Page 54 of Back to You

Steven snorted and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. He offered one to Brandon who just shook his head. “Please. If anyone’s randomly groping anyone around here, it’s her.”

“Ugh, no kidding.” Brandon had wished for brain bleach several times while living with the happy couple. “All bitching aside, I’m happy for you guys. You’ve been married 10 years, you have two kids, and you still act like newlyweds. It’s inspiring.”

“Have you thought at all about getting back out there?”

“No, lord no. I honestly can’t even imagine being with anyone else. I think it might be a while before I’m there.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

The two chatted about work and the kids while Brandon prepared dinner.

The next day, Brandon took his lunch break and drove over to the condo he and Ethan had shared. He knew from Lake that Ethan was glued to the office every day, so he wasn’t worried about running into him. He grabbed the food from the car and headed up the steps.

“MROW!” yelled Barnabus the second he walked in. Brandon dropped the food and gathered up the frantic cat. “I’m so sorry, Barny. I didn’t mean to leave you. I’ll take you to our new place as soon as I find one. I’ll make it quick, I promise.”

He knew Ethan wasn’t neglecting the cat, but it would be better for Barnabus to be with Brandon, who had the time to devote to his care.

He spent time loving on the cat to make up for his absence. He dropped the food in the fridge, leaving a note on the counter with heating instructions.

He held Barnabus as he walked around his former home. He supposed he’d either sell his half to Ethan, or they could sell the entire thing to someone else. The thought sent a wave of depression swamping over Brandon. He hugged the cat to him as he sought comfort.

All too soon it was time for him to leave. He gave Barnabus one last hug, then set him down on his cat tree in the corner. As he walked out, he looked around the place one more time.

“Goodbye.”

***

“You are absolutely not living there, it looks like a crack den,” Michelle said, steering him away from the apartment they’d just viewed.

“I guess some people like that aesthetic. But yeah, that’s a definite no.”

They moved on to the next place on their list.

“As you can see, the floors are all-natural hardwood, and it has an open floor plan,” said the landlord at the next apartment. “All of the walls have been freshly painted, and the carpets in the bedrooms are brand new.”

Michelle arched an eyebrow at Brandon, clearly impressed with the place. Brandon couldn’t find anything to fault.

“And you accept cats?”

“No more than two at a time, and there’s a damage deposit.”

“Sounds reasonable.”

Suddenly there was a loud crash from the apartment next door. “You son of a bitch!”

Brandon and Michelle both stopped with wide eyes and turned their attention to the kitchen wall, where every sound next door could be heard.

“I saw you with her again! You told me you were going to stop seeing her!”

“Baby, I just ran into her! I wasn’t sneaking around, it was an accident!”

“An accident?! Like that time you tripped and accidentally fell into her vagina?”

“Oh damn,” Michelle said. “Get him, girl.”

“Shall we take a look at the bedrooms?” the landlord suggested.

They turned back to see his bright red face frozen in a strained smile.

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