Page 39 of Back to You

“If you ever loved me, you’ll let me die in peace.”

“Poor baby.”

“How the hell much did I drink last night?”

Brandon paused to consider. “All of it.”

“Feels like it.”

“Can you sleep some more?” Brandon said.

“I think so. Either that or die.”

“And people call me dramatic.”

“Because you are dramatic.”

Brandon patted the back of Ethan’s head. “I’ll go start breakfast — you need to put something in your stomach to counter all the alcohol.”

“Don’t say food.”

“Go back to sleep.” Brandon slid out of the bed, leaving Ethan to moan into his pillow.

Brandon was finishing making a plate of avocado toast with eggs and a fruit smoothie when Ethan slumped into the kitchen. He took the bottle of painkillers that Brandon handed him wordlessly, and knocked back three. Brandon pointed him at the table, and he slouched into a chair, staring listlessly at the food in front of him.

“Eat. Avocados, eggs and fruit are all good hangover foods.”

Ethan grabbed the fork and took a cautious bite. He stopped for a few minutes as if to see if the offering to his stomach was satisfactory or if it would be rejected violently. Then he resumed eating quietly.

Brandon ate his own breakfast while keeping an eye on Ethan. Once Ethan was done, Brandon ushered him to the couch and put on the first silly disaster movie he came across. He graciously turned the volume down in honor of Ethan’s mush brain.

He bustled about a bit, tidying up the condo, doing some much-needed laundry. He’d missed these kind of slow mornings, where they had nothing to do but rest and recover from the week. He peeked over the back of the couch and was satisfied to find Ethan fast asleep, Barnabus curled up against his stomach.

Ethan woke back up around 2 p.m., just as Brandon was getting back into his book.

“Hey, feeling better?”

“Yes, much. Thank you. Sorry I’ve been so useless today.”

“It’s not like you do it every night — in our whole relationship I can only remember you getting that drunk like three times. Besides, you earned a crazy night out.”

Ethan smiled slowly. “I really did it, didn’t I? I got the promotion.”

“You got the promotion,” Brandon said with a grin. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I’m really happy, Brandon,” Ethan said. “I never thought I’d get this far.”

“I always knew you would. Nothing can stop my Ethan when he’s got his mind set on something. Look at me — you saw value in a grumpy bastard and didn’t stop until I was addicted to you.”

“You’re addicted to me, huh?”

“You know it,” Brandon said, leaning in for a kiss.

Things were just on the verge of getting good when the doorbell rang.

“Oh what fresh hell is this?” Brandon muttered.

“Calm down, drama llama,” Ethan said as he went to answer the door. Outside stood Lake, looking bright-eyed and bushy tailed as usual. The man could be three days into a sleepless math bender and still look like that. It was unnatural.

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