Page 34 of Cruel Devil
“Why didn’t you call? I would have come back sooner.” I rub the back of my neck. He can’t keep going like this. He needs help. Like real, professional help. “I think you should see someone—”
“I’m not talking to a fucking shrink.”
I open my mouth to argue with him, but a phone buzzing halts my response. Aaron frowns down at his phone, the thing still buzzing.
“Who is it?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No clue.” He lifts the phone to his ear and answers. “Hello?”
“I’m gonna grab a quick shower,” I tell him and head down the hall. I make it quick and cold. Enough time to wash the sweat from my body and erase the images of Kasey from my head so my dick calms the fuck down. That finished, I throw on a clean pair of clothes and head back to check on Aaron.
He still has the phone to his ear, but all the blood has drained from his face as he listens to whoever is talking.
“You okay, man?”
It’s like he doesn’t even hear me. His eyes fill with moisture and my chest seizes.Fuck.His hand falls away from his face, the phone still cradled in his palm. Whoever is on the other line is still speaking, but Aaron’s no longer listening. I reach for the phone and he relinquishes it without comment.
I bring it to my ear right as he drops his head in his hands, a sob wracking his entire body.
“Who the hell is this?” I snarl.
There’s a pause. “Are you related to Mr. Henderson,” a calm voice asks almost hesitantly.
“I’m his roommate. What’s going on? What did you say to him?” He’s not in the right headspace to deal with whatever shit this is right now.
The guy on the other line clears their voice. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I was explaining to Mr. Henderson—”
“Aaron,” I correct.
“Right. I was explaining to Aaron that there’s been an accident.” I wait. “His… his mother was in a car accident on the highway earlier today. There was a pileup, and while Ms. Douglas was able to stop before colliding with the vehicle in front of her, the eighteen wheeler behind her wasn’t able to do the same.”
Fuck.
“Is she okay?”
He’s quiet for a beat, and I look down at Aaron. He’s hunched over, elbows on his knees and hands on the back of his head. If she was okay, he wouldn’t be like that.
“She was rushed to Mercy Hospital but was DOA.”
“What the hell does DOA mean?” I bite out, and it’s Aaron who answers, his voice dejected.
“Dead on arrival.”
“What?” I ask him, eyes wide before repeating into the phone, “What? She’s dead?”
Aaron flinches.
“I’m sorry. She’s gone. Aaron Henderson is listed as her next of kin. I was contacting him so we can proceed with the next—”
“No. He’s not dealing with that today. He just found out his mom is gone. Everything else can wait.”
“Sir, if I—“
“No. You can call back in a few days. Give the man some time to grieve.” I hang up and toss Aaron’s phone on the sofa beside him.
“Hey.” He’s not looking at me. “What do you need, man? What can I do?”
He hiccups and then gets to his feet.
