Chapter 26
Julian
Iget home at seveno’clock on Wednesday, which isn’t bad. I was at the office for less than twelve hours, and I won’t do any work tonight. I’ll eat the meal Elena has prepared for me, text Courtney, watch some TV, and read a little before bed. I might even get to bed by ten, and that’ll give me a solid seven hours of sleep.
How about that.
I eat dinner, and I’m just about to turn on the TV when there’s a loud banging at the door.
I open it up. It’s Vince. He staggers into my condo and sways as he walks to my couch.
“Too much tequila,” he says. “Couldn’t seem to stop. Was doing shots off a girl’s stomach.”
I don’t know if that’s true, but he’s definitely drunk.
He tries to sit down on the couch but ends up falling to the floor. He makes it on his second attempt.
I go to the kitchen and pour him a glass of water, but he waves it away with a hiccup. “Can’t keep anything down.”
Dear God.
I grab a garbage can and put it next to him. “If you’re going to puke, try to do it in there.”
He nods, then rests his head on the armrest. “I hate my life,” he says, in the most sorrowful voice. “I hate it. You were right. I’m not okay.”
“Do you regret selling your company?”
“No.” He hiccups or burps—I’m not sure which. “I didn’t want it anymore. Wanted more time for hookers and blow.”
“Vince, be serious.” Yes, he’s drunk, but perhaps this is my best chance of getting him to talk honestly.
“It’s true. Sort of. Wanted to have a life. Less stress. More time for doing nothing and dicking around, more time for girls. Don’t worry, I always use protection.”
“Thank God,” I mutter.
“Hey, the room is spinning. I didn’t know your fancy condorevolved.”
“Nothing is spinning. You’ve just had too much to drink.”
Vince throws an arm over his eyes. “I feel so unfulfilled.” He laughs a truly miserable laugh. “Listen to the words I’m using. Such bullshit.”
“What do you want to do with your life?”
“Don’t know. Didn’t want the company anymore, but didn’t think I’d be so bored. I...” He looks like he’s going to hurl. I thrust the garbage can in front of him just in time.
I do not have much experience with drunks—and that includes myself. It’s been years since I had more than three drinks in a night. I don’t like feeling out of control, and I definitely don’t like feeling sick the next day.
