Page 53 of Back to You

“Ooo, can I help? I love house hunting!”

“She really does,” Steven said, taking the groceries from Brandon and putting them in the kitchen. “She watches that TV show where people go looking for a house, and she just tears them up one side and down the other.”

“Well people shouldn’t be so stupid! First of all, they usually have an unreasonable budget. A schoolteacher and a zookeeper should not be looking at million-dollar houses. Second, they always have these wildly different wish lists. Like she’ll be all, I want all modern fixtures, lots of brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze. And then he’s like, I want Art Deco with wooden everything.”

Brandon nodded automatically, hoping the rant was at an end.

“And then! There’s always one house that is absolutely perfect, and they pick the one that’s way more expensive and needs a ton of work. I would be a great realtor, I would just sit people down and be like, let’s be real, here’s what you can afford, you get what you pay for. If you want more house, cough up the money or shut up.”

“You would be a terrifying realtor,” Steven said from the kitchen.

“Some people need that.”

“Well, anyway, yeah, I’d appreciate the help. My only real requirements are close to work and accepts cats.”

“I’ll look online tonight.” Michelle said with an odd “squee” sound.

Brandon headed into the kitchen to start dinner. He’d insisted on cooking dinner every night while he was staying with them. It was the least he could do.

“What is all this for?” Steven said, looking around at the plethora of groceries he’d unbagged.

“Uh.” Brandon turned to check for his sister. “I was going to make some meals to put in Ethan’s fridge.”

“Oh.” Steven leaned back against the counter and watched Brandon’s face. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“What’s a good idea?” Michelle said from behind them.

Steven said nothing. Brandon sighed and said, “I’m making some food to take over to Ethan’s while he’s at work.”

“Why would you do that?” Michelle said with a frown.

Brandon explained Lake’s visit that afternoon and what he’d said about Ethan not eating. “I may not be able to do much, but at least I can try to keep him fed.”

“B, that’s not your responsibility anymore.”

“I know, but … I do still love him, Michelle.”

She sighed. “I know you do. And it’s admirable that you still want to take care of him. I just don’t want you doing anything to set back your recovery. You’ve been doing better lately, I want to be sure that continues.”

“I’ll be okay, I promise. Are you okay with me taking over the kitchen tonight?”

“Whatever you need.”

Steven helped Brandon put away all the groceries, then stayed in the kitchen to watch him cook.

Brandon eyed his brother-in-law. “What?”

“I mean, far be it from me to tell you your business. But you don’t act like a guy who is getting over a relationship.”

“Yeah? How do I act?”

“Like a guy who’s still in a relationship without being willing to admit it.”

Brandon scowled. “I’m not in a relationship with Ethan anymore, okay? I can’t just ignore years of loving someone because we’re not together anymore.”

“And I’m not saying you should. I just want you to be clear on your motivations, here. Michelle is right, you don’t want to set yourself back when you’re finally starting to do better. Looking for an apartment? That’s a big step forward.”

“Yeah. I mean, part of it is not wanting to see you grope my sister all the time.”

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