Chapter 8: The Cleansing Properties Of Rain

The Roadie Apartment Complex, 8th and Primer Street, Baltiney New York...

Water dripped off the glistening body of Richard Henry Grant as he stepped out of the shower and into the bathroom. He ignored the sensation of coldness beneath his bare feet as he moved about the small space in search of a drying towel before he stepped into his bedroom. He no longer smelled as if he'd been running a marathon for days, but he was still a bit out of sorts as far as the booze leaving his system had gone. He'd been just about to rummage through his collection of suits for something to wear when he returned to Rocco's bar but found himself interrupted due to knocking on his front door. He had not even been home for an hour yet before he was forced to entertain visitors and was slightly annoyed by the implication. He cut through the bedroom and out into the living room where he marched toward the door and opened it. He wasn't in the least surprised to see Don standing on the other side apparently shocked to see him in a bath towel.

"Well look what the cat dragged in!" said Don with something of a contented smile filed across his decidedly handsome face.

Donald Porter was quite the looker with his dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was plenty tall about a foot shorter than Richard himself and lean in terms of muscle mass and weight altogether. He had met Richard when the two were teenagers about to fight about a parking space during a trip to the local mall when they ended up fighting in a draw and eventually became good friends and later like brothers due to the strengthening of their lasting bond over the years.

"Good to see you up and about Slick," said Don noticing that his best friend had been recently showered. "Am I interrupting something?"

"As a matter of fact you are," replied Richard glaring at Don. "I was just getting dressed after my shower."

Don smirked.

"So what?" he asked. "Ain't like I haven't seen you naked before remember?"

Richard rolled his eyes.

"That was only that one time and because it was your bright idea to enlist the services of hookers because you couldn't control your hormones at the time." replied the annoyed man dressed only in a towel. "Besides it was worse for me given the fact that my cock was bigger than yours and thus more difficult to hide behind my hands."

"Last I recalled you have fun with both the hookers because they thought along similar lines," said Don narrowing his eyes at Richard.

"We were a couple of idiot teenagers and last I recall they robbed us and we had to sneak into your place to get a change of clothes," growled Richard still very much annoyed about the ordeal.

"Rita came to the rescue that day," recalled Don with the same amused smile as before when reflecting. "She never let me forget it, even when we got married."

"As reminded me, you never slept with either of them," remarked Richard.

"Probably for the best," replied Don in a fond tone. "I still think you may have gotten one of them pregnant."

Richard rolled his eyes.

"Not that this little trip down memory lane hasn't been fun, but what can I do for you, Donny?" he asked with a bored expression on his face.

Don smirked at the mention of the absurd nickname.

"I wanted to check on you, Richy," he replied honestly. "You haven't been home in two days."

"I've been around," said Richard casually. "Mostly at Rocco's, you know he never lets me get my keys back if I'm too out of it to drive."

Don nodded in agreement with Rocco's stance when it came to drunk drivers.

"He's a decent man," said Don as he sat down on the sofa and began fiddling with a small handball he took off the end table.

"Something like that," remarked Richard before he turned his attention to leaning against a nearby wall with his arms folded across his bare sparse hair covered chest.

"At least you're in one piece," said Don observing him for a moment. "And semi-sober might I add."

"Not for long," replied Richard matter of factly, "I'll be going back to Rocco's later today."

Don sighed but he knew better than to argue with his best friend about his drinking habit least he want to see him vanish entirely.

"Just promise me you'll take care of yourself," said Don in a serious tone. "I know it's been difficult these past few years with the divorce and all..."

"I'm having the time of my life," replied Richard with a smug expression. "Why on earth would life be difficult for me."

"I'm just saying...Rita, the kids, and I do care about you even when you're being nothing more than a drunken asshole," said Don getting up from the sofa. "I'm not asking you to do anything you don't want to do but it's been five years, find someone or something to occupy your time aside from a bottle."

Richard rolled his eyes.

"Any more lectures Dad?" he asked in a condescending tone.

"It's not a lecture asshole, I just don't wanna see you alone," replied Don in a meaningful tone. "You're far too good of a man to have to endure a lifetime of loneliness just because some selfish bitch deemed it necessary to screw up your life."

Richard sighed.

It wasn't like he was intentionally alone, his constant drinking had been a major part of why he couldn't even entertain the idea of pursuing another woman. He had nothing to offer in terms of looks according to his own standards and what was left of his self-esteem when out the door with the bulk of his money and both of his children into the arms of his ex-wife via the judge during their long and messy divorce.

"I'll tell you, buddy, it isn't from lack of trying," Richard admitted. "But nobody seemed to want to be tied to somebody like me, an out-of-work drunk that doesn't even see his own kids."

Don sighed this time as he walked over to Richard and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"One day you'll find someone else," he said. "And on that day you're gonna look back on all of this and laugh my friend."

"Well forgive me if I don't feel all that amused," said Richard with a sigh.

"Anyway, Rita's cooking dinner tonight if you wanna stop by." offered Don.

"No thanks, I got other plans," replied Richard uninterested. "Besides she won't like me drinking at the house and I gotta be me."

"Offer still stands brother, anytime," replied Don with a sad smile before taking his leave of Richard.

The half-naked man turned his attention toward getting dressed as he was almost dry after the conversation with his best friend. While he had appreciated the offer, he was already in the frame of mind to spend his time elsewhere.