Page 82 of I Am Sin

But I admit I’m not sure what I need to say to her.

I take a bite of my sandwich. It’s palatable, but I’d rather be at the diner.

I like hot food.

All those years in the group home, the hot food was lukewarm if even that. It was about the same at the rehab facility.

I finish my sandwich quickly, and then I leave.

But I’ll be back.

I didn’t bring the bags that I packed. They’re still safely in my room.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Diana

“But you said the two of you weren’t together,” Teddy says through my phone after I spill my guts about what happened with Dragon this morning.

“We’re not.” I swallow. “I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but now he’s here, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Fuck his brains out again?” Teddy chuckles.

I scoff. “God, I can’t do that.”

“Why not, Diana? You’re starting work at that new job first thing in the morning. When the hell else are you going to have a chance to take care of yourself? Of yourneeds?”

“It’s just… He’s got a lot of baggage, you know?”

“What kind of baggage?”

I look out the door of my bedroom to make sure that Dragon isn’t within earshot and then lower my voice. “No one really knows, other than his addiction. But there’s a big story there. Only my brother-in-law knows for sure what’s going on, and he’s been sworn to silence. I doubt he’s even told my sister.”

“And you don’t know anything about Dragon?”

I take a deep breath. “Only that I had to bail him out of jail last night for soliciting a prostitute.”

Silence for a moment.

Then, “Uh…what?”

“You heard me, Ted. Didn’t Antonio tell you?”

“I haven’t heard from him—” She gasps. “Wait. That’s right. Damn, I had a lot to drink. You left the party with Antonio.”

“Yeah. We came back to my place, and we were… Well…”

“Don’t you break my cousin’s heart, Dee.”

“Antonio and I didn’t do anything. Dragon calling from the jail cell put an end to that. We didn’t really have any chemistry anyway.”

“That’s a shame. It would be nice to have you for a cousin.”

“Probably not happening, Ted, since I fucked another guy this morning. Anyway, we were sitting on the couch, talking, and that’s when Dragon called to tell me he was at the station. Antonio went with me.”

“That must’ve been a little awkward.”

I can’t help but laugh lightly. “You think?”