Max was already gone.
I rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom, one look in the mirror, and ugh, one bloodshot face looked back at me. I looked like something the dog just threw up. I washed my face and did my business. Hunted for something to calm the racket going on in my head, making it hard to think. Sounds like the band’s drummer was still practicing in my head, and I am sitting right in the front row seat. Popped a couple of pills and headed down to the kitchen, hoping the coffee pot was hot. I need something; my mouth feels like I ate the pillow last night, or a cat came and sat on my face.
No one was in the kitchen when I got there. It was late morning, and after last night, I doubt many are awake yet. Most likely, they were sleeping off the bender we had. It was a good night, but I am seriously considering whether drinking till I was legless was a good thing.
I touched the coffee pot.
“Ouch.” I cussed out loud, shaking my hand. That was a stupid thing to do. I mumbled to myself, blow air on my hand.
Made a coffee and went in hunt for the Prez, need to know what my new duties are before I go hunt for my woman, it feels good to say that. I never thought I would ever claim a woman, not after my nightmare with a woman.
Knocked on his door and waited outside. I had seen some sleeping forms on the floor in the main club room. I guess they left them to sleep it off where they fell. I am fortunate to have a considerate brother. I will have to track him down later and thank him properly.
“Come in.” I heard and entered. Pres was alone, knee-deep in paperwork as usual.
“Here.” I handed him a coffee and sat opposite, sipping mine.
“You’re a lifesaver.” he took a long gulp of the hot coffee, and I wondered briefly how he could drink it so hot.
“Ready for your first day on the job?” He asked with a grin.
For the next two hours, the Prez and I worked on the piles on his desk. I am proud to say, I can see his desk now.
My headache was gone, and my stomach was ready to be filled.
“Food,” the Prez announced, after chuckling at the sound of my stomach, making it known it skipped breakfast.
Maxine POV
The door opened, letting the beat of the drums downstairs grow louder, enough to arouse me, but not fully awake.
Zero spoke kindly to his brother; it warmed my heart that these two siblings cared so much for each other. They had each other’s backs. Even when both were obviously drunk, they still tried to help each other. Guess Tank was more the worse for wear than Zero, drunk as a skunk, legless, call it what you will, but they both reeked of booze.
Wish my family had been like that. I pushed that fleeting thought away; no use crying over wanna’s or should-haves.
I didn’t wake fully, so sleep found me fairly quickly once Zero left the room, and Tank’s soft snores started.
My bladder had me out of bed and stumbling to the bathroom.
Completed what I needed to do and returned to stand, looking out the window. We hadn’t closed the curtains, and the window was slightly ajar, sending in a cold breeze. It wasn’t too bad, enough to raise goosebumps on my arms. The sun had started to change the night’s darkness into pre-dawn twilight, enough to see outside, but no sun yet to begin the long stretches of shadow along the ground.
It was peaceful, calm before what madness the day might bring; some bodies lay on the ground, sleeping where they fell, not as lucky as Tank, who had his brother to help him to a comfortable bed, hope Zero found his, and was not lying somewhere on the ground.
I gave Tank one last look, pulling the covers up over him. He was still lying on his back, where Zero dumped him, sound asleep.
The kitchen was empty, except for lots of dishes yet to be washed after last night’s party. While I wait for the coffee pot to do its thing, I filled the dishwasher, tidied up a little, poured a cup of coffee, grabbed a sad-looking apple, and headed to my workshop.
The place was my new sanctuary, a place I could come and hide and get things done.
I sorted out the paints in the back room, the ones I was going to use on the Prez bike, then opened up my computer, printed out my design, cleaned up the tanks, and got to work on the design, placing an undercoat first. The color of the main part of the tank would be, then, with a small outline, to start putting the basic idea of the design on the metal.
I have no idea how long I sat there in the area I had created for this part of the work, as this was not done in the special paint room, which is the room I would use when I start adding colors to the tank. But Cricket came in, placed a coffee and some toast on an upturned box she had placed near me, and stood watching for a while.
“Thank you,” I said as I lifted the end off the tank and looked up at her.
“Don’t make a habit of it. Like the design so far.” Turned and left. My eyes tracked her till she left the building.
I am unsure what I am not supposed to make a habit of. I shrugged, took a sip of coffee and a large bite of toast, and looked back down at what I had been doing. I had done enough to get a good idea of what it will be. Another hour and I can consider adding some paint.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.