Page 60 of Bad for Business
And for the first night in what seems like forever, I don’t dream of her.
THIRTY
CAMILLE
“Why aren’t you dressed?”I ask, staring at Ryker in horror as he walks into the kitchen in nothing but a pair of athletic shorts.
He looks down at his body before meeting my gaze. “Because I’m home and hungover and didn’t feel like getting dressed,” he tosses out, his tone casual.
I shake my head. I can’t believe him right now. “Are you forgetting something?”
He rubs at his temples and lets out a low groan. “It’s too early for you to be asking me questions. I just woke up. Give me a damn minute before going into annoying publicist mode.”
Annoying publicist mode? Is he for real?
“You don’t have a minute, Ryker. We’re supposed to be at the couples’ golf tournament in an hour.”
He blanches. His face might’ve already been pale, thanks to the hangover, but now it’s truly void of color. He closes his eyes as his head falls back. “I can’t go. I drank too much last night.”
I lift an eyebrow. “So? That’s your own fault. You’re going. Go get dressed.”
Ryker shakes his head. There’s a defiant set to his shoulders as he meets my eyes. “I’ll just donate double. That’s what really matters, anyway.”
“Ryker,” I begin before taking a deep breath. “You have members from the Davenport Media board that are on the committee. It’ll look terrible for you to not attend. Especially after anyone could’ve seen you drinking last night. You’re going.” I don’t miss how shrill my voice has become by the last sentence.
I’m trying to keep my breathing regular and my voice calm, no matter how annoyed I am with him. I’ve given him countless reminders about this charity event. I even reminded him yesterday when he put in his third—or maybe it was his fourth—drink order.
“I’m not going. I feel like shit.”
I shake my head. Last night, I actually felt bad for him when he told me he didn’t like himself. It took me by total surprise. Even though he’s annoying and an asshole to me a lot of the time, everyone else loves him. They see him as this happy-go-lucky guy. But what he said last night wasn’t that at all. No matter how angry he made me with the comments he made about my father, I still wanted to do what I could to help him. I wanted to make him like himself again.
And then, the first chance he gets to prove himself today, he blows it.
“Unbelievable,” I manage to get out as the disappointment I have in him almost consumes me. “You know how you can like yourself again, Ryker? Stop being careless. You said you’d attend this event, so attend it.”
His eyes flash with anger. It might be a low blow, but I don’t care. Making him angry is probably the only way I’ll get him to this event in an hour.
“You only want me to attend so I don’t upset the board members and risk losing the approval youmightget from your dad. Oh wait, you’re not getting that, no matter what.”
Anger at his words ripples through me. I was hoping he was so drunk he wouldn’t even remember our conversation from last night. I was wrong. He remembered it so well he decided to use it against me the first chance he got.
I guess I can’t blame him. I did the same with what he confided in me.
What’s wrong with us? Why does it seem like we can never get along?
I swallow, trying to stifle the rage overtaking me. I don’t have time to be angry with him this morning. Not really. I need to get him to that charity event, and saying what Iwantto say back isn’t going to help me.
“I got you this,” I offer, walking around to the oven and opening it. I set it on the warm setting so the food wouldn’t get cold as I waited for him to wake up. I grab a plate from the cabinet and unwrap the bagel sandwich. I refuse to look at him as I continue to talk. “It’s got bacon, egg, and a lot of cheese. It’s greasy and exactly what you need for a hangover. There’s also a premade electrolyte drink for you in the refrigerator, along with one of those energy drinks you like. Eat and drink them so you feel ready for the event.”
No matter how badly he wants to be careless this morning, I’m not going to let him. I tell myself it’s because he’s right and I know his board will look down on him for not showing up, which also ruins things for me. But deep down, I wonder if it’s because I don’t want him to feel guilty once his hangover wears off. I’ll never forget the sadness and resentment in his tone when he said the only approval he wanted was his own. No matter how much he gets on my nerves and I want to be done with him forever, I can’t help but feel the need to help him.
I want him to like himself. Everyone deserves that. And it breaks my heart that he doesn’t. Something I’ll never admit to him because he’s set on making my life hard any chance he gets.
Ryker scrapes a hand over his face as I slide the plate across the large island. He opens his mouth to say something, but no words end up coming out.
I point to a small ceramic bowl I already had out on the island. “I took the liberty of also getting you some medicine for the hangover. That should help with your headache. Wait to take those until after you’ve eaten.”
“Camille…” Ryker begins.
