I narrowed in on my sleep time enemy. “You’re disgusting, you know that? All of you. Always.”
Lassen laughed – once – then stepped back and took a seat in the chair by the desk. “Aren’t you a little ray of pitch black?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m your fairy godmother.”
“No, you’re the devil incarnate.”
Another single-syllable laugh. “You say tomato, I say tomahto.”
I was tired and cranky and in no mood for riddles. “What… do… you… want?”
“I brought you a box full of sunflower seeds.”
I eyed him suspiciously. Since getting back together with Sam five years ago, I only partook in the seed addiction when she wasn’t around since it made her gag. But Lassen’s box of kernels had another meaning.
“You think I’m going to relapse?” I asked.
“You just lost your woman. I’m erring on the side of caution.”
“Well, don’t. I’m fine.”
“At the moment, sure. But what happens weeks from now… months? You need to go back to AA meetings, Keith. Just to keep your mind strong. And lucky for us, since you slept until fucking four in the afternoon, there’s actually one that starts in an hour. Get up. Let’s go.”
I last thing I wanted to do was spend what was left of the day with Lassen, but the man was strangely persistent, and I knew I wouldn’t be getting rid of him anytime soon.
“Uuhhh.” I flung the sheets off my body and headed for the shower.
* * *
Even though I hated to admit it, Lassen was right. I needed to get my head on straight. Even if my first thought wasn’t drugs, it would be so easy to let myself go. I had to make sure that when the going got tough, I wouldn’t reach for a bottle or a pill or a joint.
As the meeting was wrapping up, Lassen slapped my shoulder. “I gotta run.”
“What’s the hurry?” I replied.
“I have a date.”
“With which wife?”
“None. I’m divorced.”
“From which one?”
“All of them.”
I scratched my head, confused. “So this is a new woman?”
“Yep.”
Good god. How did he do it? “You’re one of the Seven Wonders of the World.”
One laugh. “Someday, maybe I’ll share my secrets. But you’re not ready to absorb my teachings just yet.”
Lassen pushed his way down the row of AA members, knocking his ass into nearly every single face he passed. I couldn’t help but laugh since I knew it wasn’t an accident. He was such a jerk – and I loved the guy.
A minute later, the group leader called the meeting adjourned, and as I stood up to leave, I caught sight of a guy staring at me. Since I hadn’t disclosed to this group who I was, I instantly found myself on edge and hastily searched for the nearest exit.
