Page 99 of Daily Grind
“Miranda’s grandmom’s in the hospital.”
Justin’s face fell more. “Shit.”
“Yeah, so here I am.”
Justin opened his mouth to speak, but shook his head instead.
Brian finished Eli’s Americano, and turned back. “Know what you want?”
Justin peered at the board, then shrugged. “I’m going to be dull and mimic my husband today.”
“I amhardlydull,” Eli said. “And you know it.” He hooked his cane over his arm and stirred creamer into his takeaway cup.
There was Justin’s grin, the one that won over every single customer Grounds N’at had ever had. “Yes, dear.”
Eli raised an eyebrow, put the lid on his cup, and drew an imaginary tick mark on an imaginary board.
Justin smiled and grabbed a lid while Eli paid. When Brian handed Eli his change, Eli dropped the whole lot into the tip jar. “Take care of yourself, Brian.”
It felt like an order. “I am.”
Same raised eyebrow, but no tick on any board. He saluted Brian with his cup, then they were both out the door and heading to the office upstairs.
Yeah, maybe he wasn’t. But he was stuck. Nothing to do but ride the situation out until things calmed down.
Hopefully he wouldn’t lose Rob in the process. He pulled out his phone. Rob would be at his desk by now, so he texted the same message he’d sent every day as of late.
Thinking about you. Miss you.
There wasn’t a reply right away. Rob often had a morning meeting—and Brian had customers walking in the door. He shoved his phone back into his pocket.
Even after he waded through the morning rush and checked again, Rob still hadn’t replied.
Brian cringed. That, too, had happened with Anita when their interactions had dwindled to short text messages.
A pain in his chest and a keening in his heart at the thought of Rob breaking things off. Crushing and visceral. He gripped the counter’s edge until the blasted bell on the door rang, and he pushed the turmoil in his soul away, pasted on a smile, and brewed coffee.
Somewhere around eleven, his phone finally buzzed.
So sorry. Long in-person meeting! I miss you too. More than I can say.
Like a lifted weight from his chest.
How’s your morning been?
Brian stared at that text, then typed the truth.Hard. Miranda’s at the hospital w/ her grandmom. So I’m working all day.
The reply was almost instantaneous.Shit. She ok?
Don’t know.
You ok?
He huffed a laugh.Yeah. Tired.
I can imagine. This is day four, isn’t it?
Of working full days. Yup. Of course Rob would know. He knew Brian’s schedule better than Brian at this point.
