Back from a sail, Rex is having withdrawals from Scopolamine after a rough sail. Similar, in his love life, he's had withdrawals from a woman he picked up at the Linen store. He decides somethings are worth it, and some aren't. An excerpt from The Dog Walker, Releasing 14 Feb! Pre order now for the Kindle Edition. Paperback and Hardcover are coming soon.
My duffel was on the floor, half open. The mug was still wrapped in brown paper in that branded brown bag. I saw half of the logo: a mermaid leg and a hint of a green vagina.
“Hello?”
“Rex! I thought you said you were coming home this afternoon.”
“I think I fell asleep after my shower. Why, what time is it?” I had no idea where I left the Seamaster. I felt naked without it, no idea what was going on. I grabbed my wrist. I still had it on.
“It’s nine. You know I was thinking about you.”
“I was thinking about you, too. I actually got you something.”
“Oh did you?”
“Well, don’t get too excited. I originally tried to bring some fireworks and a handgun home, but customs said, No.”
“You didn’t!”
I heard her laughing. She sounded excited. Or was it frustrated? Bored? I was still groggy and it was hard enough to feel someone out on the phone.
“No. Of course not.” My head throbbed. Something was wrong. Am I dehydrated? My neck was itchier than before.
“Well. I have a surprise,” she said. “Are you busy?”
You’d expect someone to sound surprised. It was more like she found time in between appointments. Clinical. Almost banal.
“Why?”
“Well, my baby daddy is out of town today. You should come over.”
“Wait. I thought you two were separated.”
My head was pounding harder, my right eye twitching to the beat of the throbbing. It’s like being outside a nightclub after a hard night of drinking. Scopolamine is worse than alcohol. I swear I’d be better off with the vomit.
“Well, we are, technically. Mostly. He stays in the other room sometimes. But he’s out of town this weekend. So I have the place all to myself!”
“I can’t. I think I came down with something.”
I’m not Jon. I’m better than him. My uniform is dirty. I need to wash it. The garbage smell is making me sick.
“Aww. Are you sure?”
I’m better than that.
“Yeah. I have to go to bed. I’ll talk to you later?”
This didn’t count.
“OK. Feel better.”
I made a promise. I was the better person. I won’t fuck her. You’re welcome. I looked in the bathroom mirror. I was scowling at myself. Fuck, that guy is an idiot.
I felt my cheek. I had a new scratch from my duvet. I still needed to buy a duvet cover. My sheets were filthy. I was down to my last pair, and everytime I thought to get more, I did something stupid and ended up with the same crappy sheets I started with as well as no cover for the duvet. I laid back in bed. The throbbing in my head kept me up for what felt like hours. I drifted off, eventually.