Veil of Lies: A High Stakes Affair

n's

nket. I pushed the covers off of me and sat up noticing the beer bottles that had collected on my bedside table. Mattie hadn't made her

underwear for this type of existence, and my effort to keep them clean had been the only ch

six months. The party had been a fluke, and I didn't know any of the people that showed up. I'd woken up naked with three women in my bed, an

ens washed, I didn't do anything else. Every meal was bought, and t

ned on the water. While it got hot, I stood at the sink and brus

of his trying to get me on board at the firm. I didn't care if my name was already on the letterhead, door, and the sign out front: I wasn't much of a defender. I'd spent

steamy bathroom and left it on the

n't had enough alcohol in me to deal with his shit, so I wrapped a towel around me and went to my cl

like Mattie, but I found myself not wanting to eat anything. Another glance had me cursing. She's thrown ou

at the bar. I'd have to take my old truck, which was my other standby. It wasn'

wer him soon, he'd come looking for me, especially since he'd never called so much in a day bef

the opposite end of the bar from me and spent more stool time ther

here,

om the back with a confused look on his face. "Your bike i

sure I can ha

hrew out my beer." I clapped my palm agains

o tend to Smitty's request. "So, what's coming?"

took out my phone and glanced at it. I had a few missed calls from

stepped up in front of me. "Why haven't yo

nt, it was the police telling me that my entire family

all day?" He wiped the bar a

inking of going back to the gym." Smitty laughed at s

patrons arrived. "You mean you stopped?"

some time now. I guess I

ot that I don't want your money, but I'm working overtime with that bike of your

k I will head over to the gym. My membership is still good, and I think there's a woman or two missing me." I glanced at my phone a

for you." He winked and te

safe and sound. Good ol' Glen. I couldn't blame him for being bothered; he'd taken care of moving my bike to the back so ma

wouldn't have to move her." He helped me heave the thing

n't want to stop drinking and put y

into place and secured my straps. "You know, friend to friend, I

with it. I'm going to go get lost for a

en to your place, I've seen what you

e, might as well

ou're a wealthy man who's slumming it eight days a week. Not

woman named Mattie?" I chuck

ge estate that's going to shit. I've seen that place in its glory, and it's go

'd mind his own business. I had a lot of responsibility, and it had all been dump

and. Most people would kill

nd I can't stand having an entire staff around giving me pity. So, shortly after the accident, I let the staff go, paid off the ones who deserved retirement, and have been dealing wit

and he gave me a sideward glance as if tilting

on. He didn't get my argument, and so I was going to go into practice on my own, away from his firm. You can imagine how well that wen

erve you beers any time you want, but this will always be here. You should really think about s

pocket, I decided to leave it and Glen where they w

et to the long drive, I got a good look at the grass and another overgrowth. A storm had knocked

the home back in shape over the next month or so and then keep them around for gene

me soon. I had already made up my mind to go down to the gym and see how m