Chapter 8

Two day's later Adam stood in front of a display of huge, glossy TVs, and he couldn't stop himself from grinning like a 5 year old. The high definition displays flickered with images of flowers and landscapes.

Kyle rushed up and clasped Adam on the shoulder. "How big are we going man? If you go bigger than 46 inch I'm moving in on the couch."

"Well I think 46 inch will be about right. Anything bigger won't fit on that wall and.."

"And anything smaller is a waste of pixels." Kyle interrupted.

"Right. Basically to be able to use the 1080p to it's fullest extent you have to have a 40 inch or above.." Adam explained reading the tags under the TV in front of him.

"Whatever man. Bigger is better." Kyle said leaning in the read the tag as well. "Just imagine getting high and watching HD on one of these things." He whispered.

"That does sound awesome..." Adam turned and greeted the overly sweet salesperson that was headed their way.

Two hours later Kyle was helping Adam luge the brand new 46 inch Samsung TV up the front stairs. Once inside they tore into the box like a couple of children, tossing Styrofoam and plastic wrapping in different directions.

"Wait man.. that painting.. it's not only awful but it's got to go for the TV to fit." Kyle said, standing and walking over to the cabinet and pulling Rachel's painting down. "Looks better already."

Adam shifted on his knees to relief the ache that was making it's self known. "To be honest.. that has to be one of the worst paintings I've seen. I just hung it up because she was so proud of it." Adam admitted giving up on sitting on the floor and moving to the couch, stretching out and reaching for the bong on the table.

"This stuff has helped me more than half those damn pills I have to take everyday." Adam muttered lighting up and taking a deep breath of smoke. "I'm gonna chill here and let you hook that shit up."

"Oh really? I don't work for free. I demand at least 3 HD movies to watch while we wait for the cable man." Kyle teased, moving books and DVD cases off the shelf the TV would be sat on.

"Deal." Adam mummered turning to lay along the couch, feeling suddenly tired. Adam pulled out his phone and shot a text to Tommy.

'Apparently I pushed myself too much today. Kyle is doing the grunt work. Nap time.'

'Be careful and rest. Text me when you wake up enjoy that TV.'

Adam drifted in and out to the sounds of Kyle puttering around and randomly cursing. Adam quickly found that he couldn't get comfortable enough to actually sleep and it was too early to take his sleep meds. Adam gave a frustrated sigh and tried in vein to rub away the discomfort in his lower back.

'This sucks. My back is killing me and I can't even get comfortable enough to nap.'

'Do you still got that weed? Smokes some more. It'll relax you enough that maybe you can rest.'

"Who are you texting? It's not Rachel is it? Please tell me it's not that cunt." Kyle asked picking up Adam's legs so that he could sit on the couch and rest Adam's feet in his lap, apparently finished hooking up the TV.

"It's not Rachel. I promise. It's just someone I met." Adam hedged, slipping his phone back in his pocket.

"Oh a girl?"

"No man it's not like that."

"What is it like then?"

"None of your business. That's what it's like." Adam nudged Kyle with his foot. "You got that DVD player connected or do I need to call Rachel and have your man card taken away?"

"Good avoidance there. Threatening my man card to distract me from the strange person your texting all the time. That was defiantly a +5 dodge. I'll let it go for now." Kyle shifted Adam's legs off his lap and apologized when Adam winced. "Can I get you something? A heating pad? Pain meds?"

"Oh honey your so sweet." Adam teased reaching for the bong again, laughing and coughing out smoke as Kyle flips him off. "For real though, could you bring me both? Then we can watch a movie." Adam scooted back on the couch and leaned against the arm, trying to leave room for Kyle to sit.

"Your lucky your sexy or I'd leave you hanging." Kyle joked as he appeared moments later with a handful.

"Thanks man." Adam curled the heating pad under his back and tossed back a few pills. Kyle sat down and started up the DVD and about 20 minutes in to some action movie with Daniel Craig, Adam felt his eyes getting heavy. Kyle patted his knee and he took that as permission to fall asleep.

The next day Kyle insisted on dragging Adam out. "Let's get laid man." He had exclaimed pushing Adam into his room to pick out something more suitable than sweats and a hoodie.

Adam was surprised when he ended up in bed with a pretty brunette girl. He wasn't sure how this all worked but he was glad it did.. until she climbed over him and started to ride him. Pain blossomed across his body and he gasped. She must have thought he was gasping for another reason and started to thrust herself down on him harder.

Finally Adam had to make her get off of him, his erection had started to wilt and he felt horrible for leaving her hanging. He didn't text Tommy that night.

Two days later, Rachel showed up.

'I threw Rachel off my porch today. She came by saying she was there to pick up her things...she kissed me Tommy. And for a moment I really wanted to let her back. I wanted things to be normal again. But they won't be normal anymore will they?'

Tommy sat on the cold metal bench in the locker room. He had just finished working out and had heard the ping of his phone before he went to the shower. Tommy sighed and leaned his head against the concrete wall.

'We can never go back once things change. Thing will never be normal. Normal is something that everyone aspires to but never reaches.'

'Wow, your like obi-wan or something.'

'Your high.'

'Yes. But I had chemo yesterday. And my therapist gave me a ride home. I feel like such a man right now.'

' We're about to improve Rachel's painting like the joker in that batman movie.'

'Send me a picture when your done. I need to see this.'

Tommy chuckled and sat his phone to the side. He's been so busy these last few days leading up to his fight in New York. He had 4 more days and he was training hard. He wanted to make sure he won because he knew Adam would be watching.

Training along side Colt was new for him but things were going well. Tommy left the gym every night with a bone deep ache that left him satisfied. Tommy showered quickly and gathered his bag.

When Tommy came out of the locker room Colt was waiting for him. Tommy help Colt close up the gym and with a nod and a wave Tommy headed back to his apparent. When he was about half way home he checked his phone and saw that Adam had sent him two pictures. Apparently a before and after of the infamous painting.

"God that's awful.." Tommy muttered stopping in the street to look at the yellow and purple splashed canvas.

When he flipped to the after he bust out laughing so hard that he had to lean against the near by wall to stay upright. The painting was on fire among other damage.

'Vast improvement.' Tommy text back as he started walking towards his house again.

'Kyle insists we hang it back up. I think I know a good spot. Pics to come.'

Tommy stuck his phone back in his pocket as he rounded the corner to his house and stopped in his tracks when he saw the all to familiar car parked in front of his apartment building. As he got closer he saw the figure of his father sitting on the front steps apparently asleep. He nudged the older man awake.

"What do you want old man?" Tommy asked pulling out his keys.

Paddy opened his eyes and stood slowly. "I wanted to see you."

"You've seen me. Now go home. I need to rest." Tommy moved to unlock the front door but stopped when he saw the stricken look on his father's face. "What?" He snapped, feeling bad instantly.

"Look Tommy. I wanted to say I'm sorry.. and that I understand why you don't want me training you anymore. I screwed up. I've done a lot of that in your life. To be honest I'm amazed your even here in my presence. Anyways, I wanted to tell you that I'm back in AA. I'm going three times a week." He shuffled nervously, not wanting to meet his son's eye.

Tommy stood there with the keys in the door and took a deep breath. He had a choice. He could send Paddy away and worry about the man relapsing again, or he could just take the old man inside and tell him what's on his mind. Then he may relapse anyway. With a sigh he unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Come on. I'll make some coffee." Tommy muttered stepping inside and flipping on the light. Paddy followed him in and looked around the sparse but neat apartment.

"This is nice Tommy. I'm glad you're doing well for yourself." Paddy stood in the hallway nervously as Tommy made his way to the kitchen to put on the coffee. "I didn't think you intended to put down roots."

"I didn't, and I still haven't." Tommy pulled two mismatched coffee cups from the cabinet and turned towards his dad. "Pop.. I stay here because I want to."

Paddy cleared his throat and sat at the small kitchen table. "Brendan told me you went up there for a visit. I'm glad. I've always hoped that one day you two could patch things up."

"We're getting there." Tommy poured to black cups of coffee and say one in front of his dad and took the seat across from him. "Look pops. I'm not good at expressing what I'm feeling but I can say this: I can't handle you relapsing again. If I find you drunk, or if I even smell it on you, I'm gone. You'll never see me again. I... I want you in my life. But I can't let you if you can't stop the drinking."

Paddy took a sip of his coffee and nodded. "I understand Tommy. I know how much I've hurt you.. hell for you entire life. I want to be here for you. Maybe you were right to fire me. This way I can concentrate on staying sober."

Tommy sipped at his own coffee and let his father's words sink in. "Look pops. I have a fight in New York in four days. Why don't you see if Brendan might come down and watch the fight with you."

The old man was shocked by Tommy's suggestion. Brendan was talking to Paddy on the phone but so far had refused to let him visit or see his grandchildren. "That would be nice. I'll call him tomorrow and ask him."

Tommy nodded and popped his neck. "How about I talk to Brendan. I think he'll do better if it comes from me."

After what felt like an hour Tommy let his father out the front door with a quite 'good night'. Tommy leaned against the door and let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. He pulled out his phone and text Adam to see if he was available to talk. Apparently opening up to a stranger first was helping him open up to his family.

A smile spread on Tommy's face as his phone started ringing. It took him a moment to swipe the screen properly, but he answered and Adam's familiar voice filtered through the phone.

"So I talked to my dad tonight.." He said walking towards his bedroom.