Page 105 of Back to You

“I’m not going anywhere until he leaves the hospital tomorrow,” Ethan vowed.

She stepped back out of the cubicle into the hallway to make her calls. Ethan sat in the chair next to Brandon’s bed and stroked his hand over Brandon’s hair. “I just got you back,” he whispered. “I can’t lose you again.”

Brandon slept on, through Michelle’s return and their parents’ arrival. It was probably the best thing for him, the nurse told Ethan when she came to check on him. He’d have a bad headache for a few days at least.

“We’re going to head home, but we’ll be back in the morning if they haven’t released him,” Anthony said, touching his wife’s arm. Adelaide leaned in and kissed her sleeping son’s forehead before they left.

“Where is he going to go?” Michelle said. “He needs someone to take care of him.”

“He’ll come home with me,” Ethan said. “I’ll take the rest of the week off from work to keep an eye on him. We’ll see how he’s feeling on Monday and decide what to do from there.”

Michelle side-eyed him. “You sure you’re comfortable with that?”

“With what?”

“Taking that much time off from work.”

“I’ll do anything for Brandon,” Ethan said. “Missing a little work is nothing.”

She seemed satisfied with that answer. “Okay. I’ll be back in the morning, but if he wakes up tell him we’ll handle the cafe for the next few days. I’ll call in the catering service we used that time you guys went on vacation.”

“That’ll piss him off.”

“Tell him I don’t give a shit.” She leaned over and brushed a kiss to Ethan’s cheek, then one to Brandon’s. “Feel better quick, asshole.” And off she went.

Ethan settled down in the chair and rested his head on the bed. He stared up at Brandon’s sleeping face, feeling the last of the fear he’d felt for hours now subside.

“Everything is going to be okay,” he said, more to himself than anything.

“What?” Brandon murmured sleepily.

“Shh, baby, go back to sleep,” Ethan said, smoothing Brandon’s forehead.

Brandon’s face relaxed back into healing sleep, and Ethan settled in for a long night. He went ahead and emailed his boss to tell her he’d had a family emergency and wouldn’t be in.

Because Brandon was his family. The most important family he’d ever had.

CHAPTER 23

“YOU ARE THE worst patient in the world,” Ethan said with a scowl.

“Then let me out of bed,” Brandon said. “Unless you’re going to get in it with me.”

“Pfft. None of that, the doctor said not for a few days.”

“It’s been a few days!”

“It’s been two days. That does not equal ‘a few’.”

“Close enough.” Brandon settled back into bed with a pout. Ethan just wanted to snuggle him, he was so cute.

“I’m so bored,” Brandon whined.

“Well, the doctor just said no screens for the first 48 hours, so you’re probably okay to watch something on TV if your head is up to it,” Ethan said.

Brandon looked cheered up by this. “Can you watch it with me?”

“Of course, whatever you want.”

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