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JOEY: Me neither. x
Another message came through, but this time, it was from his mother. He ignored it, needing to escape real life for one more night. He closed the windows and curtains, curled up beneath his covers, fully dressed, and held the phone by his face as if he could see or touch Ethan just by holding the device.
Joelle jumped onto his bed and settled onto the pillow beside him, as she always did, and Joey closed his eyes. He brought forward images of his time with Ethan, wanting to remember every minute, every scent, every taste. Hoping that the memories would help him sleep enough to get through the following day, and the day after, and the day after that, too, because the days were going to get harder before they got easier.
As he remembered the feeling of Ethan in his arms, he relaxed further, drifting towards sleep, though not fully asleep. It was the best he could hope for without Ethan beside him. The man had helped him to sleep all night for several nights in a row. A feat that hadn’t happened since Elliott… No, he wouldn’t go there. He refocused back on Ethan.
Was he ever going to see him again? They were from two different worlds. It seemed impossible that they could find anything more than what they had, but maybe. One day, when Joey was a better person, he might find his way back to Ethan. And maybe Ethan will have found someone new to live his life with, but that would be okay because Ethan would be happy. That’s all Joey wanted for him.
****
Chapter 9
Ethan
Every time Ethan fell asleep, his dreams woke him. Joey shouted for him, reaching for him, but Ethan couldn’t grab hold, and Joey moved further and further away. With every scream of his name, it woke something inside him, and Ethan jerked himself awake, sweat coating his skin and the covers tangled around him. By the time his alarm went off for him to go to work, he was as exhausted as if he hadn’t had any sleep at all.
He wished he understood what the dreams meant, but he couldn’t interpret them. Was it his subconscious telling him something, or was it just hopeful thinking?
Ethan stood behind the reception desk and took a breath before the next wave of checkouts bombarded them. It always happened between nine-thirty and ten o’clock in the morning. The hotel had a policy requiring guests to check out by ten o’clock, and most guests waited until the last minute. He was glad it was busy because it kept him distracted from his thoughts. From Joey.
He had never been someone who clung to the other person in the relationship; he was strong enough to stand on his own two feet. But something about Joey had knocked Ethan for six—to use the old cliché.
Smiling at the older couple heading towards him, he pushed other thoughts aside.
“Mr and Mrs Geller. I hope you’ve had a wonderful time this week.”
The Gellers stayed at the hotel every six months for a week to have time away from their rather large brood. They had a large bed-and-breakfast-style house, which they’d turned into a foster home. They had been looking after children for more years than Ethan had been alive, and he loved them dearly. They often said that the only reason they were still able to look after so many children was because of those breaks they took; otherwise, they would be drained and of no use to anyone.
“It’s been great, as always, dear,” Mrs Geller said with a smile. “Just what the doctor ordered.”
Ethan chuckled. “Back to the chaos again for you.”
Mr Geller groaned. “Roger has his birthday next week, so we’ll be baking all week, I’m sure.”
Ethan checked them out while they chatted about their kids and what their plans were for the next few weeks. The Gellers were taking all seven children abroad on holiday that summer, and Ethan didn’t envy them. He wasn’t sure if he wanted kids or not, but he wasn’t completely opposed.
“Well, have a fantastic time, and make sure you bring lots of photos when you next visit us. I want to see that sunshine,” Ethan said.
“Will do.”
Ethan focused on the computer to ensure he had completed all he needed to and closed the form.
“I hear Joey has gone back to where he came from.”
Ethan tensed and clenched his jaw, still annoyed at David for being part of the reason Joey had left. “He had work to do.” He continued to focus on the screen, pretending to look at things as if he was busy.
“Didn’t stop him from coming here. He didn’t do too bad of a job while he was wasting his time with us,” David said, leaning a hip beside where Ethan stood.
Ethan refused to be baited.
“Ah well, he’s already onto his next lay, according to the news. You’re well shot of him.”
David disappeared as quickly as he appeared, but those parting words hurt more than Ethan wanted to admit. He wasn’t naïve. He knew Joey had another life in London and that his time in Whitby was just a stopgap, but Ethan had hoped it meant more. He shook his head when his phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his pocket, glancing around to make sure David wasn’t peering over his shoulder.
CHRISTI: Let’s go to Neon tonight. You need to get out.
Ethan stared at the message. He wasn’t sure going to the place he’d met Joey at was the best idea, but was staying at home any better? David’s words came back to him, and his fingers hovered over his phone screen.
