Page 56 of Passion and Privilege

I couldn’t remember the last time I had such a hangover. With a sigh, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and sat there, letting my head hang between my shoulders while I tried to stop the room from spinning.

I stumbled out of bed with only one eye open. I made it to the bathroom and turned on the faucet. Despite knowing better, I stuck my head under the faucet and greedily sucked down big gulps of cold water.

When I felt like I could swallow without choking, I stood up and splashed more water on my face. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and grimaced. My disheveled hair and red, puffy eyes were all the result of a very bad night. I looked terrible. This was a new low for me.

I leaned against the sink counter, breathing heavily. Last night’s escapade loomed in my mind.

“Shit,” I muttered, running a shaky hand through my hair. I had let things get way out of hand with Catherine. What was I thinking? She deserved better than a quick romp on the kitchen counter and an abrupt departure without so much as a decent goodnight.

I needed to address the tangled mess of feelings competing with the hangover trying to rule my scotch-soaked brain. I needed to talk to her, to apologize and try to figure out where we went from there.

I turned on the shower and stripped. The water did little to wash away the cobwebs but I felt slightly more human. I dressed and attempted to regain some semblance of composure.

I headed downstairs, walking into the kitchen and immediately getting flashbacks from the night before. No one was around. I checked the house until I finally made my way outside. That was where I spotted Bennet and Amber talking.

“Where’s Catherine?” I asked, my tone more curt than intended.

“Timothy, are you okay?” Bennet asked. “You’re looking a little green around the gills.”

“I’m fine,” I answered. “Where’s Catherine? Have you seen her this morning?”

Amber looked me up and down. “She went to her dad’s workshop.”

“Is she coming back?”

“I’m not sure,” Bennet answered. “I didn’t ask.”

“Fine. I’ll be back. Make sure Paisley doesn’t burn the house down or steal my Beamer.”

I walked to the garage and made my way to the workshop. I had no idea what I was going to say, but I knew I had to say something.

I suspected I was falling in love with her. I couldn’t explain what was happening. I had never felt this way before. Walking out on her had been a stupid move. I panicked. I needed her to know it wasn’t the man I was.

I didn’t see her truck in the parking lot, but I went inside to check. John was sitting at a desk in the corner engrossed in a file.

“Hello,” I said, trying to straighten my shirt but knowing it wasn’t going to help my rumpled appearance. There wasn’t enough Visine to clear my red eyes.

He looked up, taking in the sight of me. I felt the judgment. “Morning,” he said, nodding.

“Have you seen Catherine?” I asked, my words coming out more urgently than I intended.

There was a knowing glint in his eyes. I felt like he was looking at me and cataloging all my sins. “She’s not here, Timothy. She left a while ago.”

“I need to talk to her. It’s important. Do you expect her back soon?”

He shrugged. “Can’t say.”

It was more like he wouldn’t say. “John, I really need to talk to her.”

He was quiet for a moment. “You want to see what I bought for Catherine,” he said casually.

I wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything, but I didn’t need to make an enemy of the man. “Sure.”

He handed me a sheet of paper. “I just bought her a colonial-style house near downtown. I know she’s been looking for something better than that crappy apartment. I’m giving it to her. A project she can take on to get out from under you.”

The news hit me hard. John’s intentions were clear. He wanted her away from me. Had she told him about last night? I didn’t even get a chance to explain my actions to her.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” I demanded.