And the last thing I ever said to him was that he’d been a terrible father. I thought he hung up on me, when in fact, he’d dropped the phone because his heart stopped beating.
My guilt led me to dark places. Too much drinking. Not enough sleep. Some asshole said the wrong thing to me at his funeral. And here I am.
When I come back out of the shower Chloe is gone, and Jack is sitting in my living room.
I cross my arms and stand in the doorway glowering at him. ”Did you pay that girl to fuck me so she would let you in my apartment?”
“She had a thing for you. And you won’t return my calls.”
“Hmmm, maybe it’s because you do shit like this.” I step into a pair of sweatpants, stuff my feet into my Timbs, grab a shirt and walk out. I tug my shirt on while I walk down the dark, musty hallway of my apartment building.
“Carter, wait,” he calls after me. I walk faster. I’ve said everything I have to say. I’m exhausted and feel like I’ve been hollowed out.
I reach the elevator and press the button. The doors open quickly.
Jack’s hand slides between the elevator doors, and they pop back open.
I close my eyes and bang my head on the wall as he steps on with me.
“I can’t believe you live in this shit hole. You can afford better.” He says as the doors close.
I cut him a dark glance. “It’s not a shit hole, and I don’t have to worry about being photographed every time I leave my house.”
“Is that why you won’t even talk to Dean?”
“I don’t want the life that comes with contracts like what he's talking about.”
He shakes his head. “You’re an idiot. And if you don’t take his call now, there may not be any others waiting when you come out of rehab. And then, you’ll be a broke idiot.”
I scowl at him. “I’m not close to broke. And if I was, I’d do something that didn’t make my life fodder for total strangers. I know you love it, but it’s not for me.”
The elevator stops at the lobby, and I nod pointedly at the opening doors. “Thanks for stopping by.”
He doesn’t move. “I paid that girl’s rent for three months, you gotta give me more than five minutes.”
“I bet you could catch her if you left now. Maybe she’ll give you a refund.”
He scowls. “Don’t be an asshole. Let’s go back to your place and talk.”
“Gotta tell ya, the prospect of more talking doesn’t make for a good sales pitch.”
He runs an exasperated hand over his close-cropped hair. “You’re leaving for three months. I haven’t seen you in weeks. Please.”
I groan in annoyance because he just played his trump card. He never says please. And no matter how much we argue, I have missed him. I nod my agreement and press the call button for my floor.
He starts talking as soon as we walk back into my apartment. “This deal could change your whole life in a second.” He snaps his fingers.
“I’ve had enough change, thank you.”
“Be serious,” he snaps.
“What makes you think I’m not serious?”
He shakes his head, “You can’t be. Chances like this come once in a lifetime. “
I shrug. “The timing is bad.”
“Why? You may have fallen on hard times, but Carter, you were a legend in the making. Hell, there’s a fucking billboard in Times Square with your face and the words Rock God written on it.”
“They’re talking about the cologne, not me,” I quip with an ease I don’t feel.
This is a once in a lifetime chance. It could turn out to be everything I’ve ever wanted. Too bad it’s come ten years too late.
Jack slaps the table between us to get my attention. “Carter, think about it. If you come back from rehab and don’t have good news to share, you’ll lose the handful of endorsements you have left.”
“So?”
“So, you’ll have to stop eating at the premium pussy palace and pick-up chicks who are the equivalent of that dive next door.”
I shrug. “What’s wrong with comfort food?”
He curls his lip in disgust. “Too much comfort food will kill you.”
I narrow my eyes and return his look of disgust. “You know, your tendency to liken women to food explains why you think you can pick them up, enjoy the parts you like, and then walk away at the first bite that’s got a flavor you didn’t expect.”