Page 83 of Daily Grind
Rob’s hollow laugh cracked Brian’s heart. “No. I need to be home for a while, I think.” He cupped Brian’s face. “I’m not mad.” Not the brilliant smile Rob usually wore, but a smile nonetheless.
“Just disappointed.”
Rob stroked his cheek and his smile fell away. “Love isn’t always easy.”
No. It wasn’t. He leaned against Rob’s hand. “I’ll call.”
That little grin returned, thank God. “Go, before you give yourself a coronary.”
Brian nodded. He got out, grabbed his stuff from the trunk, and watched Rob drive away. The lump in his throat didn’t fade at all.
He stashed his stuff in his apartment, changed his shoes, and jogged down to the shop. When he opened the door, Justin’s exasperated look lodged another rock, this one into his stomach.
“Dude, you didn’t.” Justin shook the fringe of hair from his eyes. “You seriouslydidn’t.”
Man, he’d had enough of being berated for doing the right thing. He slipped behind the counter and into the back room. Predictably, Justin followed, standing at the door. Brian rounded on him. “Did you expect me to enjoy myself while you were here working for nothing? You’re not even my employee.”
“No, I’m yourfriend. Doing you afavor. And yeah, I kinda did expect you to enjoy your day off with your boyfriend.” Justin slowly untied his apron. “But I guess I was wrong.”
“Justin—” Brian leaned against his desk. “I’m fucking grateful you bailed me out, but the whole thing ate at me. Icouldn’tenjoy myself. Not when I should have been here in the first place.”
Justin set the apron down on the counter. “You can’t be here twenty-four/seven. That’s not good for you, for your health, or anything.”
Nearly Rob’s exact words. He couldn’t argue with them. Even now, his body twitched from the stress and the sadness. The lump in his gut wouldn’t leave and he hated the disappointment that had been carved into Rob. “It’s my shop.”
Justin scratched the back of his neck. “I know. I get it. Just— Don’t let it eat you alive.”
Easier said than done.
The bell on the door rang, and they both stiffened. “I guess I should go.” Justin backed out of the doorway and headed out into the shop.
Brian followed and made for the sink. “Thanks for everything, Justin.”
A flash of a smile, then Justin was ringing the bell on the door. Brian stepped up to the counter to take the next order.
Some of the anxiety melted away when he got into the swing and the rhythm of working the shop. But the ache in his gut remained, as did the vision of Rob’s frown burned into his mind.
He managed to be his smiling and mostly friendly self for the rest of the day. After the last customer had left and he’d locked the door, he took out his phone and stared at the screen. He wanted to call Rob. Dreaded calling Rob. But Miranda opened Sunday morning, and he owed Rob his time—any time he could give him, especially after today.
He dialed. “Hey.”
“I was wondering if you’d call.” Amusement in those words. That untangled the knot in Brian’s spine.
He headed back to the counter and sat down on Rob’s favorite stool. “Just locked the door a moment ago. Still need to clean things down, but I wanted to see if I could come over tonight.”
“There isn’t a time of day when I don’t want to see you, Bri.”
Now he understood that whole heart skipping a beat thing.
Rob continued, his voice silky as dark chocolate syrup. “Shall I come pick you up, then?”
“Yeah.” It came out breathless. He rubbed his leg, well aware at the developing tightness of his pants. “I should be finished in about a half hour.”
“I’ll be there.”
They hung up and once more, Brian stared at the phone. He may have disappointed Rob today—but that seemed to be a memory now. Good.
All he had to do was never do that again.
