Connected To Him (ManxMan) ✔️

Part 2: Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Cloud 9

Ethan couldn't taste anything. At least, it seemed that way. The eggs he was putting into his mouth had as much salt as always but Ethan was so distracted, he couldn't seem to taste them. These days, his mind was working 24/7, dead set on figuring out how to appease his client and boss. There was a solution, somewhere, someway, Ethan was just the unfortunate soul tasked to find it. Maybe all of this thinking wasn't good for him. It was less than an hour after he'd woken up but he already felt exhausted. Could Ethan do this for the entire day?

The small ping that pulled him out of the trance was a welcome distraction. Quickly opening his phone, he found a message from Chris.

Hey

Are you free to talk?

Ethan's 'yes' was an easy reply. In the next moment, Ethan's phone began to ring and he put the call on speaker. Ethan smiled at the sound of Chris's voice, only realizing he'd been tense when his shoulders automatically relaxed. They exchanged the usual pleasantries, asking about work and their mornings so far, et cetera. Ethan could tell Chris had something to ask him and waited patiently for the question to come.

"So, are you free?" Chris asks. "Today is supposed to be your day off if I remembered correctly."

Ethan sighed so deeply that he knew it was heard through the phone. Somehow, this was the worst question Chris could have asked.

"Technically, yes," Ethan began, hearing a little cheer from the other end of the line. "But I'm just so stressed with work. I should really try to work on this project."

By all accounts, Ethan was completely allowed to spend the whole day having fun with Chris. But his work would be looming over his head the entire time and waiting for him when he went back to the office the next day. How could he slack off when there was so much to do?

Chris, seemingly prepared for that response, took it in stride.

"Then come out with me, I can help you de-stress."

The word de-stress broke Ethan's resolve just a little bit.

"I don't know . . . " He drew out. He bit his lip contemplatively, trying to think logically. There were benefits to staying home and working, even if it was hard to think of them while Chris was making such a convincing argument. Well, the argument was mediocre at best, it just seemed extremely solid coming out of Chris's mouth.

"Come on! You know people are more productive when they take breaks."

"I'm not sure if this is one of those times," Ethan rebutted, the smile on his face now seeping into his words. Chris laid off then. Nearly a minute passed with nothing but their breathing filling the space. Maybe this was a manipulation tactic: leave Ethan in silence to make him break. Well, it worked.

"Okay fine. Where do you want to go?"

—————

Chris hadn't told Ethan exactly where they would be going. On the phone, he'd mentioned doing something fun then told Ethan to wear stuff he could sweat in. Ethan tried to prepare himself for a hike or adventure through the woods but threw those guesses out the window as he got closer to the address. All he saw were buildings and plazas. A cycling class briefly came to mind but he ignored that idea as well. Chris was waiting outside of the building when Ethan got there, so he was able to witness Ethan's full reaction.