Book Excerpt

Today I am doing something a little different. Rather than a blog post, I am sharing an excerpt from a book I am working on. I have given myself a goal of finishing the book this year, so I’m hoping this gives me some motivation to get it done!

From A Room for Redemption:

~Marissa could not wait for the day to be over. She sat at her receptionist desk and watched the minutes pass on her phone. 4:30. She filed some papers away. 4:35. She answered an email from her boss. 4:38.  The minutes dragged on and Marissa knew that watching the clock wouldn’t make time move any faster but she couldn’t help it. She was bored out of her mind. How she ended up at this receptionist job, she didn’t know. She remembered some long ago dream of becoming a lawyer. But when she was in college, she gradually became more interested in parties, drinking and socializing than reading, studying, and academics. After two years, she changed her major from political science to liberal arts.  She just wanted to get any degree and get started with her life. She wanted to travel, spend time with her friends, go out dancing and live life. Who had time for reading cases and preparing briefs and appearing before stuffy old judges? She remembered thinking this at a particularly raging frat party, as the smooth grey goose vodka slid down her throat. Marissa loved the way the alcohol made her feel. The way it would warm her up on the inside and bring her to life. As the alcohol coursed through her veins she could feel herself opening up, liberated from her inhibitions, free.  

“Bye Marissa! I’m outta here! Have a good weekend!” Brenda’s voice pulled Marissa out from her reminiscing. She glanced at the clock. 5:00. Finally.  

“Bye Brenda. You have a great weekend too!” Marissa waved as Brenda’s high heels clicked across the linoleum floor. Brenda was one of the nicer associates at the accounting firm where Marissa had landed after college. As a few more associates made their way out of the office, they didn’t even acknowledge Marissa’s presence. Marissa didn’t care. It was time to go home, freshen up and get ready to party.  

A few hours later, Marissa was knocking on the door of her best friend Travis.  

“Hey sexy lady!” Travis drawled as the door flew open.

“Hey yourself,” Marissa quipped. She could tell he was already tipsy.

She hated it when Travis started drinking without her. She wanted to get on his level and fast. As Marissa walked into Travis’ small one-bedroom apartment, she quickly surveyed the room. Two of Travis’ coworkers were there that Marissa recognized. Philip was a quiet, introspective type. He hid behind his floppy brown hair and said very little, even with some alcohol in his system. But Philip was always gentle and kind, and Marissa liked him well enough. Then there was Samantha. Samantha was tall and lanky, with jet black hair and piercing blue eyes. When Marissa first met her, she wanted to hate Samantha. But Samantha was so down to earth, so silly and goofy that Marissa instantly liked her. They became fast friends and the four of them went out together regularly on the weekends. As Marissa made a beeline to give Samantha a hug, she caught the figure of someone she didn’t recognize sitting on the couch. After pulling herself out of Samantha’s arms, Marissa greeted Philip who gave her a quick nod. Then Marissa turned and laid her eyes on the magnificent man before her. She felt her knees go weak, but kept her composure. She stuck out her hand and felt an electrifying current go through her as he clasped his hand in hers.  

“Hi, I’m Marissa,” she said as he shook her hand.

“Oh, hey girl what’s happening,” he replied in a booming voice.  “It’s just your boy J-Jona.”

She was too fixated on his caramel skin and brown eyes to notice the undercurrent of douchebag in his voice. She lingered with her hand in his and replied coolly, “Nice to meet you.”

Marissa sauntered over to the kitchen where Travis was pouring drinks. In a low voice, she said, “Your friend’s cute.”

As Travis poured Tequila into shot glasses he smirked. “Oh, you diggin Jonathan huh?”

Marissa grabbed a lime and a knife, and started preparing slices to chase the liquor with.  

“Is that his name? That’s better than J-Jona,” Marissa said as she rolled her eyes.

Travis chuckled. “Yeah, he likes to give himself nicknames. He’s a cool dude though. Just be careful Marissa, I think he’s got a girl, or is just getting out of a serious relationship.”

“Trav. I’m not trying to hook up with the guy. But a little flirting never hurt anyone.”

She grabbed a shot glass and downed the amber liquid. She immediately stuck a lime in her mouth, then savored the warm sensation the tequila created as it slithered down her throat and spread through her body. She quickly downed a second shot and felt herself come to life, a subtle pulsing just underneath her skin.

“Whoa, slow down there champ. There’s a lot of night left,” Travis said, eyeing her warily.  

He refilled the two shot glasses she had emptied and placed the shots, wedges of lime, and salt on a tray. He carefully balanced the drinks and brought them to the living room, where the rest of the gang were engrossed in a conversation about work. Marissa hated it when they talked shop. She couldn’t keep up with all the computer jargon as they discussed operating systems and software and blah, blah, blah.  

Marissa turned on the radio and some old school R&B filled the room. She sat on the couch next to Jonathan, close enough so that their legs pressed together. Samantha walked over to the tray, then licked her hand suggestively, pouring a little salt on it. 

Everyone grabbed a shot glass as Samantha shouted, “Another day, another dollar. Thank goodness the week is over. Here’s to the weekend, good friends, good music, and TEQUILA!”

The group clinked their shot glasses together, threw them back like children taking medicine, faces scrunching up as they slammed the glasses back onto the tray. No one said a word for a moment, as they were preoccupied with the lime wedges, soothing the burning in their throats. But soon chatter filled the room again as refills were poured.

“So, Jonathan, how long have you worked with Travis?” Marissa asked, leaning in closer to hear him over the music.  

“Oh, you know, me and Travis been working together for about a year. That’s my boy right there!” 

“How come I never met you before?”

Jonathan smiled, “You gonna see more of me girl.  I’m recently a free man so I told Travis he gotta take me out and get me back in the game. You know what I’m sayin.”

Marissa had lost count of how many shots she had taken. She leaned even closer to focus on his blurry face. She no longer heard the skeeviness in his voice. She was enjoying the attention. It had been years since she had broken up with her ex. That ended so badly, she had self-medicated with alcohol and a string of one-night stands. But recently, Marissa had grown tired of these meaningless flings and had decided to take a break from men. She wanted something more. And while she wasn’t necessarily seeking out a relationship with this Jonathan guy, she had to admit it felt good to banter with him. When Marissa finally looked away from this beautiful distraction, she saw that Samantha and Travis were dancing. Philip was predictably still sitting down, looking awkwardly at his phone. Marissa stood up, pulling Jonathan along with her, and they joined the dance party.  

“I thought we were gonna go out tonight guys!” Samantha shouted.

“We were but now everyone’s too drive to drunk,” Travis slurred.

“Too drunk to drive,” Philip chimed in.

“Yeah what he said.”

“We need snacks, Travis. What you got for food?” Marissa could feel herself slipping farther into the grip of intoxication. 

She stumbled into the kitchen and started rummaging around for something to eat. She opened a bag of tortilla chips and started munching on them, hoping they’d soak up some of the alcohol. When she returned to the living room, Travis and Samantha had retired their dancing shoes and had joined Philip, who was now on the floor playing a video game. Marissa scanned the room but saw no sign of Jonathan.  For some reason, she wandered outside and saw a black Cadillac in the driveway. The driver’s side door was open. Marissa squinted her eyes and could make out the silhouette of a person in the driver’s seat.  She walked carefully to the car, opened the passenger door and sat down. She looked over at Jonathan.

“Watcha doin?” she asked.

“Man, I needed to get some fresh air. I’m just gonna sit here a minute and then go back inside,” Jonathan mumbled.

“Mmmmmm. Kay. I’ll sit here and keep you company then.”

Marissa could feel her eyelids getting heavy. She was so, so tired.  She closed her eyes, then opened them immediately when she heard a car door slam shut and an engine start. Then the car was rolling down the driveway.

“Close your door,” Jonathan instructed.  “We’re gonna go for a little ride.”

Marissa closed her door as Jonathan drove down the street, away from Travis’ apartment.  “Where are we going?” she asked.

“You’ll see,” he replied mysteriously.~