Page 31 of Hollyhocks

I scrub my skin with the towel. “Come on. Come on. This isn’t funny. I swear to God, I’m going to kill Rhett. I’m going to kill him.” He’ll probably kill me first before I have a chance to charge but at least I tried.

This mark isn’t coming off.

I toss the towel on the floor and stare at my reflection again. I comb my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath as I try to calm down.

“Wild. Fucking wild.” I tug on the roots of my hair. “There’s no other way to explain it and there has to be an explanation as to why I suddenly have a tattoo on my fucking cock.” I yell at my dick, wondering how it got itself in this position.

How I got myself into this position.

With angry steps, I stomp my way to the bedroom, snatching my phone from the nightstand. I don’t care how early it is. Rhett is going to hear from me.

I click his name in my phone and press call, placing him on speaker. Five rings sound before he finally answers.

“Do you know what time it is?” He yawns. “Everything alright? You never call this early.”

“No. Everything is not alright, Rhett. I need you to be honest with me. Do not lie.”

“Fitz, what’s going on?” My best friend sounds more serious, the sleepy tone of his voice replaced with concern in an instant.

“Did you shift into your ghost, break into my house, and draw something on my dick?”

Silence falls between us before a loud laugh has me tugging the phone away because the speaker crackles.

While he laughs, I open the nightstand drawer, pull out a pen and paper, and start writing the names of all the girls who thought my cock was too short. I have no idea why. I just know I need to. The satisfying rip of the page from the pad can’t even be heard over my best friend’s laughter.

I slap the note on the nightstand, trying to figure out along with everything else why I needed to do that.

“Rhett, I’m serious. This isn’t funny. I can’t get it off. I’ve scrubbed it until the skin is raw. I just need to know if you did it.”

His laughter dies and he becomes more serious. “It won’t come off? At all? Not even a little?”

“No. Nothing. I’m worried, man. I need to go to the doctor to make sure everything is okay. I don’t have any clients coming in today. Their cars are at the shop already. I’ll get to the garage, but I’ll be a few hours late. I just wanted to let you know.”

“Listen, I don’t know what is going on, but I wouldn’t break into your house when I have a very pregnant wife who is about to give birth to twins. I wouldn’t leave her alone at night. And I love you like a brother, but I’m not drawing on your dick.”

I’m not sure why I release a long breath of relief. I knew in my heart he wouldn’t do that to me but since it wasn’t Rhett, I’m at a loss.

“I don’t know, man. It’s wild. Maybe I did it. A lightbulb is broken too, the one hanging near the wall by my bed.”

“Maybe. Don’t worry about the shop. It will be fine for the day. Take care of yourself and keep me updated.”

I nod, forgetting he can’t see me. “Yeah, I will.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. Okay? Don’t borrow worry when you don’t have all the facts.”

“Yeah, yeah—” I clear my throat. “Okay, go back to sleep. I’ll let you know when I have updates.” I hang up the phone, my heart thudding in my chest with fear.

I can’t help but spiral and think of the worst. What if I have that flesh-eating disease? On my dick? That’s a stupid thought. It wouldn’t look like this… would it? I don’t know.

My body is still damp when I throw on sweatpants, a T-shirt, and a hoodie. I don’t even bother with my coffee. Nothing is going to slow me down from getting to the doctor. I slide my phone into my pocket, then run down the steps so fast, that I miss the last stair, and run right into the front door.

“I hate mornings,” I grumble, pushing myself away from the door.

My jaw aches. My cheek is red from the hit but the only thing that would stop me from getting to the doctor is if I died. I grab my keys from the coffee table, slip on my boots without tying the laces, and I’m out the damn door.

It’s a chilly morning with fog heavy in the air, rolling in from the lake. It’s quiet. Peaceful.

Unlike me, right now.

---