Read Online Monsters by Liz Kay - Free Book Online

influence.”
    â€œI hear that a lot. Come on.” He stands up and pulls me to my feet. “I’ve got a room for you upstairs.”
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    When I wake up, there’s a pale yellow light coming in through the window. The curtains are just these thin beige panels, and they don’t keep anything out. I can see now that there’s a shade behind them that I could have pulled down, but of course I hadn’t noticed. It doesn’t really matter. It’s always hard for me to stay asleep.
    In the shower, I let the hot water run through my hair for a long time, try to massage away the fog left by the wine.
    I walk back into the bedroom and pull my clothes out of the bag. Packing for this was confusing. I mean, what do you wear to a business meeting that’s in someone’s house? And what if the person you’re meeting is really powerful but they’re more of an artist? I don’t know. That’s too many variables for me, so I brought these black pants with a wide leg, but they hang really low on my hip like they could be casual. The top is this sleeveless, mossy green knit, and it’s got this nice flow to it and a low neck, which now that I have it on, shows kind of a lot of skin. I wish I’d brought a tank or something to put under it, but I didn’t, so I’ll just have to live with it.
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    Tommy is already in the kitchen when I get downstairs, and he looks fine, refreshed even. He’s sitting at the counter reading a newspaper. I don’t know how he can live like he does and still look like that. It took a lot of work to disguise the circles under my eyes.
    â€œMorning, lazy. Thought you were gonna sleep all day.”
    â€œPlease. It’s not even nine. Coffee cups?”
    He points to a cabinet, and I open it, take down a mug to fill. The coffee smells perfect, all earthy and rich. “Actually, I’ve been awake for hours.” I lean back against the counter across from him. “I don’t sleep all that well.”
    â€œEver or just the last year?” He sets his newspaper down like he’s giving me his full attention.
    I shrug. “I guess it’s probably gotten worse.”
    â€œDaniel can get you a prescription if you want to try some Xanax or something.” He gives me this look like he’s actually a little concerned. “That, or maybe you just need to get laid.”
    â€œWow, you’re like a doctor or something, aren’t you?”
    â€œYou’d be surprised how much it helps.”
    â€œWell, you look like the picture of health in any case.” I look back down at my coffee. I bring the mug up to my lips, but it’s still too hot, so I just blow on it.
    He picks his paper back up, refolds it to a different page. “Honestly, honey, with you looking like that, it would not be hard to arrange.”
    â€œWow. Isn’t that the highest compliment? ‘I bet there’s someone willing to fuck you.’ You’ve made my day.”
    â€œJason’s going to love you, actually, which might work in our favor.” He sort of gives me this nod like,
That would be great.
“I don’tknow if it’ll really help your sleeping problem because he is married. Third wife though, so who knows?”
    â€œYou are such an asshole,” I say, and I stand up and walk to the other side of the island, which is actually closer to where he is, but I can’t figure out another direction to move.
    â€œI’m kidding. Jesus. I forgot how uptight you are.” He stands up and walks toward me with his arms kind of raised like he wants to give me a hug, and I take a step back.
    â€œOh, come on, Stacey. Lighten up. I’m just giving you shit.” He reaches me and throws his arms around me and slides his head right down next to mine. “You really need to learn to relax. No wonder you can’t