As Jack was finally settling into the bed in Aaron's basement he was about to doze off when he heard footsteps upstairs. Aaron's dad was already beginning his day. How could this man be starting his day while Jack hadn't even finished his. Jack could of course blame the time zone difference. That made him wonder though. How long had he been away from the west coast now.

Not very long actually. Less than two weeks. Yet it felt like years ago.

There were no girls out here he'd like to see. He wanted to stay under the radar. Staying off tinder and instagram. Instead he just saw the boys. He liked it better this way.

Eventually he'd need to return to his girlfriend. Or break it off with her and begin seeing random girls. But for now he was enjoying living like a regular dude.

He could tell that Aaron was already fast asleep. Jack would have a bit more to go. His mind would race for at least another half hour. He had that nervous energy. That's why he was an 

ectomorph

. Also why he overcompensated by adding all this muscle ontop of the thin frame.

He hadn't taken steroids since he fled the west coast. Also had been eating like shit. He could tell that the muscle was atrophying. Others didn't notice yet. But eventually it would be obvious to everyone.

He wondered whether he would be willing to live not as a jacked 

influencer

. Could he live as just a regular dude? He had enough capital now that if he were to drop the flashy lifestyle and adopt a regular person's life he could live without having to work a regular job.

A house out in the suburbs. A new car every seven years. A few vacations each year. He could afford that without working a single hour for the next four decades. Would living that way feel like being a regular man though? Wouldn't it feel like he was playing make believe? Regular men drove to work on the highway. They had bosses who they hated. They were stressed.

If Jack didn't have all that... then the suburban house, the family, the dogs... that would all be mere props. A fake life. Just like his influencer personality.

What would a genuine life for Jack look like though? He had no answer there. But he felt a resolve. Tomorrow he would go to Larry's Diner, order a large breakfast, and then sit long afterwards drinking several cups of coffee wondering. :What kind of

life

 he'd like to live.