Page 21 of From Drummer to Gamer

It was well past nine o’clock when I climbed downstairs to my apartment. We all lived in the same building. Emmie took the top-floor penthouse, while Mikey, Lily, and I shared the floor below with our own apartment and a smaller one we used as a makeshift studio for the label.

The familiar ping crackled through the air as I punched in my code and the doors opened. Silence ensued as I entered the room, bathed in the low light that the twinkling city cast from the floor-to-ceiling windows which took up the entire living room. My apartment wasn’t as big as the penthouse, but it was still larger than most homes in New York City.

I padded straight to my room—done for the day. I was depleted from all the restless energy swirling in me. But somehow in the back of my mind, I knew it would only get so much worse.

Somehow, there was a feeling that life was never going to be the same again.

CHAPTER 6

MATT

The following day, I woke up feeling more like myself.

By six, I was pounding the weights at the gym, following my one hour of strict strength and another one for cardio.

Then I walked around the block for my caramel latte and went back to my apartment right in time for my breakfast to be delivered.

One hot shower later, I sat watching the quiet city through the window while I enjoyed my eggs, bacon, and sausage with my sweet coffee.

The structure made me feel human again.

Sierra and Raphael would be arriving later tonight. I asked Tyler, Emmie’s bodyguard and sometimes our band’s security, to pick them up from Iona.

I had a few things to wrap up with Trevor and had a meeting with a potential investor, but I would be there right in time to welcome them in.

I had no clue how to handle two people living with me. I’d never had anyone live with me before.

One thing at a time,I told myself.

I’d tackle the situation as it comes. Everything could be controlled, and every problem had a solution, so there was nothing to worry about, right?

By the time the car rolled into the driveway, it was nine that night, and I was exhausted.

“New York City, here I am,” Raphael screamed, pumping an excited fist in the air as he exited the car. The only problem was he was in the middle of the fucking street.

“Move the fuck away,” reprimanded a soft voice, shoving Raphael away. He dramatically jolted forward before catching himself with a grin.

A tiny pair of legs clad in soft blue jeans darted out from the SUV before they landed on the curb. Swallowed by a similar hoodie, Sierra yawned into her hand as she stepped beside her brother. “Is this where we get to live?” she asked in awe. Her eyes grew wide by the second when her neck rolled upward to the height of the building.

“Yes, Sister.” Raphael smirked, planting his arm around her shoulders. “Just say the word, I’m famous now. I’ll buy an apartment or two. Big man, how much does one apartment cost around here, 50k? 100k?”

Sierra sighed, her tired hazel eyes darting to me. A faint flush painted her cheeks when she realized my eyes were on her.

“Yo, big man.” Raphael jumped in front of me. “My sister asked for the apartment.”

“I didn’t ask for anything,” she mumbled in the background.

“I believe the average house in this area is no less than five million.”

“Five fucking what!” Raphael screeched, his eyes rounding like saucers. “Si, I’ll buy you a city somewhere. What did they build this in? Gold? It’s a fucking rip-off.”

She groaned, smacking his arm, to which he shouted, earning a nasty look from a few passersby.

Sweet, sweet regret filled my blood, so sweet that it poisoned me from the inside out. I was only going to be signing artists from now on who had gone through an extensive psych evaluation that would redeem them as sane. And I would also make sure they wouldn’t be related to anyone with a color of eyes that haunted me the way hers did.

I thanked Tyler, stating that I would take it from there as he loaded their bags on the elevator.

Sierra’s eyes still gleamed with awe as she gawked around the reception while Raphael sported a stupid-ass grin on his face.