Chapter 6
Tanner
My head is fucking pounding.
Barely prying my eyes open, sunlight glares through the glass doors across from me, beaming straight into my face. I let out a groan and toss my hands over my eyes as someone snorts and in a deep voice says, “Good morning sunshine.” Oh fuck. If I’m not at home, that means…
“Rise and shine, asshole.” Managing to sit up, I turn and look up at Noah, his face smug. “There he is. Welcome to the land of the living my friend.”
Fuck this guy.
“Why the hell are you so goddamn loud,” I manage to croak. My back is in knots from his couch and my neck is stiff. How the hell did I sleep last night that made me feel like this?
He laughs and takes a seat on the coffee table. “I’m not being loud. You were the one snoring most of the night. Here,” he holds out a water bottle and I take it from him, downing it.
“What the fuck happened last night?” Everything about last night is muddled. I remember leaving work after a stressful meeting with my boss.The guys were already drinking and I…
“You got into my whisky, that’s what. Passed out on the couch by midnight.”
Shit, that’s right.
Work has been a giant cluster-fuck. Orders on backorder, supply chain issues, bosses breathing down my neck, and I’mmonthsbehind schedule. Goddamn months. I’ve never been behind schedule but with this project, it seems like nothing can go right. I’ve been putting in massive amounts of overtime, overseeing every detail to make sure everything is perfect for Mr. Hammer and yesterday it all came to a head.
Dressed in a tailored suit and hard hat, Mr. Hammer took it upon himself to drop in unannounced. Of course, I had been keeping him in the loop about all our supply issues, but he felt he needed to come and see for himself.
And it all went to shit. Which meant me getting my ass handed to me by my boss. Which led to getting drunk as fuck during poker night.
Kate must be furious.
Shit, Kate. “Where’s my phone? I need to call Kate.” Squinting, I look around the ridiculously bright room for my cell.
“Dude, she already knows. She called late last night, and Gabe talked with her. Told her you were gonna sleep it off here and to not worry.” Noah stands and walks through the living room to the kitchen. “You want coffee?”
I let out a small sigh of relief. She must have been freaking out when I didn’t come home. “Yeah.” Very carefully I peel myself from the couch and step into the kitchen where Noah pours two mugs of coffee.
“Gabe tried to get you to stand up so he could take you to Mel’s house, but we couldn’t get you to cooperate. She probably would have given you a nicer wake-up call.”
Knowing my sister, I highly doubt that. She would have waltzed into the room first thing in the morning with music blasting just to piss me off.
Grabbing the full mug off the counter, I gingerly sit at the table. My back isseriouslyfucked up. Stretching my arms over my head I remember the massage from our cruise and how I would love to have one right about now.
Noah rummages through the refrigerator setting eggs and bacon on the counter. “You know, I’ve known you a long time, but I don’t think I’ve seen you that drunk before.”
Growing up, Noah had been the older brother I never asked for and didn’t want. Gabe always had issues with him and all he managed to do was get us in trouble with our moms. But once he graduated college and moved back to our hometown, he was much less of a dick. He’s still a dick, but not as big a one. Now we’re all friends, most of the past animosity forgotten.
The hot coffee settles into my aching bones, working to fight off my hangover. “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you just as drunk on multiple occasions.” Bacon sizzles on the stove and Noah laughs.
“I’m sure you have.” It’s quiet for a moment before he asks, “What’s got you so tense? You were unstoppable last night. On edge.”
If I was going to tell anyone about the shitstorm that’s been brewing the past couple of months, it sure as shit isn’t going to be Noah. “Nothing man.”
After downing countless mugs of coffee and shoveling food down my throat, I’m finally feeling well enough to drive home.
My only worry is Kate. I know she’s going to be upset at me, but I’m not sure what to expect when I walk through the door. We’ve had our fights here and there which are usually resolved quickly, but I know a storm has been brewing. I’m not an idiot.
I have to be for not telling her.
The thought that’s been plaguing me for months slides to the forefront of my mind. I should tell her what’s going on. Shedeservesto know.
