Page 9 of Brush with Death
“Possibly not everything I was hired to do.”
“Maybe not, but if Mrs.Maxwell wants more, she can call you and make another appointment.As for the appointment you had later today, you said that Robbie moved it.I don’t think anything’s going to happen in the meantime.Besides, I’m sure that whoever hired you would understand if they knew what happened to you today.”
Cyril wasn’t sure of that because a lot of people tended to be selfish and only think about themselves and what was good for them, but he didn’t say it.He didn’t want to piss off his boyfriend.Besides, even though he felt guilty, Vale was right.Cyril would go to his appointment tomorrow and help the person who’d hired him.In the meantime, he was glad he’d have an afternoon to rest.
He frowned.“What about your conversation with Russell?How did it go?”
“There’s no reason to talk about that right now.”
“So you didn’t decide on anything.”
“There’s no reason for me to rush into anything.Russell doesn’t want to leave the job yet, and it looks like I have my hands full with you, so it can wait.”
Cyril didn’t want Vale to put his life on pause because of him, but he couldn’t say he wasn’t happy to know that his boyfriend wasn’t going anywhere.“You still need to find something to do now that you retired,” he pointed out.Vale wasn’t used to sitting on his ass all day.He’d go nuts if he wasn’t somehow productive.
“Well, for the next few days, that something will be taking care of you.I don’t think Russell is going anywhere anytime soon, anyway.”
“He doesn’t have a job scheduled?”
“Not that I know of, and I need to talk to him anyway.I saw John Smith at the hospital.”
It took Cyril a moment to remember who John Smith was.“You mean the guy who tried to kill me?”
“He’s lucky I didn’t kill him, but we were at the hospital.He’d probably have survived, what with all the doctors there.”
Cyril bit his lower lip so he wouldn’t laugh because he was sure that would hurt, too.He was slightly worried about this, though.“He’s not here to kill me, is he?”
“I don’t think so, but I want to ask Russell to look into it.John asked about you, and I’m not comfortable knowing he’s around doing that.”
“What do you mean, he asked about me?”
“Just that.Apparently, he was at the hospital for unrelated reasons and saw you coming in.He asked me how you were.”
Cyril blinked because no matter how many times Vale repeated that, it still wouldn’t make sense.Cyril hadn’t expected that, but then, he’d had to deal with a lot of things he hadn’t expected since Vale had walked into his life.He couldn’t say he minded it most of the time.
He just hoped someone wasn’t going to try to kill him this time around.
Chapter Four
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CYRIL COULDN’T SAYhe felt ready to go to work the next morning.He already had a headache when he woke up before even opening his eyes, and he could tell it wouldn’t get much better.He’d have to deal with it, though, because he had work to do.
He made sure not to complain and not to show Vale that he was in pain.His boyfriend would demand Cyril stay home if he found out, and while Cyril desperately wanted to do just that, he had responsibilities he couldn’t shirk.Robbie had moved yesterday’s appointment to today, so Cyril would go there and do his job.He was pretty sure it was the only appointment they had today, and he promised himself that as soon as he was done, he would face-plant into his bed and not leave it for the rest of the day.
“Are you sure you’re feeling good enough to go?”Vale asked as he eyed Cyril.
Cyril had been pushing a piece of egg around his plate, but he quickly speared it and put it into his mouth.“I’m fine,” he promised, even though he didn’t feel quite fine.He’d worked through worse.Granted, it had been before Vale, but still.He could do this.
“You’re a little pale, and you’re squinting.Is the light hurting your eyes?”
“It’s not.”It wasn’t a lie.Cyril’s headache had nothing to do with the light.He’d swallowed a few painkillers when he’d been in the bathroom earlier, and he hoped they’d start working soon.
At least he didn’t have to drive to work.Russell had brought back Cyril’s car yesterday while Cyril had been asleep on the couch, but Robbie had texted Cyril to tell him he’d pick him up today.Cyril had tried arguing, but he was glad Robbie wouldn’t hear of it.Cyril wasn’t feeling up to driving, but if he told Vale, his boyfriend would probably tie him to the couch.
“I’m worried about you,” Vale said softly.
Cyril reached over the table to squeeze his boyfriend’s hand.“And I love you for that, but I promise I’m fine.Robbie’s picking me up and bringing me back home as soon as we’re done.I won’t be away for more than an hour and a half, maybe two hours.I’ll have my phone with me the entire time, as will Robbie.”
