. It’s been long enough that I need to get out and do something.
But where would I even hang? I think about Finn. He could give me some good recommendations. I text him to let him know I’m in town. He says he saw it on Facebook, that he’s free tonight, and we should hang. We meet up at Sidetrack, where we grab a cocktail. He asks about the job and we throw back a few drinks. The more I have, the more I start making up reasons to bring up Cody. But soon we’re on the dance floor, and Finn’s shaking his ass against my pelvis. Caressing. Grinding. He turns to me, a seductive look in his eyes. I know what he wants.
And I know I can at least give him half of what he wants.
But all I can think about right now is how much fun it’d be if Cody was here.
“What do you say we head back to my place?” Finn asks. He moves closer. “Come on. You just have the moving blues. You need me to cheer you up.”
He smirks, and I agree. Next thing I know, we’re stumbling out of Sidetrack, heading down the street toward his place.
As I find myself having a hard time seeing straight, I suddenly realize how wasted I am right now.
I don’t normally get this drunk. It reminds me of LA. I was so sad and alone, and between alcohol and drugs, that was the only way I could numb the pain. The hurt.
I need to get Finn back to his place and fuck him until I can get Cody out of my head. That’ll make all this better.
As soon as we get into his place, he throws his shirt off.
I move in for a kiss but throw my hands up in front of me.
His playful expression shifts to one of concern. “What’s wrong?”
This doesn’t feel right. I can’t do it. “I think I just need to go home.”
He tilts his head.
“Why? You don’t like this ass anymore?”
“That’s not the problem, and you know it. I just…”
“This is about Cody, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“You’ve been talking about him half the night, and I’ve kind of seen the way you two are around each other, so I’m not stupid.”