Chapter Thirty-Six
Five Years Ago - Ryder
SOMETIMES I SEE a head of dirty blonde hair but it’s never as glossy. Other times I see a stubborn chin, but it’s never as delicate. I see her everywhere and nowhere, but I can’t lose hope that one day, I’ll find her again.
As I knock on the peeling door, a light flickers above me, the stench of marijuana smothering the air. Eventually, the door opens, and I’m let inside. The only light comes from a few LEDs, setting the apartment in a colorful glow. Mitch, the guy I used to steal cars with, broke up with his girlfriend again and offered me the couch. It’s a needed respite from the months I’ve spent outdoors. Dropping my bag on the floor, I flop down on the cushions.
“You looking for work?”
I shake my head. “I’m done with stealing cars, Mitch.”
“Not what I was going to offer.”
“Then what?”
“Ever thought about being a bartender?”