Chapter 39
Bennett
It felt like a marching band had taken up residence inside my skull.
The dull pounding ratcheted up to full-on percussion jam session anytime I attempted to raise my head from the pillow.
What the hell did I drink last night?
And what time is it?
I felt around my nightstand for my phone, but it wasn’t there. Rolling over, I pried one eye open and met a stream of light coming in through the blinds.
God. I shielded my eyes. That fucking hurts.
I forced myself from bed, went to the bathroom, and grabbed three Tylenol from the medicine cabinet, swallowing them down dry. On my way back, I found my cell on the floor in the bedroom, next to the clothes I’d worn yesterday.
8:45. Shit. I needed to haul my ass into the office. Yet I climbed back into bed. The Tylenol needed to kick in before I could do that. I swiped my phone with the intention of shooting off an email to Jonas to let him know I’d be late, but instead I found a bunch of missed calls.
Two from Fanny this morning, and three from Annalise last night.
What the hell does Fanny want? It was never a good thing when she called.
I was just about to hit ignore when pieces of last night started to creep back, little by little.
Too much scotch.
Uber.
Showing up at Lucas’s house and groveling to Fanny.
Calling Annalise from the curb in front of Fanny’s.
I shut my eyes. Jesus Christ.
I’d woken her up to apologize.
And to tell her I thought she was beautiful.
And smart.
And funny.
And…
That I’d wanted to fuck her wearing a cowboy hat and heels since the first time she stomped her sexy little ass into my office and pushed back.
Fuck.
I spent the next few minutes taking some relaxing breaths that didn’t work, and then hit Call Back on Annalise’s missed call. I needed to apologize before I dealt with Fanny.
She answered on the first ring. “How are you feeling this lovely morning?”
I groaned. “Like I got run over by a steamroller and the bastard refused to back up and finish the job.”
She laughed. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. I was starting to get worried. I figured you wouldn’t be much in the mood for your morning run, but nine o’clock is like mid-day for you.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my free hand over my face. “Listen. I’m sorry about last night.”
“It’s okay. No biggie. I booty-called you last week. You’re entitled to a free drunk dial or two.”
I half smiled. “Thanks. Can you do me a favor and let Jonas know I’ll be in late? Say I’m working from home this morning to finish up the Star presentation or something.”
“Sure. Of course.”
“Thanks.”
After I hung up, I listened to the voicemail from Fanny. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t half as understanding as Annalise seemed to be. But I needed to get my ass-kicking over with. So I hit Call Back on her name next, hoping maybe she wouldn’t answer.
No such luck.
Fanny bawled me out for a solid five minutes without taking a breath.
“You want to apologize to someone, apologize to Lucas.”
I shut my eyes. “I woke him?”
“You sure did. And apparently the little sneak was listening. He wanted to know what you’d done wrong that you were apologizing for.”
Fuck. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him to go back to bed and we’d talk about it after school today.”
“You can’t, Fanny. That can’t come from you. He needs to hear it from me.”
“Then I guess you’ll be having a conversation with him real soon.”
I raked my fingers through my hair. “He’s too young. It’ll hurt him too much.”
“Should have thought about that eight years ago, shouldn’t you? Maybe you would’ve paid a little more attention.”
“Fanny…”
“I’ll let him know you’ll be having a talk with him when you see him next weekend.”
“But—”
She interrupted again. “And if you don’t, I will.”
Click.