Page 51 of Back to You

Lake just nodded. He no longer tried to get Ethan to stop working such long hours. He seemed to know it wouldn’t do any good.

“I’m running out of ideas, here,” Lake said conversationally.

“About what?”

“About how to get you to stop killing yourself.”

Ethan looked up at that, perplexed. “I’m not killing myself.”

“Yes you are!” Lake was suddenly standing and shouting, which he never did. “You keep working and working and not eating, and it’s killing you!”

“What other choice do I have, Lake?” Ethan said tiredly. “I have nothing but you and this job. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with my shit, but —”

“I don’t care about that! I care about you, you idiot!”

“I know you do, and I appreciate everything you’ve done. But I’m okay, really.”

Lake just stared at him. “You really believe that, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Lake looked away. “Have you given any more thought to getting a therapist?”

“I don’t really have time for that,” Ethan said.

“You could make time. I know you can carve out an hour once a week. You can even do teletherapy online, you don’t have to leave your desk.”

“I just … what is the point, Lake? I feel how I feel. I don’t see how talking about it with a stranger is going to make it any better.”

Lake plunked back down in his chair. He just shook his head and finished the last few bites of his lunch. Then he gathered up the trash and tossed it out. He headed for the door, then turned back at the last minute.

“You are killing yourself, Ethan. And I don’t think you even care. Please, talk to someone.”

***

Brandon slumped against the counter, trying not to hear the octogenarian book club meeting next to him. Damn Marcus and his doctor’s appointment.

“I loved it,” cried Rhonda. “Look, it even has a half-naked man on the cover! And the sex! I especially liked that one scene where —”

“Ma’am, please keep it PG, we have kids in here,” Brandon called boredly.

“I wasn’t going to say anything bad!” Rhonda yelled. Her hearing aids must be acting up. “I just liked the part where Raoul shagged Marina in the barn!”

Could have been worse, Brandon thought.

The door slammed open and in stormed a tiny blond thundercloud.

“Lake? You okay?”

“Can I have my usual, and a chocolate chip cookie?”

Brandon looked at Lake critically. “Chocolate chip, huh? What’s wrong?”

“I just … can’t tell you.”

“Ah. Ethan?” Brandon said, his voice cracking.

“Yeah. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring him up.”

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