Page 2 of Finding Redemption

“And suddenly, your allure is gone.” Donna snaps her fingers in the air.

“I’m sorry. Please take the company card and buy whatever supplies we need, including coffee.” I wink, trying to appease her for my earlier faux pas.

“I’ll do it before I come in. Is that all right?” she questions me.

“Yes. You might want to grab some basics. Water, soda and cookies. Maybe I need to have a bakery deliver a few times a week?” I ask.

“We’ll start here and decide later. Have a good night.” She smiles with a wave, walking out the door.

Scratching my head, I appraise what’s left to do and dig back in. The thirty-nine hundred square foot brick exterior building is larger than I need, but I’m hoping to grow. I have enough office space to have three junior partners. I added a full-size kitchen upstairs for a lunchroom.

Before I know it, it’s two in the morning and my eyes are burning from lack of sleep. I’ve been staying in my parents’ guest house now that Riley has his own home. I toss and turn there, so I clear a spot on the sofa. Sitting down, I rub the tension from my neck.

I stretch out, closing my eyes as I tuck my hands behind my head. My mind races as I face the chasm of mistakes I’ve made in my life. It sickens me to think of the hurt I’ve caused and how it could’ve been avoided. I sit up and jump from the couch. “I know there’s some in here,” I say to myself as I search the boxes. I rip open the third top and sure enough. “My old friend or nemesis, we’ll decide later,” saying as I pull the bottle of Jameson free.

I remove the lid and tip the amber liquid back. I lay on the couch with my sleep aid in one hand. It didn’t use to be this hard to sleep, but the last two years have been my own personal hell. I take another swig from the bottle, positive I’m making my parents proud. Not even close.

“One more, Walker,” I say before taking another swallow. I push the lid on and set the bottle down. I try to sleep again. I’m not sure when I finally doze off, but my wake-up call wasn’t what I hoped for.

“Wakey-wakey, hands off snakey.” A warm rush of air sweeps over me as I register the whisper, suddenly followed by a sharp pain in my leg. “Mornin’, buttercup!” Riley says.

“Motherfucker!” I lurch forward, grabbing my thigh. I fall to the floor, rubbing the charley horse delivered by my brother. “You little shit.”

“Little my ass,” he replies with his arms flexed, and I glare at him.

I sit up as he walks over, making himself at home at my desk. “You ever been told you’re a helluva wake-up call?”

He props his feet on my desk, grinning as he leans back. “I sure have.” He waggles his brows.

I shake my head as I stand, making my way over to him. “Why are you here so early?” I knock his feet from my desk as I reach for my phone and see I’m an hour late. “Sorry. Give me five minutes.”

He nods. “We’re good.”

“Naw, man. I need to get my shit straight,” I reply, rushing toward my private bathroom.

“There’s plenty of time,” Riley grunts as I grab my toothbrush. I know he gets sick of my self-contempt.

My answer is muddled as I speak with my toothbrush. “The fuck there is.” I look at him over my shoulder. We both know we’re talking about two different things. “But thanks.”

I rinse my mouth and wash my face before reaching for a clean shirt from my linen closet that holds towels and clothes, along with other essentials. I grab the first thing I find, dragging it over my head, as I join him again.

He leans forward, eyeing me. “Walker, you have to stop kicking the hell outta yourself for what happened.”

I step into my shoes and shrug. “At some point, I will.”

No one understands. I really loved Thayer. And knowing I not only pushed her back to Hardy, I became everything I hate. I’ve tried drowning my sorrows in women and booze. Thought about moving further away and even swore off women.

“You ready to be the best man?” Riley asks as he stands.

“I’ll be second. My little brother is the best.” I look at Riley, realizing what an incredible man he has become. And I know it hasn’t been from my example.

“Yeah, well, and the best looking.” He fake punches my stomach as he steps around me.

“Whatever,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Let’s go get your funeral clothes.”

“Seriously?” He cocks his brow.

“Get your ass in the car. I’m coming.” I grab my phone and keys, following him out of my office. I pause by the file room. “Donna, I’ll be back in a few hours.”