Del debated that he should call his ex-wife, but it wasn’t her business to know where he was but she seemed concern and still cared about him. He decided just to text her.

He wrote, “I’m fine. Got home safe. I’ll call you later.”

He sent it without looking at it. Yet, he wanted to talk to his daughter, Rebecca. Del would try after gets some sleep. His mind was too mushy. Then he thought about his life and how he has no job and no marriage. He sighed. How could he have messed everything up? There must be a way to turn everything around.

He suspected his wife was seeing somebody. They had been sleeping with each other since they separated a few month ago. Marion keeps denying it, but Del thinks it somebody at her firm. He wanted to know who this mystery man was and why she used his drinking as an excuse for their problems in their marriage.

Del drove home to his motel room. It took him longer than he anticipated because the traffic was bumper to bumper on the 405 freeway. He walked up the steps to his motel room and opened the door. He changed into shorts and a clean T-shirt and fell asleep. He slept for several hours and awoke sweaty and hot around noon. Sweat plastered his clothes and his face. He should have turned on the AC wall unit. He was exhausted and wanted to sleep more.

Del stood. He knelt in the ground and felt underneath the bed. He felt the box with his laptop in it. Standing back up, he moved to his restroom. He took a shower and let the water cleansed his body. He changed into a clean shirt and jeans.

Del was famished, and he wanted to eat something. His head also pounded, and he regretted not getting some aspirin. He also wanted to play a few rounds of Strike Blast and check if there was any new gear, but he thought that he needed to eat first.

He felt disgusted at himself. He had enough. He cannot keep doing this, night after night. No more drinking Del thought and no more sleeping around with any pretty girl. Yet, he knew he liked it. He needed the alcohol and like being with women, even though, he couldn’t remember most of it.

Del walked out of the motel and went through another drive-through got himself a cheeseburger and Diet soda. He ate his lunch inside his room. He turned on the TV while he ate. He really didn’t care what was in the news but didn’t want to think about his dismal life and wanted something to drown out his thoughts. The beautiful weather forecaster on TV said it was going to be seventy-five degrees today and will be mild with no clouds. The camera changed and focused on a male announcer.

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He said, “In business news Century Capital Cards company is going bankrupt. They will be closing its doors in a couple of months…”

Del stopped eating and peered at the screen. The announcer was talking about his job. It showed his companies logo on the screen.

“… a spokeswoman told us that they regret that this great company had to be closing. It has been home for customers since the thirty’s.”

Del was shocked. He hoped after his suspension, he was going back to work but now he had no choice but to find another job. His bank account was running low and this upcoming divorce could make him go bankrupt as well. Del heard his phone vibrate. He picked it up, and it was his friend John.

John said, “Hey, Del did you hear about our job going under?”

“Yes, I heard. I saw it in the news.”

“What are you going to do?” John said

“Well, we’re both in the same boat. I’m looking for a job now.”

“I heard that Century Capital Cards company might be sold to a by Japanese company. And they might keep most of everybody. I’m going to stay.”

“Good luck on that but I don’t think they’ll take me back,” Del said.

“So, what happened with that girl that you went to home with?”

“Well you know I slept with her, but she’s married. I don’t remember much of anything. I climbed out of her bedroom because her husband came home.”

John chuckled and said, “I didn’t know she was married. Would it have mattered if you knew?”

“Well, I would like to have known that.”

“What’s wrong? You have been sleeping around with any woman you could talk too. Your separated.”

“Yes,” he said.

“Do you want to see Cheryl again? I can get her number.”

“No, I’m done with her. I’m going to stop drinking and dating for now.”

“So you’re going on the wagon. What made you change? I thought you’re having fun,” John said.

“I want to see my daughter again. I’m going to try to get Marion back. I’m going to find a job and be a good husband,” he said.

John said, “Good luck.”

“Thanks,” he said, “Hey, do you still talk to that guy who works at the other Top Credit Card company on the other side of town. I forgot his name.”

John said, “You mean Bill Jenkins?”

“Yes.”

“I have his number somewhere. I’ll text it to you. I think he’s a manager there.

“Thanks.”

“I’ll talk to you later. Are you going to play Strike Blast today?”

“Maybe, I’m not sure. Oh, I almost forgot I have something for you. It’s a card for a prototype game. I’ll tell you later about it.”

“All right. See ya.”

Del finished his cheeseburger and fries. He sat there thinking what he should do. His room was hot, and he turned on his air conditioner. The machine made a loud noise and the cold air came out of the vents. Del shook his head.