Dawn of Eve, MJ Howson [lightweight ebook reader TXT] 📗

small table lamp beside the couch was the only source of light. He glanced down the hallway to see flashing lights coming from beneath Sean’s door. Jacob sighed and kicked off his shoes and removed his coat, tossing it on the couch.

A bottle of Patron Silver tequila sat wedged in a dark corner of the kitchen counter. Jacob unbuttoned his shirt, yanking the bottom free from his waist. He opened the bottle and poured a shot into his mouth. The warm sting of the alcohol took the chill off the sweat covering his chest.

Jacob, the Patron in his hand, walked over to the thermostat. The heat was set to sixty-eight degrees. The drafty apartment windows meant there always seemed to be a chill in the air, no matter the temperature. He frowned and raised it to seventy-four.

Without knocking, Jacob opened the door to Sean’s bedroom. Sean was flat on his stomach, facing the television on the bureau opposite his bed. He wore headphones and didn’t notice Jacob enter the room. Jacob flopped on the bed, causing it to rock and startle his roommate.

“What are you doing home?” Sean asked, ripping his headphones off. He paused the game. “You told me you were having dinner with Dawn.”

“That was the plan.” Jacob took a shot of tequila and winced. “She canceled on me.”

“Oh.” Sean sat up and nervously adjusted his slipper socks, baggy sweats, and T-shirt. “When?”

“After I got there.” Jacob shook his head and sighed. He held the bottle out to Sean, but he waved it away. Jacob took another shot. “I try not to live with regrets, but I think I seriously screwed up with this one. She’s a mess.”

Sean crossed his legs, fidgeting as he tried to find a comfortable seating position in the corner of his bed. He watched Jacob but didn’t comment.

“First, she says she doesn’t want kids,” Jacob said. “Then she gets pregnant, which, by the way, was supposed to be impossible. Then she loses the kid. But now, all she talks about is wanting to be a mom. And that doll. That stupid fucking doll! I told you about it, right?”

“The therapy doll. To help her get over the miscarriage.”

“Yeah. That thing. It’s creepy as fuck, too. The white face with the painted features. And those eyes. It’s like it’s always watching me. And it looks like shit. How can she be a mom if she can’t even keep a doll clean?”

“Postpartum can be tough.”

“Why are you taking her side?”

“I’m not taking sides. I’m just telling you what I know. I’ve seen it first hand at work. Some women–”

“Whatever.”

Sean glanced back at the paused video game, his controller, and then at Jacob. He asked, “Did you want to go grab a bite somewhere?”

“No. I ate on the train ride back.”

“Oh.”

Jacob took another shot and looked down at his exposed abs. He ran his hands across the hair on his stomach, making a mental note he would have to manscape soon. He pointed at the television and asked, “Why are you home again playing these dumb games? It’s a Saturday night.”

“I spent the day at the hospital. I have to go back early tomorrow.”

“How many days a week do you work?”

“I’m not working this weekend. I was visiting my uncle.” Sean waited briefly and then frowned when Jacob didn’t respond. “I told you earlier this week he got admitted.”

“You did?”

“He fell walking home and badly cut his leg.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“It wasn’t the fall, Jacob. He fell climbing stairs to a place he didn’t live. He was lost. Confused.”

“Getting old sucks.”

“He’s got Alzheimer’s.” Sean sighed and slumped over. “I told you before.”

“When?”

Sean rolled his eyes in frustration. He said, “It’s getting to the point he can’t care for himself.”

“Does he have a wife?”

“No. My uncle lives alone. He never got married.” Sean pointed at the framed photo on the nightstand. “I told you all about him when you first moved in and asked about the guy in the picture.”

“Oh.”

“Why do I bother? You never listen.”

Jacob sighed and did his best to temper his annoyance at Sean’s attitude. Prior to moving in together, Jacob had made it clear to Sean they would just be roommates. Yet, as he thought about the past several months, Jacob realized Sean had slowly become his confidant. He said, “I’m listening now.”

“He . . . he always told me I was his favorite nephew.” Sean’s eyes welled up. “I’m really worried about him. He was kind of like a second dad to me, you know?”

Jacob’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He retrieved it to find a SAM notification. It was from Daniel confirming he wanted to move forward. Jacob smiled and took another shot of tequila.

“His mind is still sharp,” Sean continued. He looked over at the picture of him and his uncle and sighed. “Usually. But I know it’s only a matter of time before he’s lost for good. I try to keep him company and talk to him about the past. He’s so good at remembering things we did when I was five or six years old. But then he’ll forget why he’s in the hospital. It’s really sad.” Sean looked back at Jacob, lost in his phone. “Are you even listening to me?”

“What?” Jacob slid the phone back in his pocket. “I heard you. I can’t imagine being that old. If I could freeze time and stay thirty, I’d do it.”

Sean frowned and shook his head. He asked, “If you already ate, maybe we could watch a movie? Or we could play a game.”

“I have an early day tomorrow. I need to figure out my schedule and how I’m going to fit all these clients in.” Jacob waved his phone and added, “I just scored a new one. Not sure how serious he is.”

“Of course.” Sean flopped onto his stomach and grabbed his X-Box controller. He slid his headphones on and restarted the game. “Clients.”

Jacob leaned across the bed and yanked the headphones from Sean’s head.

“Hey!” Sean yelled.

“Let