The Returnee

Chapter 15

Colin got better at not being jealous in part because Damian gave him Andrew's number, and the two started a meme war. Something oddly juvenile to Lee, but if Colin making friends with Andy, stopped him thinking Lee planned to vanish, he'd take it. Lee napped during the day as he continued to struggle to sleep at night. They tried putting him in the living room for a night, but he slept as badly as with them.

"At least I'm not keeping you awake, though," Lee argued as Joey packed up the futon with the decision that Lee could rejoin them in the family bed.

"Trust me, I'm still awake. You aren't a bother, and I prefer you not to be alone in the early hours of the morning. Those aren't good for anybody," Joey said, kissing Lee on the cheek. "I go tick tick tick, able to hear you think."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's not your fault that you're struggling to sleep."

[He's not wrong]

[It feels like my fault. I'm the one having nightmares.]

[It's not your fault. You needed some time to process what happened to you. It wasn't that long ago that you had your breakdown. This is why it's important to take care of yourself.]

[When do you get in?] Lee didn't want to talk about it anymore with Andrew. Andrew found him. It was humiliating and embarrassing, but he saw the sight of the utter disrepair Lee had become. Dehydrated, manic and talking about being abducted by aliens. Lee was surprised that Andrew continued to talk to him. He didn't remember much from those first few days. 

 [8 o'clock sharp, all things willing.]

[Do you want me to meet you at the station, or are you heading straight to the office?]

[My presentation isn't until 1 pm We could get brunch?]

"Joey, is it ok if I get brunch with Andy when he arrives?"

"Of course. Are you hoping to do it alone, or are you ok with tagalongs?" Joey said, busy typing something on this archaic computer that barely functioned.

"I'll ask him." [Do you want to meet my friends then or later?]

[Oooh, I get to meet Colin over brunch? Why not?]

"He's excited to meet Colin."

Colin beamed from his perch on the window seat, reading a romantic comedy with a dramatic regency-inspired cover on the front. Colin enjoyed bodice rippers. "As he should be!"

"We could go to that nice place overlooking the bay?" Devon suggested, taking up most of the living room with his latest project. He was sewing sequins into a bridle for a huge show. It took more room than Lee realised to Devon's job, but he was meticulous at tidying after himself. "We haven't been since Damian had a show here."

Joey hummed happily with a grin.

[They know a place - meet at that ugly statue?]

[Can't wait.]

"Did you look into that company he's meeting with?" Devon asked as he continued to work his magic. "The Green Tech company?"

"I did a basic check over, but nothing looks off." Ignoring a weird wriggling at the back of his neck as if he should know something. "Why, did you hear anything?"

"Not particularly. There was something on the radio about them building some offshore wind turbines," Devon said, pinning a sequin in a particularly stubborn spot. "It'll produce a couple hundred jobs or something like that."

"Good for them. We could always do with new jobs in the area."

Colin hunched over his book more. Lee stretched on the sofa, amused. That talk hadn't happened yet. Colin was on holiday and Joey hoped he'd go home soon. He wasn't showing signs. The Farm hadn't tried to make contact either. If Colin wasn't going home, he needed a job.