Dean: It won’t be long. Oh, and Eli?
Dean: Rebook your wedding. My Best Man speech is ready and waiting.
Dean: Hi Leo
Leo: HEY!
Leo: OMG, how the hell are ya?!
Leo: Bro, you are MISSED
Dean: That’s so kind of you
Leo: Nothing but the truth, daddio
Dean: I have something I want to say to you
Leo: Ok…should I be sitting down? LOL
Dean: LOL no need
Dean: I just want to say thank you
Leo: For what?
Dean: Literally everything. Giving me a home. Always being on my side. Holding me down when you had to. And never holding your eyebrow injury against me. Other people would have, but you didn’t.
Dean: Eli did a lot of the heavy lifting with me, like being basically on-call for me overnight, but I have never forgotten how much I owe you, and it’s totally insufficient, but I wanted to say a big thank you.
Leo: …
Leo: ‘Scuse me, I’m chopping onions
Dean: Me too, a little bit LOL
Leo: Dude…it was my pleasure
Leo: Now, when are you coming home so I can give you a big old bro hug?
Dean: Soon. But first, I’m going home to Liaden. I’ll see y’all the day after, but day one on the other side belongs to her
Leo: Good man. Also just FYI, we have clients queueing up to book in with you when you’re ready to come back. Nate Woodruff says he’s first.
Dean: LOL sure, I think I’ll be ready a couple of days after I’m back
Leo: Need a couple of days to ‘reacquaint’ with L? [Wink emoji]
Dean: At least
Leo: Take as long as you need. Always.
Day62
Today I messaged Eli and told him about the stash of pills I’d been collecting. I told him where to find them, and asked him to junk every last one. I don’t need them. I’m not going anywhere.
Day83
Dean: My love