Miles picks it up and hands it to me. "It's a debit card. I loaded fifty bucks on there. You can use it to buy lunch or whatever you need when you're here during the day."
"Miles, I can't accept this. You're giving me too much."
"It's your birthday. You have to take what people give you. No backsies, remember?"
I laugh.
"Last one." He hands me another small box.
"More pepper spray?"
"No, but if you want another one, I'll get you one."
"One is plenty." I open the box. "Miles, it's beautiful."
"It's nothing fancy. It's more symbolic than pretty but I thought it might be a good reminder to keep moving forward."
"It's great, Miles. Thank you. Would you put it on me?" I hand him the necklace. It's a silver chain with a silver arrow pointing forward. A reminder to keep moving forward and not look back. I've made so many mistakes and have so many regrets that it's easy to focus on those instead of focusing on what's ahead. But Miles is right. I need to keep my focus on the future instead of the past. The future I can change. The past I can't.
"It looks good on you," Miles says, as I straighten the chain around my neck.
"It's perfect. I love it. And I love you."
"See? You CAN say it more than once."
I smile. "I'm practicing."
24
Miles
It was a great birthday night, even though it wasn't actually Raine's birthday. For dinner, we left downtown and went to a Mexican place that people at work always talk about. I told the waiter it was Raine's birthday and he brought out a fried ice cream sundae, then put a sombrero on her head and sang Happy Birthday. She pretended to be embarrassed but I could tell she loved it.
When we got home, she thanked me for the millionth time, then kissed me. It wasn't a short thank-you kiss, but a sexy I-want-you kiss that turned into sex before we could even make it upstairs.
We fell asleep on the couch, and an hour later I was about to carry her upstairs but got distracted by her naked body draped over me. I woke her up with kisses in places that made her want me so bad we did it again, right there on the couch. We were hot and sweaty so we took a shower. Together. And that was time number three. I've never done it three times in one night but she gets me so turned on I could've done it three more times. Well, maybe not three but I definitely could've done it once more.
Now I'm at work, and my lack of sleep is making it hard to stay awake. I almost dozed off during a morning conference call. At noon I leave the office to get lunch and some fresh air, hoping it'll wake me up.
As I'm walking down the street, I notice I'm limping. Sex accident. I hurt my knee when I was pumping into Raine in the shower. Our bodies were slick and so was the shower floor and when I thrust into her, my foot slipped and my knee hit the wall. It didn't hurt much at the time, but it swelled up overnight and now it hurts to walk.
"Looks painful," I hear a guy say as I wait outside the deli. The line is out the door but I've been here enough times to know the line moves fast.
I turn and see the guy I met the night I took Raine to the Italian restaurant. The homeless guy who sings.
"I hurt my knee," I tell him. "What's your name, again?"
"Levi," he says with a smile. "Like the jeans."
"Got it." I face forward, hoping he leaves. I don't like this guy. He was being an ass to Raine that night, and from what she said, he's always like that.
"Old sports injury?" he asks, pointing to my knee.
"No. I just bumped it."
He leans in closer, lowering his voice. "If you need something for the pain, I can help you out."
I immediately think of Raine's story about how Jacob came up to her and commented on her walking funny because of her back.
Keeping my eyes forward, I say, "What have you got?"
"Come to my office and I'll show you." He keeps his voice low as he moves up with me in the line.
"Your office? You mean the street?"
"I'll take you around back. It's more private there. And because you friends with my girl, Raine, I'll give you a deal. First one is free."
My tired brain suddenly wakes up, on high alert after hearing those words. First one is free. It's the same thing Jacob told Raine when he was trying to get her hooked. He targeted her. He commented on her injury, just like Levi did. Is this a technique all these guys use or is it something Rob taught his sellers?
It's too similar for me to just ignore.
"What about the second?" I ask. "How much?"
"Tell you what." He glances around as he talks. "Since I like you, and I like your girl, Raine, I'll give you a deal. First three are free. If you still need some after that, we'll talk prices."
First three are free. Just like Jacob told Raine. Is it just a coincidence?
"Let's go." I get out of line and follow Levi down the street, then across to the street where he normally hangs out. We pass by the corner he usually sits at and walk around the side of the building to the back. It's a deserted lot with tall buildings surrounding it and I'm starting to feel like this was a bad idea. I get my phone out in case I need to call the cops, keeping it in my hand as Levi reaches down behind the dumpster.
He comes over to me holding out his hand, which is clenched. His lips curl up in a smile as he opens his hand. On his palm is a small white pill.
"Take this and your pain is gone," he says.
"I'm not sure I want it. How do I know it's safe? Shit you get on the street could be laced with most anything."
"You don't gotta worry about that with these." He picks the pill up and holds it in front of me. "This is pure medicine right here. No fillers. Just like you get at the doctor."
"Where'd you get it?"
"Now that I can't tell you." He sets the pill back on his palm.
"I need to know where it's from. Otherwise how would I know if it's legit?"
"You know me, man. You know I'm legit. I'm friends with your girl, Raine. How she doing, anyway? Haven't seen her around much lately."
"She's good." I nod at the pill in his hand. "I need more info before I take that. No offense, but I really don't know you. I met you one time. And Raine wouldn't exactly call you a friend."
He shrugs. "Her loss. So you want it or not? Because I got plenty of other customers who would snatch this up. And they'd pay for the shit."
"See? That right there. That's why I'm not sure I can trust you."
"What you talking about?"
"That bullshit about other people having to pay. My dad was in sales," I lie. "I know the techniques. Give people a free sample and hope they come back for more. You're not giving me a deal. You offer everyone the first one free, and the second, and probably the third. Am I right?"
"Yeah? So? Ain't nothing wrong with that. Like you said, all sales people do it."
"But you lied about it. Tried to make it sound like I was the only one getting the deal. Makes me not want to trust you."