Page 20 of Pretend

Theo.

Yes?

I will hurt you.

Because you can’t handle rejection?

Give Dad the phone!

Can’t.

Why not?

Sorry. I meant that I won’t.

“I’m going to kill the little bastard,” Eric muttered to himself, his gaze shooting to the bathroom door as he hit the call button. As soon as he heard the click, letting him know that the little bastard answered the phone, Eric said, “Put Dad on,” as he reached into the shower stall and turned the water on.

“I’m sorry, but the number that you have dialed is out of order. Please hang up and try again,”the little bastard said before he hung up on him.

Nodding slowly, Eric placed his phone down on the bathroom counter, deciding that was fine, more than fine because he didn’t need anyone’s help, not when it came to Morgan.

* * *

This could definitely work,Morgan decided, shifting to get more comfortable on the lounge chair overlooking the beach as she nodded approvingly at the changes that she came up with this morning. This would save the client money and, hopefully, cut a few weeks off her deadline, which was always a good thing with a project this size, Morgan thought as she reached over and picked up the virgin strawberry daiquiri that she’d ordered from room service after she’d enjoyed a lovely nap and-

Once again found herself wondering if she should be concerned when she spotted Eric sitting across from her, his mouth working soundlessly seconds before he dropped his head in his hands with a weakly muttered, “Shit!”

Granted, it had been a few years since the last time that they had to deal with the aftermath of Eric coming to his senses after another failed relationship, but she didn’t remember a catatonic stage. The incoherent mumbling was starting to become concerning, but then again, so was the fact that he kept pulling his phone out of his pocket so that he could glare down at it, mutter Theo’s name, curse, shove his phone back in his pocket, and then…

He stared helplessly at her.

Not really sure what to make of this new development, Morgan shifted her focus back to the notebook on her lap, made another note about the master bedroom and-

Once again found herself wondering why Eric was staring at her.

He opened his mouth, only to shut it seconds later, swallowed hard and glared back down at his phone as he cursed his little brother’s name. Definitely a new development, Morgan thought as she took another sip of her delicious drink before moving to place it down on the small patio table and-

Watched as Eric went back to staring at her again.

Clearing her throat, Morgan asked, “Is there something that I can help you with?”

That was followed by Eric opening his mouth and-

“I’m going to kill the little bastard,” Eric muttered as he went back to glaring down at his phone.

“Good talk,” Morgan murmured, shifting her attention back to her sketchbook, only to frown as she watched the large tan hand that had been stealing her food since she was two years old reach over and pluck the sketchbook out of her hand.

Blinking, she looked up to find Eric hunched down in front of her, watching her as he closed her sketchbook and set it down next to her. “Morgan, I…” Eric began to say, only to swallow hard as he visibly tried to figure out what to say and-

Had her sighing heavily when he suddenly stood up, shoving his fingers through his hair and muttering, “Fucking Theo,” as he angrily made his way to the beach, leaving her sitting there, watching as he finally snapped. She really should have seen this one coming, Morgan thought with a sad shake of her head as she grabbed her sketchpad and-

“Goddamn it!”

-decided to get back to what she was working on. She really wasn’t looking forward to spending the next week on a cruise ship, Morgan thought with a heartfelt sigh as she found where she’d left off, leaving Eric to do…whatever it was that Eric was doing.

Hoping that he was able to snap out of this soon, Morgan opened her sketchpad, grabbed her pen and-

Once again found herself wondering why Eric was watching her. For a moment, she sat there, watching as Eric looked helplessly from her to the phone in his hand and-

---