Page 80 of By Rude Strength

Shit.

The job was supposed to be the most important thing in his life. He’d studied for years and busted his ass to get anapprenticeship at a highly respected funeral home, all while having to listen to his mother’s constant complaints and cruel digs. He’d given up holidays, birthdays, and countless nights of sleep to keep up with the demanding and often hellish schedule. He’d worked himself to the bone, seen things that would stay with him forever, both the good and the bad, but he’d never cared because it was all part of the price he knew he had to pay to do what he loved.

What if he didn’t have to anymore?

What if hecouldn’t?

Making the decision to leave the funeral industry was one thing, but being forced to leave it against his will because he wouldn’t be able to find a job was another altogether. He might be able to get a position at a different funeral home, but Brandon was right—LA hated change. He didn’t want a new job. He wanted his old one.

If he wasn’t able to get it back…

He had no idea what he was going to do.

The very thought twisted up his guts and made it hard to breathe. Losing this job meant everything he’d done, everything he’d suffered, would be an utter waste. It would have all been for nothing. He’d never be back in that prep room doing the one thing in the world he was good at—no, no, not just good, butgreat.

LA had planned to retire from that damn place. He’d had his entire future planned out and every part of it had been dependent on that position. He knew he was better off without Gavin, and putting some distance between himself and his mother was also for the best, but…

He couldn’t plan for a future that revolved around his career without a fucking career.

LA drifted on and off, welcoming Cass’s cuddles but still not able to get much rest. When he finally woke up and beat hisphone senseless to turn off the alarm, he had about twenty blissful seconds before he remembered why he’d gotten so little sleep.

Right.

Lawyer.

Call today.

Fuck.

“Good morning, Elly,” Cass mumbled drowsily.

As usual, he was curled around LA as if he was Cass’s personal teddy bear and showed no signs of letting go anytime soon.

LA did love it, but he also had to get up, piss, and somehow prepare for the most important phone call of his life. He nudged Cass. “Morning. Come on.” He yawned. “I gotta get up.”

“Two more minutes,” Cass murmured.

“One.”

“Three.”

LA laughed. “That’s not how you bargain.”

“It’s how I do.” Cass purred and hugged LA tighter.

“Agh, okay.” LA swatted at Cass’s arm. “Gotta get up. Gotta piss.”

“Sorry.” Cass whined but let go.

“It’s all right.” LA limped toward the bathroom. “See you downstairs?”

“Yup!” Cass yawned as he flailed around the bed. “Mmm, I’ll make breakfast.”

“Sounds good.” LA smiled as he shut the bathroom door behind him. He used the toilet and cleaned up, though he decided not to shave today. It wasn’t as if he and Cass were planning to go anywhere else.

With some luck, they’d stay home and get drunk celebrating LA getting his job back.

Well, LA would get drunk anyway.