Had he told Brandon yet?
Was he really going to tell Brandon about me?
If Brandon knew about me, would he decide he wants to meet me?
If he did, when would it be?
How would I know if he wants nothing to do with me?
Would I possibly have to wait and wonder for the rest of my life?
And now I was at the point of obsession. Plain and simple, I had lost a grip on what was normal or acceptable behavior in this scenario.
I had to see him.
I just had to.
Wide awake and unable to sleep anymore, I kicked back the sheet and sat up. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed as I reached for my phone again. I’d saved the map of the Three Brothers Coffee locations on my phone and opened it up.
I had no idea what time Brandon worked or what days. I didn’t even know what location he worked at. I just needed to be in a place where he was. I could take my iPad and sit there for hours and drink coffee while I worked. That was an acceptable coffee shop etiquette.
I planned out my morning as I got up and made the bed. I’d get dressed and write Hollis and Patrick a note to let them know I needed to go do some work and would be back later. They’d be fine. They were probably enjoying sleeping in and not having to do anything. They could go visit Mom and Dad.
I quickly showered and got ready. I tossed on a clean pair of jeans and a maroon and navy plaid button-down shirt. I headed into the kitchen to grab my iPad and leave a note for Hollis and Patrick.
“Hey, morning, bub,” Hollis said as he pulled a bottle of water from the fridge.
Great. Note not needed. Who the fuck gets up early when they don’t have to?
He was wearing his workout shorts and sneakers. His hair was wet, and his skin glistened as the intruding sunlight threw beams of light into the place. I was kind of annoyed that not only was he already up, but he’d finished working out too.
“Hey,” I replied and tried to act natural. I glanced around for my iPad, and when I spotted it on the coffee table, I headed over to it. “I wasn’t expecting you to be up already.”
“Ha! It’s after six, Chase,” he said, as if that was an obvious statement as to why he’d be up.
“Yeah,” I mumbled as I picked up the iPad and opened the folio cover to gaze at the battery level.
Seventy percent. Good enough.I wasn’t really going to work while I was sitting there. I only needed to look like I was working. If I ever got to leave. I was quickly growing more irritated that Hollis was up and making my escape from my own place more difficult.
“Some people sleep in when they’re on vacation,” I commented dryly.
“Am I on vacation?”
Shit. No. He wasn’t going to do this. The fucking big brother shit that he did and was ridiculously good at it. But his question led me to believe that he was already well ahead of me in the game that I didn’t realize until now that he was playing.
“Hollis, please don’t,” I begged and then rubbed my temples with my thumb and middle finger.
He was already crossing the room toward me with the couch separating us. He could tell I was on the verge of being moody.
“Bub—”
“Dammit, it’s been a fucked-up few days.”
“I know it has. I’m right here, Chase.”
“Yeah, I know, but I need to go do some work stuff. I thought maybe you’d sleep in like normal humans.”
“Chase, when have I ever done that? I always work out in the mornings.”
