Page 85 of Back to You

“Why not?”

“Because I’d promised him so many times that I’d be there, and I never was.”

“Would you go back to that behavior if you and Brandon got back together?”

“I want to say I wouldn’t. But even now I’m still working late one night a week, and I’m still working Sunday.”

“By the way, homework this week is to cut out the Sunday work.”

“Okay. You know, the irony is that I really do get more work done with so many fewer people in the office.”

“Maybe that’s something we can work with. What would you think about having one late day a week? It gives you time to yourself to work on your cases, lets you participate in some of these late-evening strategy meetings.”

Ethan hadn’t considered that. “Do you think that will ruin my progress?”

“Workaholism is an addiction. The problem is that you can’t just avoid work altogether, like an alcoholic would avoid alcohol. So maybe if you have that outlet to feel like you’re getting ahead, but are still able to keep your free time, you’ll be less likely to fall back into that dangerous level of work you were doing.”

“I mean, it sounds good.”

“And having one late day a week can be scheduled. So you say, Wednesdays are going to be my late days. That’s something that can be planned for and scheduled around.”

“Thursdays are typically the busiest days, but I get your point.” He paused to think that over. “I think I like that solution.”

“Well good. So once you cut out the Sunday work this weekend, that will put you on a more normal schedule. Do you feel like that might help you rebuild trust with Brandon?”

“I don’t know. I wish you could talk to him and help us figure this out.”

“On that note, how would you feel about bringing Brandon into one of these sessions?”

“Oh wow, I didn’t know that was an option. Uh, maybe? I’d be happy about it, but I’m not sure what he would think. He’s not the most talkative guy.”

“It never hurts to ask.”

“True. I’m kind of afraid, though. What if he doesn’t want me back? What if I’m not ready yet and I hurt him?”

“I think your readiness depends a lot on you two talking about things. Maybe with me, maybe alone. But I think communication is going to need to be more of a thing than it was with you two. Not just communicating when you’re upset, but all the time, checking in with each other to make sure you stay on stable ground.”

“Yeah. I don’t think he realized how dependent on him I had gotten. He seems to feel really guilty over that.”

“And he shouldn’t feel guilty, your feelings are your own.”

“Right. I did tell him that. You know how guilt can be.”

“So. Homework for this week is to stop working Sundays, and to consider asking Brandon to join one of our sessions, if you’re both comfortable with that.”

“Okay.”

Ethan headed back to work, pleased with the solution they’d come up with for his job. He could handle one late night a week.

And maybe, just maybe, he could get Brandon back.

CHAPTER 19

BRANDON WAS BACK in the kitten room at the shelter, having already washed and walked several of the dogs. He tried to distribute his attentions evenly between the dogs and puppies, the cats and the kittens, but he had to admit, this room was his favorite.

He sent Michelle a picture of a wad of kittens sleeping together in a basket. She loved kittens. It was a shame Steven was allergic.

He sat quietly for a long time, petting kittens, brushing them, just getting them all used to being touched and played with. Some kittens needed socialization when they were brought into the shelter to make them ready for adoption.

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