Faye chuckled. “You’re a tenacious bugger, aren’t you?”
“I try to be.” Jared forced a smile. “Besides, you’re right. I can’t cope with full-time hours. I’ve known something had to give for a little while now, but I didn’t want to admit it. You shouldn’t have had to make the decision for me.”
“I’m your boss. It’s my job to look out for you.” She rubbed his arm. “You know you can apply for benefits, don’t you? I’m pretty sure having a brain injury counts as a disability, especially if it’s impairing your ability to hold down a full-time job. I’ll help you fill in the forms, and you’ll have your doctor to back up your application too. And if dropping to part time helps, we can build your hours back up slowly until we find your sweet spot, okay?”
“Thanks, Faye.”
“Is Kyrone meeting you after work?”
Jared nodded.
“Then why don’t you get some more rest here until he arrives?”
“But—”
She stared at him sternly, and he knew there was no point in arguing with her. Besides, he wasn’t convinced he was safe to get home on his own anyway. As hard as it was, he had to admit that there were times he did need looking after.
When Faye left, he curled up tightly. It was hard not to sink into self-pity when he had nothing to do but lie there and think about how much of a burden he was already becoming. When Kyrone arrived not only would he see that Jared was in pain again but he’d also have to tell him that Faye had cut his hours. If that didn’t cause Kyrone to run for the hills, something else eventually would. He’d thought, more than once, that finding a boyfriend as perfect as Kyrone was too good to be true. He was sure he was about to discover that was the truth. He didn’t want to think so negatively, but with his head pounding, it was difficult to keep positive thoughts in his mind. He couldn’t see how this setback wasn’t going to test their still fresh and fragile relationship to its limits.
He wasn’t sure what he’d do if Kyrone broke up with him, which was a pathetic thought in and of itself. His reasons for staying in Leeds were beginning to vanish one by one. He’d discovered why he’d written the note, and it had caused himself and Jag pain. His job was no longer going to be enough to support him, and if he lost Kyrone too, he would basically be alone.
He had to stop thinking so pessimistically. He hadn’t wrapped himself up in dismal thoughts in ages. He’d worked hard to erect a bubble of hope and positivity, but that felt flimsy all of a sudden.
He stood and stumbled to where his coat hung and retrieved his phone. When he was sitting down again, he called Kyrone.
“Hey, babe,” Kyrone said. “Are you on your lunch break?”
“No.”
“What’s wrong?”
Jared let out a sob. He hadn’t meant to sound so pathetic in just one word, but he obviously had done. “Can you come to the shop?” he asked. “I’m a bit of a mess.”
“Give me twenty minutes.”
“Thanks.” Jared sucked in a ragged breath. “I’m sorry, Ky.”
“Don’t be, babe. We’re all allowed bad days.”
The phone went dead, and Jared hugged it to his chest. He’d had more than his fair share of bad days and knew he had plenty more to come. What he needed was a rainstorm of good days, but that was too much to hope for.
* * *
He must have fallen asleep again because one moment he was alone, and the next he was bundled up in Kyrone’s arms, with his head resting against his boyfriend’s shoulder.
“Hi,” Kyrone said as Jared stirred. “I spoke to Faye.”
Jared sniffed.
“She told me you were struggling with migraines today and that you’d talked about cutting your hours down.”
Jared wasn’t sure if he should be angry at Faye or relieved that he didn’t have to admit his failings to Kyrone himself.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, instantly breaking down into tears.
Kyrone rubbed his back. “What for?”
“This.” He gestured to himself. “I’ve been trying to be strong, but I can’t be right now.”
