Page 9 of Devoted
Shit, I’m at the hospital tonight. Did you call the cops? Alek is out with Ezekiel, but Rhett might be available to go over.
Rhett
Got off from the Shop 10 min. ago, I’ll head your way!
Viv
Thanks Rhett. We’re okay, I promise guys. Didn’t mean to freak you out, Em and I thought it would be nice to have someone around.
No cops. There wasn’t anyone around when we went out and it looks like the guy ran away injured.
Rhett
Y’all fuck him up?
Viv
No, but Nosferatu might have.
Thomas
Never thought I’d be thankful for a raccoon. Keep me updated, please. I’m up all night over here.
“Mornin’, lovebug! We got coffee and muffins ready!” Rhett’s booming voice is right outside my door.
Groaning, I roll over in bed and search for my phone.
Fuck me.It’s only 7 a.m., and this dude is yelling like he’s already on his fifth cup of coffee. Honestly, he might be. Rhett’s always been an early riser, which he attributes to his farm days.
I can’t complain when it was also his farm days that gave him the skills to bake those mouthwatering muffins of his. With the smell being reward enough for an early morning, I roll out of bed and slip on a pair of black sweats and a Joy Division crop top. As close as I am to these people, I don’t think Em or Rhett would appreciate seeing me naked, and I’m not giving the goods away unless someone’s going to enjoy them.
Not that anyone has been enjoying them lately, but that’s beside the point. I’d like to at least be nose-deep in a cup of coffee before I start reflecting on my love life. My train of thought always ends up back on my asshole boss who, unfortunately, is as handsome as he is irritating.
Shaking my head, I attempt to brush off any thoughts of Knight. And I refuse to admit he’s been the only thing on my mind since the argument we had last night.
“How long have you two been up?” I ask, my voice still heavy with sleep as I make my way through the apartment.
Rhett and Em stand together in our small kitchen, working in sync to finish making breakfast.
“I think I woke up Em with the ruckus in the kitchen. Sorry about that, girl,” Rhett apologizes, shooting his puppy eyes over at Emma.
“Don’t you give me that look.” Emma bats at him playfully before she turns her attention back to me. “I was having some trouble sleeping last night, so I decided to get up early and get the day started,” she explains. “Figured a little bacon after a bad night is a cure-all.”
“Amen to that,” Rhett chimes.
Agreeing, I nod as I take a seat at the counter, and within a second, there’s a steaming mug of coffee with oat milk anddulce de lechesyrup in front of me.
“I know how you get without your coffee.” Rhett winks as he teases me.
I’m tempted to roll my eyes at him, but the coffee he made me is delicious, so I dial back the morning grumpiness instead.
“Either of you hear anything last night?”
“Nope,” they respond in unison.
“Yeah, me neither.”
“Maybe the creep got hurt. Serves him right for being outside your window like that,” Emma huffs as she and Rhett carry over the food, and I take charge of bringing over our coffee mugs.
