CHAPTER 1
Calen
“What the hell, Calen? Are you drunk? It’s not even eight o’clock in the morning!” Garrett’s angry words echoed off the office walls as Calen walked in.
Why couldn’t Garrett have gotten in late? He had a new sub and a wonderful relationship. Surely there was something else he could have been doing this morning. But no, he had to be waiting right there at the front desk on the very morning when what Calen needed more than anything else was coffee and some space.
Melissa looked back and forth at the two men, then shook her head before focusing on her computer looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. The office was usually fairly calm. They all did their best to keep things businesslike and push their more aggressive tendencies to the side. Melissa seemed to understand this wasn’t going to be the most civil discussion.
Not that Calen felt like arguing this morning. He was tired. Fighting with Garrett was the last thing he wanted. Why couldn’t Garrett figure out that he simply needed to back off?
“I’m not drinking at breakfast!” Technically, that wasn’t a lie. He was still hungover from the night before but nowhere near the legal limit. He’d been too frustrated for moderation. The weekend had been a total fuck up. And his morning hadn’t started any better.
“We need to talk.” Garrett’s firm words had a final ring to them. Turning his back to Calen, Garrett almost marched back to his office, clearly expecting Calen to follow.
Why did he work for a Dom who was his best friend again?
Trying to remember that it usually seemed more like he was workingwithGarrett than for him, Calen sighed. He liked insurance. He liked knowing that he was making a difference. Guiding people to the best choices to help protect themselves felt right. He always thought it was the Dom in him wanting to make sure people were getting what they needed.
When Garrett’s father died, he’d been lost. Stepping in to help was instinctive. He’d been working in corporate sales for a large national finance company and while he’d been doing well monetarily, he’d hated how impersonal it was.
Garrett needed someone he could trust to help get the office organized. Calen needed to fix things, so it had been a perfect fit. Some people didn’t understand how he could work for Garrett. They’d seen it as a step back in his career and thought he was crazy for working for another Dom. It might not pay as much but the flexibility and family he’d gained more than made up for any occasional frustrations.
This was going to be one of those occasional frustrations.
Calen shook his head and winced as his brains rattled around. He should have at least taken the time to grab some aspirin or something. “Can I grab a coffee first before you chew me out?”
“No!”
He shouldn’t have to listen to Garrett lose his mind without caffeine first. Maybe several cups. Calen’s alarm hadn’t gone off this morning, or at least he couldn’t remember it going off. He also hadn’t had time to stop anywhere without being late. He was cutting it close already with only minutes to spare before the doors officially opened.
Taking his time walking to Garrett’s office, he tried to think of what to say. There was no way he was going to tell his friend the truth. Admitting to another Dom that he’d gone to the club but hadn’t found a single sub he wanted to play with was not going to happen. He wasn’t embarrassed about not doing anything, it wasn’t like he was a slut, but it would open up a can of worms he wasn’t ready to deal with.
Garrett’s first instincts would be to ask what was going on so he could to try to help, and that was the last thing Calen wanted. He just needed to put everything out of his mind. Calen had hoped jumping into work would help distract him. But having to listen to Garrett wasn’t going to let him ignore his problems.
He’d gone up to the club Sunday evening with every intention of having fun. Possibly a scene, maybe just getting to know someone, but when he’d gotten there everything felt wrong. Being by himself was weird. The subs were all wrong. Even the club seemed empty withouthimthere.
Calen knew he was a pathetic excuse for a Dom but he couldn’t help it.
He never thought he’d be the type to fall for a sub who didn’t want him.
Garrett was leaning against the desk as Calen walked in, shutting the door behind himself. Concern was clearly written all over Garrett’s face. “What the hell is going on? I’ve tried ignoring it and giving you some space. I’ve even tried talking to you about whatever is making you so crazy lately but it hasn’t helped. This has to stop, Calen.”
“I’m not drinking before work. I just—”
“Yeah, you didn’t sleep well. Being hungover will do that to someone. And for you to still be this fucked up, you must have had a hell of a lot to drink last night. What is going on? I’m asking as your friend, Calen, not as your boss.” Garrett’s tone started out mocking and sarcastic but by the end, Calen could hear the sincere worry in his voice.
Fuck. He couldn't talk about this.
“I’m fine. I went up to the club last night and stayed up too late. It’s been a while since I went and I lost track of time.” That wasalmostthe truth. Well, it had part of the truth in it. He’d just left the part out where he’d gone home early and drunk himself into oblivion.
He hadn’t intended on getting wasted but when he thought abouthim,he didn’t always make the best decisions. Calen knew things had been unraveling for months, ever sincethatnight, but he couldn’t figure out what to do. How do you get over someone when you have to see them almost every day?
He’d known Brent for years but it had only taken one night to change everything. One innocent suggestion…that’s all it took for everything to unravel.
“This can’t continue. Even if you’re sober, you look like shit and the customers are going to think something’s wrong. Relaxing things Friday afternoon is one thing, but this is Monday.” Garrett’s body language made it clear he was waiting for a good answer, but Calen didn’t have one.
Shrugging, Calen leaned back against the door and tried to appear calm. He was at a complete loss. He wasn’t going to tell Garrett the truth and outright lying to him felt wrong. With no idea what to say, he stayed silent.
