Page 88 of I Am Sin

“Thank you.” She blushes. “Would you like a bag for your music?”

“Nope. I’ll just carry it. I hope to hear from the owner tomorrow.”

She bats her eyes. “I hope you hear from him, too. It would be nice to have you around here”—she looks down at the card—“Dragon.” Her eyes widen.

I nod. “That’s my name.”

She leans forward. “I have to say you’re the first Dragon I’ve ever met.”

“And probably the last,” I say. “Thanks for everything, Annalise.”

Annalise gives me a wide smile. She’s a cute little thing, can’t be any more than nineteen or twenty, with a body of soft curves and a round and friendly face that’s bordering on pretty.

I leave the music store, and… Now what? It’s not quite dinnertime, although I can always eat.

But I just spent fifteen bucks I don’t have on some sheet music I’ll probably never use. Just because it bears my sister’s name—the name I try not to think about but is always there.

Fuck it all.

I walk for another hour, breathing deeply, until I decide it’s time to return. Walking past the rehab center, I’m tempted to go in. Former residents are allowed to pop in at any time and talk to one of the counselors on duty.

Sometimes we can even get a free meal out of it if we come at the right time.

It’s too early for dinner, though.

I turn and head toward Diana’s building. I suppose I have to talk to her eventually.

I just hope I can find the right words.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

Diana

I hate the designation of “business casual.”

Growing up on a ranch, we never thought much about clothing. I probably thought more of it than my younger sister, Brianna. She was happy in jeans, a western shirt, and sparkling cowboy boots.

That’s all we wore around the ranch when we were working. I may come from money, but we all were taught the value of a dollar and a hard day’s work.

But I was the one who enjoyed fashion. Brianna couldn’t care less about any of that. Once I got into high school, I’d go into the city on wild shopping sprees, looking for the latest and greatest dresses that I could wear at school dances.

Then, when I got to college and began to study architecture, I went for more of a professional look. I wear a lot of suits with either pants or pencil skirts complete with a blazer and basic pumps.

I assembled an entire closet full of beautiful business clothes, only to find out that my new firm—the biggest architecture firm in the state of Colorado—has now gone business casual with an even looser dress code on Fridays.

If I show up in one of my Diane von Furstenberg suits, I’ll look like a complete outsider.

I spread several outfits out on my bed. Am I overthinking this?

Probably, but tomorrow will be my first day, and I need to make the right impression. Most of my suits would look way too zipped-up and unapproachable.

But a casual sweater and a pair of black slacks might not be enough.

“Ugh!” I shout out loud.

I don’t like any of the clothes I’ve picked out.

I go back to my large walk-in closet and scan the racks once more.

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