Page 36 of The Broken Hearts Club

He turned the airhorn around in his hands and gave the button an experimental jab. The horn shrieked, and so did Collie. This sent the cat launching off the couch and running out of the office. He yelled after her, “I’m sorry, Kate!”

“Anyway, I just thought it might be helpful. Good night, Collie.”

“Good night, Miller.”

He probably thought I was nuts, but whatever. I couldn’t help but worry.

I left the office and bedroom doors slightly ajar on my way through. Then I started to get ready for bed. A minute later, the air horn went off. I dropped my toothpaste and dashed to his aid.

Collie was sitting right where I’d left him. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he announced, “This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. If this had been an actual emergency, you would have found me looking like this.” He flung himself halfway off the couch and rolled his eyes back as his tongue flopped out of his mouth. Then he sat up again and said, “This now concludes our test.”

“I totally set myself up for this.”

“Yeah, you did.”

I was grinning as I left the office.

The next morning, I took a Lyft to work, since I planned to pick up the van later. I was in the building for all of two minutes before Daria intercepted me at the coffee maker.

“So,” she said, with a huge smile, “how goes it with the boy toy?”

“He’s not my boy toy.”

“You and that little hottie have been living under the same roof for days. If nothing’s happened, that’s an actual tragedy.”

I filled my coffee mug and turned to her with a raised brow. “He has a heart condition, Daria.”

“And he’s been living with it all his life. If you suck his dick, do you think he’ll instantly fall over and die?” I rolled my eyes, and she said, “Okay, so you aren’t having sex. But what about the rest of it? How are you two getting along?”

“Great. He’s really sweet.”

“So, this has relationship potential.”

“We’re friends. That’s it.”

“Don’t try to tell me you aren’t into him. I saw the way you kept looking at him on Sunday.”

“How did I keep looking at him?”

“Like he was the only thing that mattered to you in the entire world.”

I hadn’t thought I’d been so obvious. Still though, I went with denial because I wanted Daria to let this go. “I’m concerned about his health, so I tend to check on him a lot.”

“That’s not all it is. I know it’s not.” She frowned and followed me to my desk as she said, “It’s been a year, Miller. Don’t you think it’s time to get back up on that horse?”

“I’m done with horses.”

“Forever?” When I didn’t answer, she said, “Your ex was an ass. I knew that long before he dumped you. He was always trying to change you, which is bullshit. You deserve someone who appreciates you for the sweet, wonderful man you are. Someone like Collie.”

“Some people are better off on their own.”

“Not you, though. We both know you’ve always been a relationship kind of guy. Just because that one didn’t work out doesn’t mean you should give up.”

“Maybe my priorities have shifted.”

“Or maybe you’re still really hurt, and afraid to try again.” I didn’t say anything, so she pressed ahead with, “Bruce already took almost a decade of your life. Are you really going to let him take this shot at happiness, too?”

“I’m fine, Daria. I don’t know why you think I’m so miserable.”