Page 34 of Together Again

Using work as a way to stop thinking about Isaac wasn’t healthy, and Jacki was right, I was close to burning out, and I knew at some point I would have to get used to spending time with myself outside of work. Today, however, wasn’t the day things would change, but I could still do something for myself, I thought as I walked past my usual subway station toward Joel’s apartment.

* * *

“Sorry to interrupt your sexy times, but I’m in need of pastries,” I said into the intercom. I heard a huff before they buzzed me in.

David opened the door, looking like he’d been in the middle of a good and thorough make-out session. His hair was sticking out at all angles and his lips were swollen from kissing.

“Dude, at least make sure you doup your fly before you open the door.” I grinned as I walked past him. He scrambled to check his jeans.

“It is done up,” he grumbled.

“Yup, but now I know what you were up to a minute ago.”

“Stop teasing my boyfriend or there’ll be no more pastries for you,” Joel said from the kitchen where he was filling three cups with freshly brewed coffee.

I still couldn’t believe how happy my best friend was these days. Love suited him, or maybe it was who he was in love with.

“David, what have you got for me today?”

Since they’d come to New York, I’d got into the habit of dropping by with the excuse of having some of David’s amazing bakes.

“We’re going to Jojo’s house for the weekend at the end of the month. Join us?” Joel asked, knowing I loved to visit his late grandmother’s house in the Hamptons.

“Not sure I can. I’ll have to check my shifts.”

Joel gave me a knowing look.

“Maximus, it wasn’t a question.”

I laughed at one of the many variations on my name. Years ago, we’d spent a weekend trying to come up with nicknames for each other. I’d settled on Joebug for him, but he couldn’t make up his mind. I thought it was cute.

“It sounded like a question,” I said, stuffing my mouth full of the blueberry muffin David put in front of me.

I got another knowing look, this time from David.

“Look, guys, things are really busy at the hospital at the moment, so I’m not sure I can take time off. Plus, this kid came in today and—”

Joel raised his hand to stop me.

“Maxwell, you forget my mother worked in that hospital. Do you think I wouldn’t check your shifts before making plans?”

Damn, he’d caught me there.

In reality, I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible because I knew this was temporary. They were due to head back to Portugal in November, and there was no guarantee they’d be back anytimesoon.

The thought of Joel all the way in Portugal made me want to cry. For someone who was born and bred in Manhattan, how the hell did my heart end up on the other side of the ocean?

I decided to get myself out of this funk since it wouldn’t help anyone.

“Sorry, Joebug, I’d love to go to the Hamptons with you.”

I hugged my friends and left to go home. That laundry wouldn’t do itself.