When the Music Stops (Mason Brothers Book #2)

Chapter 5

JOLIE

What I thought would be a full procedure done by the doctor ended up being just a series of two pills. I was thankful that this was the case because of my very recent history I didn’t want to take any type of pain pills. Having a procedure done would have been more difficult. It was really hard to get through the first week, but the staff at the center was very supportive. I was worried that I’d feel judged and maybe they did judge me for my mistakes and my choices, but they never showed it.

Camilla and Bo welcomed me with open arms last week. I was supposed to do another week at the rehab, but Lacey told the directors that due to the circumstances surrounding my abortion and my mental health that the week spent in a home rather than a center would be better for both recoveries. They agreed with her assessment and I was able to spend the last week in a home, getting care from Camila, and eating home-cooked meals rather than cafeteria food. It worked wonders on both fronts.

After getting the doctor’s clearance, Bo took me into their restaurant and started to show me the ropes. I thought I was going to ease into it, but he had other ideas. He put me right into lunch shifts the very first week that I was feeling up to working. By the second week, he was teaching me things in the bar. 

I questioned whether or not it was a good idea with me working with alcohol, but I also knew that drinks were not my poison, drugs were. In fact, I hadn’t had my first drink until I was 18, but I started smoking pot at 14 and did my first line of cocaine at 15. As part of the agreement I made with Bo, if I wanted to work as a bartender, I needed to take some of the classes to get qualified.

This week I’m officially two months sober. This is the longest I’ve gone without drugs since I was in high school.. I’ve been attending an NA group two to three times a week and still go to outpatient group therapy once a week. Camilla and Bo have been with me every step of the way and without their support, this would have been almost impossible.

My parents kept their promise that they would leave me alone if I went to rehab. Maybe someday I would feel like making contact with them again, but today wasn’t that day and tomorrow wasn’t looking good either. I was full steam ahead. The first 21 years of my life were over and the next however many I was blessed with were my future.

I said bye to some of the people I had met during the morning class I was taking and decided to head down to the coffee shop on the corner to grab some lunch before my afternoon class. I walk past a door and it swings open and a huge body slams right into me and I almost go flying across the hall except a hand grabs my arm.

“Oh crap, I am so sorry,” I apologized right away.

“No, totally my fault.” The stranger admitted. “I was on my phone like a total jackass. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I guess it is illegal to text and drive for that reason.”

He laughed, “Maybe it should be to text and walk too. You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, really.”

He puts his hand out, “My name’s Cade.”

“Jolie,” I said while shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, Cade.”

“I take it you’re a bartender?” He asked. The question was pretty obvious considering we were at a school for bartenders.

“Kind of. I’m working at a place that has a bar and the owner said if I go through the training that he’d let me work behind the bar too.”

“Sounds like a nice gig. You from around here?”

“Sort of. Boulder originally, but I’m living here for now.” I look down at my phone and see I only have a half-hour before the next class starts. “Hey, I hate to be rude, but I was going to grab a quick bite to eat before my afternoon session.”