“W-what?” Ryder whispered. “What do you mean you refuse to entertain any ideas I have for the future? Yes, I know the plan has always been for me to take over CallCore, but I—”
The abject devastation in his tone froze me halfway between the door and my car. Ryder hadn’t noticed me hovering, but he would if I tried to sneak inside. His body blocked most of the door. No way could I go around him without alerting him to my presence, and he’d know I’d heard his half of a conversation I had no business hearing.
“I’m a goddamn adult,” Ryder growled into the phone, his voice rising. “I’m allowed to have my own vision for my future.”
My heart kicked into overdrive as I glanced at my car. If I started back, I’d be caught. If I moved forward, I’d be caught. So I stood there like a living statue, freezing my balls off as time ticked by, and my shift started without me. We were a solid five minutes into both of our shifts.
“No… I…” Ryder sighed again. The heavy sound twisted my insides.
“This is not a negotiation, Ryder.” His father screamed so loud on his end that his voice came through the phone, making me jump.
Shit, that was one angry man.
“Do not fuck me over. You are my son, and you will fulfill your role or find a new goddamn family.”
I gasped.
What the fuck? Who dictated to their adult son like that?
Ryder whipped around. The second he saw me, his eyes widened with horror.
We stared at each other, both wearing dismayed expressions.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I had to be the last person he wanted to catch him in a vulnerable moment. “I… uh… I’m late,” I muttered, scurrying around him to get to the door. “Sorry.” I slipped inside, leaving him slack-jawed as his father’s irate voice still reverberated through the phone.
I dressed, or undressed, as quickly as possible, then rushed out to the floor to set up my tables for the first reservation. When another five minutes passed without Ryder, I paused beside his unprepared table.
Had he left? Would he be a no-show for the shift? If so, it’d be the last one he worked. Parker had very little mercy for guys who flaked on work.
I sighed and then went to the stock room, where I grabbed extra napkins and glasses. After depositing some on Ryder’stables and the rest on mine, I arranged them in the artful way we always did.
The least I could do was help the guy out a little. He was having a shitty night, and he’d sucked my dick, after all.
Do not think about that.
My VIPs were due to arrive in about five minutes, so I jogged to the walk-in for some cold bottles of water. As I rounded the corner, Parker’s angry voice had me slowing down.
“You’re almost fifteen minutes late, Ryder.” Even though Parker’s back was to me, I could see the annoyance on his face, and it made me cringe. No one did disappointment quite like Parker.
Somehow, my tardiness escaped my boss’ notice—thank God for small favors. Clearly, Ryder wasn’t as lucky.
Poor guy. Adding insult to injury was never fun.
Trevor would probably pop a boner at the censure in Parker’s tone, but Ryder merely mumbled an apology while his cheeks flamed an intense red. “I’m sorry, Parker. I had a family… issue.”
Parker grunted. “The only things I hate more than lateness are excuses.”
Ouch.
They stood between the refrigerator and me. Screw it. I could get the water bottles after greeting my VIP customers. I stepped back as quietly as I could, then started to turn on my heel.
“Don’t bother, Alex,” Parker said, making me nearly jump out of my skin. “I’m done here. Ryder won’t be late again, will you?”
“No, sir.”
Parker nodded. “Get to work, boys.”
