Morning Comes All Too Soon
Dina
What is that racket? Half-asleep, I slowly take in my surroundings, which happen to include a very sexy Ryder wrapped around me. I begin to untangle us, realizing the noise is Ryder’s phone vibrating against the nightstand.
I look at the clock, seeing it’s not quite eight in the morning.
I hear Ryder groan from beside me. He doesn’t answer the phone at first. Instead, he smiles and kisses my forehead. “Good morning, sunshine.”
The awful noise begins again.
Looking at the caller ID, he makes a face, but answers. “Hello?”
I don’t know who is on the phone, but Ryder immediately sits up and climbs off the bed. Anger radiates off him suddenly as he quickly slides on a pair of boxers and jeans.
From inside his walk-in closet, I hear him say, “Shut the hell up. I’ll be right there.”
This is a side to Ryder I have never seen.
He comes out, putting on a red T-shirt.
I start to get up, knowing our time together is over, but he shakes his head at me.
“Oh, no, baby, please don’t go. That was Brayden. I don’t know how long I’ll be at the shop, but he needs me there right now. Please, stay here and sleep. Brayden is on a rampage, and I don’t even know why or what’s going on.” He leans over, kissing me on the forehead again as he runs his hand over my cheek. “Seriously, Dina, please stay. I want to see you when I’m done at the shop. We still need to talk, and to be honest, I like having you here. I’ll call in a bit to check on you. For now, go back to sleep.” He leaves then, and I’m too exhausted to do anything but fall back to sleep.
When I finally wake up, I take a peek over at the clock. It is now a little after six p.m. Getting up, I feel delightfully sore in all the right places. I find a pair of Ryder’s boxers in a drawer and a T-shirt. Slipping them on, I listen for noise in the house, trying to determine if Ryder is home. Since the bed is obviously empty and the house quiet, I know he is still gone. It’s then that it dawns on me that I left my phone in my car.
I retrieve my purse and phone from my car. Twelve missed calls greet me, eight of which were Maggie, the other four from Ryder.
Rather than listen to my voicemail, I call Ryder back first.
He answers on the second ring. “Hey, sunshine, did you rest well?” I can hear the stress in his voice.
“Your bed is like sleeping on a cloud, so yes, I slept absolutely, positively, blissfully unaware-of-the-outside-world well,” I exclaim, hoping this will make him feel somewhat better. “You, misterman, on the other hand, haven’t had much sleep. Is everything okay at the shop?”
He sighs, tension radiating in his voice when he says, “I wish I was there with you. Some of the deadlines that I was told were met weren’t. I have some clients to make amends with. I was gone too long, and apparently, Brayden wasn’t being forthright with what he could handle without me. Jake is here to help me now, and I’m going to bring on Andy full-time this week.”
He hesitates. “Brayden and I had a disagreement, and he took off. I’m not sure if or when he’ll come back to work. I shouldn’t have been gone so long.” The anguish in his voice kills me.
Shocked, I stutter, “What do you mean Brayden took off? Like, he walked out on you, on the commitments he made on behalf of your business? He just up and left? I don’t understand. This is more than business; he’s your friend.” From both a business standpoint and personal one this can be bad.
My heart is breaking for him. I can’t imagine having my business without Maggie. And to face clients with someone else’s mistakes would just be added pressure.
Not only do I hear the stress, but I can feel it coming through the phone as he responds, “Baby, I promise to talk to you about it and a lot of other things, but not over the phone. Please understand.”
Before I can stop myself, I ask, “When are you coming home?” It just rolls off my tongue naturally, as if we have been living together for years.
Shit, I don’t know what his thoughts are about us, much less about me being here in his space and asking him to come home. God, I feel like a moron.
There is a longer silence than I would have liked before he answers, “How I wish I was with you right now. My plan was to be back before you woke up. Honestly, though, I’ll be here for the next few days, just getting sleep here and there on the couch in our lobby. Things are a mess, and I need to work.”
I hear Jake in the background, so I quickly get off the phone with Ryder, mainly so I can hide my disappointment.
Since Ryder won’t be returning home, I gather my things, lock the bottom lock on the front door, and leave.
I try to call Maggie back, but her phone goes directly to voicemail. I decide I will get settled, catch up on messages, and then try to reach her again.
Once back at my own house, I decide to soak in the bathtub. My muscles are sore, and other areas are sensitive. What an amazing night.
Part of me knows Ryder really cares for me, but the insecure side of me starts to wander to the dark recesses of my mind. Maybe it’s not about our desire for one another. Maybe it’s bad timing. Being self-employed requires a serious level of commitment and devotion. With his focus needing to be on work, maybe it’s best if we not attempt to start a relationship. I don’t want to be an added stress. Maybe I should back off.
Maggie has told me about the business and how Ryder takes care of Brayden and his other employees. Ryder owns the best classic car restoration and modification garage in the state. He has a waiting list that’s over eight months long. Brayden always liked it just being the two of them, which is why Ryder limited his projects to only six or seven at a time. That way, as they wait on parts to ship in for one car, they can work on another. Usually, the work is divided equally with Ryder putting in extra time to do the books. It is, after all, his capital that started the business. Although he not only pays Brayden hourly, he splits the profits with him and even has a retirement plan and health insurance set up for him.
I have heard Brayden talk about Jake, who helps when he’s in town. He is Ryder’s childhood friend, and is in the Army Reserves. In fact, he just got back from being activated and doing a tour in Iraq. I can understand this since Maggie and I have been friends for so long, and her oldest brother, Harrison, is in the Marines. He has deployed five times already. It’s tough, the life our military service members have to live.
I get out of the tub and put on some comfortable sweatpants and a tank top. Feeling like the worst friend for not returning Maggie’s call, I decide to listen to my voicemails before calling her back. I’m not sure if she knows what went down between Ryder and Brayden.
My first message is Maggie. “Hey, girl, how was last night? You better call. I’m waiting for details, girlie. Love ya.”
The second is Ryder. “Hey, baby, I hope you’re still sleeping. I’m sorry I had to leave. Call me when you get up.”
The last message is from Maggie again. “Dina, I know this is short notice, but Brayden wrecked his car, and we had to go to the hospital. He has a broken nose, two black eyes, and he has two cracked ribs. They thought his jaw was broken, but it’s just bruised badly. The car is totaled, he said, because the frame is bent now. Anyhow, he’s taking it pretty hard.
“Ryder told him to take some time off and recuperate, so he wants to go away for a few days. I know we don’t have any events going on this week, so I’d like to take a short vacation with him. If you need me, that’s fine. I won’t go. I know this is short notice. If I’m not needed, though, I’d like to take the week off. Call me back when you can. Love ya.”
I sit here, feeling even more curious as to what happened between Ryder and Brayden. Having watched firsthand how hard Brayden has been working and knowing he loved his car and it’s now gone, I’m sure he needs this vacation.
Not wanting to wake Brayden if he’s resting, I text Maggie.
Take the week off and take care of ur man. U both have been working hard. Go by the office. U know where the money bag for our tips and bonuses are. Take it all to pay for ur trip. U’ve earned it. We’ll catch up when u return. Love ya, bestie. B safe and have fun.
I know we have almost eight thousand dollars in the filing cabinet. I was saving the money to give Maggie a vacation, anyway. It may not give them the trip to Paris I was hoping for, but it will give them a nice vacation in the States.
She immediately texts me back.
Oh, Dina, ur the best. I’ll find u a souvenir. Love u. See u next Monday for girl time.
With that, I climb into bed, wondering exactly what is going on with Brayden and whether Ryder is missing me as much as I’m missing him.
***
Ryder
Today should be the best day of my life. I have the woman of my dreams in my bed, and we are going to make a go at this. I should be basking in the afterglow of the best sex of my life, but no, today is not a day of relaxing in pure joy.
I knew I shouldn’t have answered the call this morning. The woman who holds my heart was in my bed and my phone was ringing. Oh, hell no, I shouldn’t have answered.
My conversation with Brayden is playing on repeat in my head. The whole day has been like a movie reel, going around and around through my thoughts.
I answer with a simple hello and never make it further than one word before Brayden begins his rampage.
“Now that your sorry ass is back in town, do you think you can manage to get your dick out of Dina and bring yourself to work?”
Anger and rage begin to boil inside me as he continues.
“It’s complete bullshit that you left for weeks. Now, you come back and are more worried about a piece of ass than your business.”
His words have me good and thoroughly pissed the fuck off, so I get up and begin to dress while he continues not holding back.
“Then again, you were more worried about going off with Valerie than business. Always chasin’ pussy. What, Val not good enough in bed for the long-term? Or is a new piece of ass like Dina more appealing? Is that what brought you back?”
Damn him for insinuating I’m still sleeping with Val. He fucking knows why I had to leave.
Now he’s yelling into the phone like I owe him something.
“Sitting back, making all the money off my talents. You’re a true piece of shit, Ryder Davenport.”
I can hear stuff being tossed around in the background, and I am helpless, hoping he isn’t trashing the shop.
Taken aback by Brayden’s words and anger, I realize quickly I need to get off the phone and get to the shop. If he isn’t already there, he will be soon. And it’s time to see what I can salvage of my business, my partner, and my friend.
I quickly put on a shirt, telling him, “Shut the hell up. I’ll be right there.”
I hang up on him, wanting to bash his face in. This is shit Dina and I don’t need when we finally are getting our shit sorted.
Who the fuck does he think he is? Me making money off his talents? I pay him damn well for what he does. It’s my company, and he’s replaceable, though he seems to think he’s not. Mechanics come and mechanics go. I will have someone new by the end of the week if he pushes me too hard.
Looking over at my bed, I see Dina sitting up like she’s going to leave. No, I can’t have her take off after the best night of my life. My chest physically hurts at the thought of her ever climbing out of my bed.
She’s wrapped up in my sheets, her hair disheveled, with a glow brought on from a night of thorough satisfaction. Saying bye to her so suddenly leaves me feeling raw. That isn’t how today should have started.
After convincing Dina to stay, I head to my garage, deciding to take the Harley so I can unwind before I get my hands on Brayden. Being so full of rage, I need the release of the bike before I beat the shit out of my longtime friend.
Pulling out of my driveway, I looked over at Dina’s car, and last night flashes in my head. We went everywhere and nowhere all at the same time, sitting in that very car parked in my driveway.
When I finally arrive at the shop, Brayden is crazed, and there is stuff thrown everywhere—busted containers with oil leaking everywhere, tools all over the floor, toolboxes turned over. The entire garage is ransacked. The garage bays have cars worth more than his house, and he has taken and bashed in the fenders and pulled out the lights on a 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. I don’t even look at the other cars, afraid of what I might do to him.
I’m stunned at the damage my own employee caused to a client’s antique car. The rage inside me is at a boiling point.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yell.
Brayden doesn’t answer. Instead, the bastard swings at me, his fist connecting with my jaw.
“You have lost your damn mind, bro,” I seethe, slamming him into a wall. “Calm your shit, man, and let’s talk.”
When I release him, he tries to punch me again, but I’m prepared and duck.
I have had enough of this bullshit.
I throw my fist hard and fast, connecting with his face. Blood pours freely out of his lip and nose, and the crunch of bones lets me know I broke his nose to the point it will need resetting. He’s a persistent bastard, spitting out blood before he tries to hit me again.
The fight only escalates from there. He manages to get in a few blows until I land a punch so hard to his side we both hear his ribs crack. Then he finally stops coming at me, too busy trying to catch his breath.
“I don’t know what the hell your deal is, man, but you’ve crossed a bunch of lines today. I called you every fuckin’ day, and you said you were busy but fine. Jake was here three days a week, sometimes more. He didn’t take time off to go away after months of being gone. Not once did either of you say anything was out of hand. All you had to do was tell me, and I would have been home, and you sure as shit know it.” I’m attempting to shake off some of my steam and failing. I don’t understand what’s gotten into him.
“If this is about money, you know you get paid more here than you would anywhere else. As for talents, I can do all the work you can, and you know that, too. So take some time and get your shit straight. At the end of the day, it’s my business, not yours. It’s also my money. Period. End of story.”
He doesn’t speak as he gasps for air.
I grab him by the shirt, looking him dead in the eyes. “As for Valerie, you know damn well why I was there. Friend or no friend, let me make this next statement perfectly clear. If you ever talk about my relationship with Dina again, it will be more than a broken nose you’ll be worried about. Are we clear?” I release him.
“Crystal,” he replies as he walks off, breathing hard and leaving a trail of blood behind him.
“When you get your head outta your ass, call me,” I call out to his retreating backside.
My jaw is sore and tight from the handful of hits Brayden managed to get in, and now I have a huge mess to clean up, so there goes any plans to return home to Dina. Man, the thought of going home to her feels so right.
I don’t know what’s wrong with Brayden, but I have my suspicions, and it’s not good for anyone close to him.
I call Jake to come in and help me so I can sort things out. He shows up within the hour, and then we spend most of the day cleaning up.
I try a few times to call Dina, but she doesn’t answer. Jake and his girlfriend Kenna live next door, and he tells me her car is still in my driveway when he left.
I hope she’s sleeping. Just thinking of her in my bed, wrapped up in my sheets, makes my heart beat a little faster.
After cleaning up, ordering the parts for the Rolls-Royce, inspecting the damage to the other cars, Jake and I get started on a 1957 Cadillac restoration.
The only good parts to my entire day are wrapped in her—Dina Renee Fowler. She has me twisted in all the right ways.