Page 103 of Back to You

The door opened again, and the book club let out a delighted cry of “Lake!” as the man in question walked in.

“Hi ladies! I didn’t get to read this week’s book, I’m sorry. I got hung up on some data analysis. It’s such fascinating work! Then I was going to read the book, but I forgot what it was called. So I went looking online for books with naked men on the cover, but there are a lot of those! It’s mind-blowing! So I read three of those just in case one of them was the book club book, but I stayed up really late last night reading, so I drank all the coffee in my apartment before I went to work. Brandon, can I have my usual?” Lake said all this without blinking or really stopping to take a breath.

Brandon was already shaking his head as he turned to make a shot of espresso. “One-shot latte and a muffin, coming right up!”

“Aw rats.”

“Lake, you want to take a run around the block?” Ethan suggested.

Lake seemed to be considering this. “Not really, no. Why do you ask?”

Ethan burst into laughter again. “No reason, buddy.”

Brandon watched Ethan laugh, know he looked besotted and not caring a bit. He’d missed this, just the day-to-day little things that made up a relationship. He heard the book club yell “aww” again and ignored it, not knowing if they were talking about him or Lake. People said “aww” a lot around Lake.

He handed over Lake’s drink and forced him to eat a muffin. Then he leaned back on the counter and surveyed his domain.

Michelle and the book club ladies were still dissecting his relationship status. Ethan had joined Lake at a table and was urging him to eat. There were kids in the play area and relieved-looking moms near the window. Everything was clean and sparkly, and Brandon felt the bone-deep satisfaction of a job well done.

It was turning out to be a good day.

***

Just when you think everything is perfect, life has a way of fucking you over.

Brandon closed up the cafe for the night, already thinking ahead to his dinner with Ethan. He absently cleaned and mopped the floor, getting everything ready for the next morning. He knew he was acting like a lovesick fool, but just went with it. Anything was better than the time when they’d been apart.

He hopped in his car and headed for home to get cleaned up before meeting Ethan for dinner. He was nearly at his apartment when he felt a huge impact against the car. He felt as though he was rolling, turning upside down in his seat. His vision darkened, and his last thought before he passed out was that he’d be late for dinner.

***

Ethan paced the floor, concerned. It was an hour past the time Brandon said he would meet him, and he still wasn’t there. Ethan’s calls were all going to voicemail. He ignored the dinner going cold in the kitchen behind him and paced back and forth once again.

He had just picked up his phone to call Michelle and see if she knew where Brandon was when it rang in his hand. He answered it in relief. “Brandon?”

“Ethan Thompson?”

He shook his head in confusion at the unknown voice. “Uh, yes?”

“I’m calling from East Westfield Medical Center. We have you listed as the emergency contact of Brandon Michener?”

Never in his life had Ethan felt as much terror as he did at that moment. “Yes,” he croaked, almost unable to speak. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Mr. Michener was in a car accident. He’s been brought to the emergency room for treatment.”

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t know details of his condition. Will you be able to come down here?”

“I’m on my way.”

He snatched up his keys and bolted out the door, running for his car. He floored it out of the parking lot, not giving a single damn about traffic laws at the moment.

Ethan hit the button on his steering wheel and told the phone to call Michelle.

“Ethan?”

“Brandon’s been in an accident,” Ethan choked out, eyes wild.

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