Page 107 of Back to You

“Anything you need to talk about, I’m happy to do it.”

“So we used to be pretty affectionate before the breakup. And I don’t know if it’s just that we aren’t there yet, or if feelings have changed. I know my feelings haven’t changed, but if yours have, that’s okay! We’ll get there again. But I have to bring this up because we committed to communicating openly. So …”

He took a deep breath.

“Ethan?”

“Yeah.”

“I still love you.”

Ethan froze, the breath expelling from his lungs all at once. “You do?”

“Yes, you doofus.”

“I love you too.”

“I know.” Brandon smirked at him.

“Don’t Han Solo me when I’m being sincere!”

“Sorry.”

Ethan walked over to the couch and sat on the floor next to Brandon. He grabbed his face in both hands and pressed a passionate kiss to that smiling mouth.

“I love you,” he said, kissing Brandon over and over. “I love you so much.”

“I love you,” Brandon said. “I’ll tell you as many times as you need to hear it.”

Ethan pulled back before things could get hot and heavy, much to Brandon’s displeasure. “How about this? You rest today, and tomorrow, if you’re feeling up for it, we can do a bit more. As long as you let me do all the work.”

Brandon whined and adjusted himself in his pants. “You can’t say things like that!”

“You’re so cute. Come here, I need to cuddle you.”

Brandon was happy enough to be cuddled.

***

“You better be healed if you’re in here,” Michelle said, blasting through the kitchen door.

“I’m fine, no headaches, doctor said I could come back. Plus I was bored stupid.”

“What’s your excuse when you’re not bored?”

Brandon gave an exaggerated “that’s so funny” laugh.

“Fine, I’m trusting you.” She grabbed a muffin off the counter and started picking at it. “How was Nurse Ethan?”

“Perfect,” Brandon said moonily.

“Ugh, y’all better not have spent all that time screwing around.”

“No,” Brandon said, annoyed. “Ethan said it wasn’t good for me.”

“Oh look, someone with common sense! Good thing because you have none.”

He flipped her off and went back to his dough.

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