Page 106 of Back to You

“I should get hurt more often if that’s your attitude.”

“Only if you want to die at the hands of your sister.”

Brandon shuddered and stood up from the bed. He paused to get his equilibrium, then headed for the couch. Ethan got him a drink and a blanket, which Brandon stared at blankly.

“What’s this for?”

“I believe one lays it on top of themselves for warmth.”

Brandon rolled his eyes. “Thank you. But I don’t need this, I’m fine.”

“Isn’t that what you do when you’re not well? Lay on the couch under a blanket?”

Brandon scoffed, then settled into the couch as Barnabus trotted out of the bedroom and over to jump up on his lap. The cat had been sticking close since the accident.

“Thank you, buddy, you’re a very helpful kitty,” Brandon said with a sigh.

Barnabus stood to headbutt Brandon’s nose before settling in.

Ethan sat on the floor and began applying antibiotic ointment to the scratches on Brandon’s arm. “What do you want to watch?” he said.

Brandon just watched him and smiled. “You take such good care of me,” he said.

“Of course,” Ethan said, kissing his arm. “Watch whatever you want, I’m happy with most anything.”

Brandon chose a recently released superhero movie and they settled in to watch. It wasn’t too long before Brandon nodded off again. Apparently it wasn’t unusual after a concussion for someone to sleep a lot.

Ethan watched his sleeping boyfriend like a creeper. He was so lucky. Not only to have Brandon back in his life, but that Brandon was okay.

He’d never thought he could have this again. After the breakup, he’d felt unmoored, like he was drifting in an ocean and there was no land in sight. But now, he was anchored with Brandon and their family. He knew it wasn’t the same as before. He actually felt like he had a life independent of Brandon this time around, and wasn’t resting responsibility for all of his happiness on another person’s shoulders. But their relationship was just as deeply cherished as it had been. He would do a much better job of protecting it this time.

He watched the movie absently while Brandon slept, lost in his own thoughts. He was just figuring out what to make for dinner when Brandon startled awake.

“Dammit,” he said. “I’m getting really sick of just sleeping all the time.”

“Clearly your brain needs it,” Ethan said. “How’s your head?”

“Hurting just a little.”

Ethan handed him the sunglasses Lake had brought over his first day home. They blocked a lot of the light that made Brandon’s head ache. He jumped up to grab some water and the over-the-counter pain medicine Brandon preferred over the prescription stuff.

“Thanks love.”

Ethan paused. That was one tiny fly in the ointment at this point. Neither of them had said “I love you” yet.

Ethan wasn’t used to not telling Brandon he loved him several times a day. The only thing holding him back at this point was that Brandon hadn’t said it at all since their reconciliation. What if Brandon thought it was too soon?

He remembered Sarah’s words about open communication and steeled himself.

“Brandon?”

“Yeah?” Brandon said with a smile.

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Brandon tensed. “Okay.”

“It’s not bad,” Ethan hastened to reassure him. He watched as Brandon’s shoulders lowered. “I just … Sarah said we need to communicate better and I want to stick to that.”

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