Page 126 of Daily Grind
That was unusual. Most of the engineers knocked on his door or sent a chat message.
Still, he accepted the call. “Hi, Todd.”
There was a pause. “Oh, I guess it tells you who’s calling.” Todd sounded a bit taken aback.
He chuckled. “It does, yes. What can I help you with?” This must be about one of the upcoming software releases.
An inhale. “Well, I’m down in the lobby… and Brian Keppler is here.”
Like a punch to the chest. All the air was gone from his lungs and his limbs numbed. “I—” Brian here? Why? How? He struggled to speak. “Can… you please tell him to leave?” He’d only started getting over that horrid Saturday. Couldn’t be a punching bag for Brian’s frustration or watch him work himself into a heart attack.
“I could.” Todd’s words were soft. “And I will, if that’s what you want.”
What he wanted was the Brian he first met that bright spring day.
“But I think you should come down and talk to him. He’s—” There was a crackle on the line for a moment, maybe Todd shifting his phone. “Well, let’s just say I’ve been where he is.”
“Sitting in the lobby of your ex’s workplace?” Somehow his voice sounded normal.
“Well, Eli’s office. But, yeah.”
Oh. Rob pressed against the back of his chair. He’d forgotten Todd had moved here to reunite with Fazil. That meeting must have gone well, given that they were married now.
That said something, but he pushed away that glint of hope. They were different people from Fazil and Todd.
He shouldn’t ask… heknewhe shouldn’t ask. “How is he?”
Todd’s hollow laugh cut through Rob and Todd didn’t have to sayanything. “Okay. I’ll come down.” Maybe if they cleared the air, they both could get on with their lives. A better break, one not born of anger and resentment.
“I’ll let him know,” Todd said.
They hung up. Rob took off the headset, placed it on his desk, and stared at his screen.
How was he going to do this? Well, like everything else—he’d figure it out as he went. He headed for the elevator.
The ride down to the lobby seemed both inordinately long and far too short. He blinked when the doors slid open—the lobby was bright—more so on sunny days like today.
Todd and Brian were easy to spot over at one of the seating areas. Both Richard, the guard, and Meena, the receptionist, started and wore worried expressions. He gave them a wave—one that meantit’s fine—and headed over to the occupied chairs.
Todd rose and nodded to him. “I’ll head upstairs.” He gave Brian a quick smile. “Good to see you, Brian.”
“Thanks.” Brian’s voice was cracked and rough and skittered along every one of Rob’s nerves.
Brian looked up and met his gaze.Oh, Bri. What have you done to yourself?Red-rimmed eyes and a face drawn and thin. Rob sank into the chair Todd had vacated. “You wanted to see me?” Despite the ache in his heart, he kept himself in check. Part of him wanted a reunion—the other part remembered Saturday all too well.
“Yeah.” Brian swallowed and wrung his hands. “I wanted to apologize. For being such a jerk to you. I was— Well, it doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”
The ache under his ribs grew. Nearlytwo weeksand he was only coming to say this now? “Finally found the time? Had the day off?” Unexpected heat colored his voice. Still second fiddle to the fucking shop.
Brian flinched. “You never answered my calls or texts. I had a twelve-hour shift today.” He met Rob’s gaze, his face a mess of emotions. Hope, pain, anger, longing. “I closed Grounds N’at.”
What?For the second time that day, words punched a hole through Rob’s chest. BrianclosedGrounds N’at? To come to see him? He found enough air to whisper. “For today? Or…”
A slight tremble ran through Brian and colored his voice. His eyes were far too wet. “Don’t know yet. Haven’t decided.”
Shit. Rob rubbed his mouth and chin. Closing the shop spoke volumes, probably more than Brian could put into words. “Do you want to talk?” They needed to hash this all out.
“Yeah.” Brian’s Adam’s apple bounced when he swallowed. “Lots of things I shouldn’t have said… and lots of things I should’ve.” Tears in those eyes, though none fell.
