I didn’t need another wish. It had been granted, but a niggling moment of disquiet intruded. I wanted to save Brandon, but what would he say about me and Christopher? For me, our relationship had been over for five years. For him, it had been a week and a half, though he was the one who’d chosen for it to end. I didn’t want to hurt him, even if I didn’t love him the way I thought I had. I leaned on Christopher and built up the bricks just a little, hiding thoughts of Brandon far from us. Christopher wasn’t fooled, but he didn’t push, and we enjoyed the rest of our night.
. . .
The next morning, we indulged in morning sex, awake early so Christopher could be at Brandon’s lab for the appointed time. Leaving before eight seemed like an obscene hour to be out on a weekend. I hadn’t been included in the invitation, but we thought we could try. I would go with Christopher for moral support, then we would enjoy the day. We wanted to spend every second that we could together.
The building where Brandon’s lab was located was a chrome and glass monstrosity, surrounded by a ten-foot fence with triple-strand barbed wire on the top and security cameras at regular intervals. Christopher spoke into a two-way speaker by the gate. Brandon had left his name, so we could proceed through the gate.
We parked and entered the lobby. I’d met Brandon here several times, though I’d never been farther than reception. A familiar older man in a crisp blue uniform stood behind the desk.
“Miss Elizabeth,” the security guard said. “Nice to see you again. Christopher too. What an unexpected pleasure.”
“Hi, Paul,” I mouthed, then pointed to my throat.“I can’t talk today.”
He punched our names into his computer and then looked at me, the corners of his mouth turned down. “You’re not on the list. Just Dr. Christopher Winters. Is our Dr. Winters expecting you?”
I shook my head.
Christopher turned on the charm.
“She came as a surprise. He’s been working so hard,” said Christopher with a friendly smile. “Hope that’s ok.”
Paul shifted from side to side and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m afraid I can’t let her in without proper authorization.”
He grimaced and looked torn. Like he wanted to help but knew he shouldn’t.
“Should I call up and ask? Even if it ruins the surprise?” Paul said. “If Dr. Winters clears you, you can go.”
Brandon would say no, so I put Paul out of his misery and shook my head.
“I’ll wait,”I texted Christopher. I pointed to the armchairs near the window in the morning sun.
“If you don’t mind,” Paul said.
The poor man looked relieved and I could tell he felt bad, but he was just doing his job. I smiled to let him know I wasn’t upset.
“I’m fine down here. Brandon doesn’t come down until I arrive because I’m always late. Paul’s a nice man. Sometimes I bring him hot chocolate or brownies.”
Paul scanned a security card through the reader, and a green light flashed by the door. He opened the heavy metal door. “Elevator’s at the end of the hall. Your brother will meet you there with his security card. I’ll take care of Miss Elizabeth.”
Sitting in the sun, I sent a text to my sister.“Feels weird that it’s Sunday, but there’s no Sunday dinner.”
“Tell me more about Christopher. I’m dying to know,”she said.
“We work together. I’ve known him since I moved back to Portland. We were interested in each other before, not sure why we didn’t go out. His brother asked me out first. So, we’ve been friends. Until now.”Images of the previous night flashed through my mind. We were more than friends now. My face was sore from smiling.
“He’s a good fit for you,”she said.“You’re too serious sometimes. Plus, he’s hot.”
“Yes, he is.”
“OMG, you had sex already. That’s not like you. You seem different.”
“Is it like radar with you or what?”I wrote.“I hardly said anything.”
“It was hot, wasn’t it? I can tell you’re smug.”
“Volcanic.”
“You could come to our place for dinner tonight, with me and Andrew, tell me everything,”she said.“Unless you have a better offer.”
