Read Online The Guy With the Suitcase (Once Upon a Guy #1) by Chris Ethan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chris Ethan
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under his neck was no longer a habit, so whenever it happened it hurt his whole back. Not that he wasn’t welcoming the soft feeling under him and the warmth surrounding him.
He had a quick shower in the same dingy bathroom he had used before and went down to the common room for breakfast. He took his time this morning, not being in any particular rush. His plans were all set and he knew exactly what was going to happen, so his nerves were at ease and his brain fully concentrated on the one difficult thing he had to do today. Work.
He waved at the receptionist, a hipster with dreads who was too far into reading a book to acknowledge with more than a nod. He was okay with it. They had spent all last night talking about the possibility of him coming back later tonight and grabbing a last minute bed, whether it’d be possible to hold the same dorm for him. He thought since it was a different guy, he could try his luck at pushing things again. The guy had told him he’d do his best and promised to try his hardest to keep the two-bed dorm empty for the night. That was good enough for Pierce.
He went out into the street. Although it was a late October day, he was greeted by warmth and a sunny blinding light. He smiled as he headed up the street. He walked for almost thirty minutes before reaching his destination. A clothing store called Market Deals spread out across the block in red and typical New York foot traffic rushed in and out of the store.
He might have spent all his boss’s money on Rafe’s hostel last week, but he didn’t regret it one bit, and he had even managed to make an honorable twenty-nine bucks in begging, trying to compensate for the money he’d lost and not willing to turn up at work in the same clothes and prove to his boss that he was a hopeless junkie, after all. He now had a bit over $40 to spend on clothes and the first thing he’d grab was a coat. It might be a sunny day today, but that wouldn’t last for long.
He walked in and grabbed a cart, placing his suitcase inside it. He rolled around following the signs to the men’s section.
He needed a thick enough jacket to ward off the cold on the nights he’d be sleeping outside or in the subway, but one that could easily be tucked away into his suitcase and still leave enough space to put some extra tees in.
He was struck by how many options he had and how cheap everything was. He tried more than a dozen coats, assessing them for all their flaws and pros and narrowed it down to two. One was stylish, had a flannel coating inside that made it extra warm, and had enough pockets in and out to fit in a small armada of knick-knacks. It was navy blue in color with brown buttons and cords and reached his thighs when worn. The other one was a black parka with cotton stuffing and a few pockets, but otherwise less practical for anything other than sleep outside. It was easily washable, however, made from polyester. He eyed the clock on the wall and decided not to waste any more time on making a decision his brain had already made ages ago. He picked up the navy blue coat and marched to the t-shirt section. Yes, it was more difficult to wash, but it made him look less homeless and more hipster, which in his situation was a good thing.
The t-shirts he found were on a bargain. 3 for $20, plus $15 for the coat gave him some extra change to spare. He picked up a red comic-book themed tee and two artsy ones, black with white creative strokes and floral lettering which he deemed perhaps more appropriate for a workplace environment.
Making his way to the registers, he noticed the shoe section and a big flashing card that read ‘$5 only’, which, of course, attracted his attention. He looked down to his shoes. While the wear and tear in his jeans made them look trendy, the same didn’t apply for his all-stars. The soles had long separated from the rest of the shoe, only hanging onto a bit of glue, his laces were all muddied up and the fabric
He had a quick shower in the same dingy bathroom he had used before and went down to the common room for breakfast. He took his time this morning, not being in any particular rush. His plans were all set and he knew exactly what was going to happen, so his nerves were at ease and his brain fully concentrated on the one difficult thing he had to do today. Work.
He waved at the receptionist, a hipster with dreads who was too far into reading a book to acknowledge with more than a nod. He was okay with it. They had spent all last night talking about the possibility of him coming back later tonight and grabbing a last minute bed, whether it’d be possible to hold the same dorm for him. He thought since it was a different guy, he could try his luck at pushing things again. The guy had told him he’d do his best and promised to try his hardest to keep the two-bed dorm empty for the night. That was good enough for Pierce.
He went out into the street. Although it was a late October day, he was greeted by warmth and a sunny blinding light. He smiled as he headed up the street. He walked for almost thirty minutes before reaching his destination. A clothing store called Market Deals spread out across the block in red and typical New York foot traffic rushed in and out of the store.
He might have spent all his boss’s money on Rafe’s hostel last week, but he didn’t regret it one bit, and he had even managed to make an honorable twenty-nine bucks in begging, trying to compensate for the money he’d lost and not willing to turn up at work in the same clothes and prove to his boss that he was a hopeless junkie, after all. He now had a bit over $40 to spend on clothes and the first thing he’d grab was a coat. It might be a sunny day today, but that wouldn’t last for long.
He walked in and grabbed a cart, placing his suitcase inside it. He rolled around following the signs to the men’s section.
He needed a thick enough jacket to ward off the cold on the nights he’d be sleeping outside or in the subway, but one that could easily be tucked away into his suitcase and still leave enough space to put some extra tees in.
He was struck by how many options he had and how cheap everything was. He tried more than a dozen coats, assessing them for all their flaws and pros and narrowed it down to two. One was stylish, had a flannel coating inside that made it extra warm, and had enough pockets in and out to fit in a small armada of knick-knacks. It was navy blue in color with brown buttons and cords and reached his thighs when worn. The other one was a black parka with cotton stuffing and a few pockets, but otherwise less practical for anything other than sleep outside. It was easily washable, however, made from polyester. He eyed the clock on the wall and decided not to waste any more time on making a decision his brain had already made ages ago. He picked up the navy blue coat and marched to the t-shirt section. Yes, it was more difficult to wash, but it made him look less homeless and more hipster, which in his situation was a good thing.
The t-shirts he found were on a bargain. 3 for $20, plus $15 for the coat gave him some extra change to spare. He picked up a red comic-book themed tee and two artsy ones, black with white creative strokes and floral lettering which he deemed perhaps more appropriate for a workplace environment.
Making his way to the registers, he noticed the shoe section and a big flashing card that read ‘$5 only’, which, of course, attracted his attention. He looked down to his shoes. While the wear and tear in his jeans made them look trendy, the same didn’t apply for his all-stars. The soles had long separated from the rest of the shoe, only hanging onto a bit of glue, his laces were all muddied up and the fabric
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