The Mercenary and the Mortician (The Silent Hollow #1)

32. Ryan Fairview

M y head was fucking pounding.

I didn’t drink very often, so that was my excuse for not remembering to chug water before passing out. My mouth was dryer than the fucking Sahara, and I felt like death.

Groaning, I blinked at the sunlight spilling in through my window, and my eyes caught on a gorgeous bouquet of lilies set up in a vase by the window sill.

The second I saw them, memories from the night before came crashing back. Memories of Cal on his knees, sucking my dick.

Oh fuck… what the fuck was wrong with me?!

I groaned again and rolled over, covering my face in shame.

I was such a fucking idiot… Why had I let him do that?

My stomach was churning with anxiety. The more I thought about it, the more the events of the previous night came rushing back.

I hadn’t let him. I had basically begged him to do it... Like a desperate, pathetic loser. Even worse! After, I tried to suck him off as well!

My cheeks burned as I remembered that he turned me down, and I wasn’t sure if I was grateful or even more humiliated by the fact that he rejected me.

On top of all that… we had done it on the back porch, where anyone could fucking see. Jesus, Theo could have looked out her window in the guest house and would have gotten the show of her life!

I literally fucking hated myself.

My phone buzzed, and I snatched it up, already knowing who it was going to be.

Cal Sex God Walker:

Morning, ginger snap!

Cal Sex God Walker:

How’s your head? You hungover or what?

Anxiety twisted in my gut, and for a moment, I didn’t know if I should even respond. I was too humiliated.

Cal Sex God Walker:

I left you painkillers and a glass of water on your end table.

Cal Sex God Walker:

Come downstairs! Your mom and I made omelets today. Theo’s digging them.

I was about to ask him what he was doing making breakfast again when another message came in.

Joanna:

Hi, Ryan. I’ve had a bit of a late start today, but I should be at your place to pick you up for coffee soon. Looking forward to catching up.

Groaning again, I threw my head back into my pillow. Fuck. I totally forgot I broke up with her via text the day before.

I didn’t want to go for fucking coffee with her. I also didn’t want to have breakfast with the man who had just sucked my soul out of my cock. All I wanted to do was close all the drapes and wallow in my shame and self-loathing until I passed away.

Real mature Ryan. Stop being such a pussy.

Glancing over at my end table, I saw that Cal hadn’t been lying. There was a giant glass of water and two liquid gels waiting for me.

A flutter of gratitude sparked in my chest, and I snatched up the painkillers and downed the water in one go, hoping it would help me wrap my head around what had happened the night before.

Swinging my legs over the edge of my bed, I took a deep breath and forced myself to get up. I was changing into jeans and a Fairview Funerals t-shirt when my phone buzzed again.

Cal Sex God Walker:

Hurry up, Ryan.

Cal Sex God Walker:

Don’t make me come up there.

Oh, fuck no. I didn’t want him in my bedroom. The kitchen was better. At least there were witnesses, and I would be less likely to make a fucking fool of myself again.

Ryan:

I’m coming.

Cal Sex God Walker:

*smirking devil emoji*

Ryan:

Not like that, you pervert!

Cal Sex God Walker:

You deff were last night. *winking emoji*

Ryan:

Jesus. It’s not even 9 am. Can you at least wait until I’ve had a coffee before you start making sexual innuendos?

Cal Sex God Walker:

But you make it so easy, baby. 3

Cal Sex God Walker:

Get down here before I’m forced to bring you breakfast in bed.

Cal Sex God Walker:

If that happens, the only thing that’s getting eaten is your ass.

Ryan:

JESUS CAL!

Cal Sex God Walker:

hehehehe

Stuffing my phone into my pocket, I jogged down the stairs and slipped into the kitchen. I blinked in surprise to find Theo sitting at the table surrounded by an insane amount of food and Cal bustling about in his ‘Obituary’ apron.

My mother was already doing dishes, apparently trying to keep up with the whirlwind that was chef Cal.

He beamed at me, and I immediately went tomato red. He took in my flush, and his grin widened further.

“Morning, ginger snap, have a seat. Your omelet is almost ready.”

My stomach churned at the idea of putting food in it, and I almost gagged. Theo raised an eyebrow at me as I sat down, and she pushed a coffee toward me.

Eyeing up the stacks of food in front of her, I frowned.

“Hungry today?” I asked, taking in the box of donuts, two omelets, and a small plate of bacon and breakfast sausage next to her.

“Not really. Your boyfriend just shoved all this stuff in front of me and told me I wasn’t so bad for ‘ an angry bodybuilder.’”

Realization dawned on me. Cal had gotten her donuts and made her breakfast as a thank you for forcing me to realize that I was sort of into him.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I grumbled, quietly enough that Cal couldn’t hear.

Theo rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. “Just a fuck buddy then?” she asked, keeping her tone equally as quiet while we watched Cal flip my omelet in a pan.

“Neither.”

Theo slurped another sip of coffee, her mouth twitching in amusement.

“If he’s neither, why’d you let him suck your dick on the back porch last night?”

My mouth dropped open, and I felt like my eyes were going to pop right out of my skull.

“You saw that!?” I hissed, and Theo chuckled behind her mug, her dark eyes glittering with mischief.

“I didn’t catch the whole show. Once I realized what was happening, I shut the drapes. Next time, maybe get a room, yeah? I’m happy you’re finally getting laid and all, but I don’t really need to fucking see it.”

I groaned and slammed my head into the table, making the cutlery jump.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and I clapped my hands over my ears, wincing at the loud noise.

“I’ll get it!” Iris chimed, sweeping out of the room. Cal dropped my omelet on the table and frowned down at me with concern.

“Did you take the pills I left you?” he asked, gently playing with my hair as I squished my face onto the table.

My skin erupted into gooseflesh as he gently scraped his blunt fingernails against my scalp.

That felt nice.

I sighed and sat up, nodding. I avoided his gaze, still feeling too embarrassed and vulnerable to look at him.

“Yeah,” I croaked, pinching my nose. “Thanks.”

Cal hovered for another moment, and I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my face, but I still couldn’t bring myself to look directly at him. Finally, he slid away, giving me space. I watched him lean against the counter out of the corner of my eye. He took a sip of tea while he continued to stare at me with furrowed brows.

The door to the kitchen swung open, and Iris billowed back in, followed by fucking Joanna. I almost slammed my face into the table again.

This was going to be a disaster.

“Who’s the nun?” Cal asked, eyeing Joanna up and down. Theo choked on a laugh, and I scowled at her.

Joanna wasn’t a nun. She was just… modest. She was a Sunday school teacher for our local Catholic church. Today, she was wearing an ankle-length grey skirt and a white blouse that was tied around her neck and wrists with a simple black ribbon. Her blond hair was in a neat braid that flowed over one shoulder.

She smiled at Cal politely.

“Hi. I’m Joanna.”

Theo shot me an annoyed look, and I knew what she was going to do before the thought even popped into her head. She turned to Cal, an evil smile curling across her lips.

“Joanna is Ryan’s girlfriend,” she said, and Cal immediately spit a mouthful of tea all over the kitchen table.

“His fucking what!?”

My heart was suddenly pounding in my chest. I had never wanted to punch my sister in the face so fucking badly.

“Fuck you, Theo!” I roared, jumping up from my seat. “Mind your fucking business!”

Theo gave me a bored look and stood up too, grabbing her coffee and heading for the back door.

“It would be easier to mind my business if you didn’t make it so fucking public, dude,” she drawled, then slipped out of the kitchen, leaving me with a confused Joanna, a fuming Cal, and a humming Iris, who was idly wiping up the tea Cal had spit all over the place.