"On gym days, I don't get to my desk until 4 in the afternoon, and everything except bedtime and the appointment with the liquid narcotic is pushed back a bit"

This quote by Peter Straub talks to the importance of exercise in one's life. It suggests that on days when he goes to the fitness center, he has to rearrange his schedule to accommodate his exercise. He needs to push back everything else in his day, other than for bedtime and his consultation with the liquid narcotic. This suggests that he values his physical health and wellness enough to make it a priority, even if it suggests sacrificing other activities. It likewise suggests that he has a routine consultation with a liquid narcotic, which could be a referral to a medication he takes or a leisure drug he utilizes. Either way, it is clear that physical activity is a priority for Peter Straub, and he is willing to make the needed adjustments to his day-to-day routine to guarantee he gets his workout in.