The Broken Road by Sean Michael

Author:Sean Michael [Michael, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Phone cal s in the middle of the night were never a good

thing and Ardie stumbled into the hal , grabbing it off the

receiver. “Hel o?"

"A ... a ... ard?"

"Shit, West? What's the matter?” He leaned against the

wal , heart thumping.

"There ... Brian was ... There was a...” West's voice trailed

off, soft sobs sounding.

"Oh, God, West. Something happened to Brian?” Shit. He

rubbed his forehead, hand unsteady. “You need me to

come, West?"

"No. No, his family wants him b ... buried in Philadelphia.

I'm ... I'm taking him there. I ... I just needed to tel you."

"Dead? Oh, West. I'm sorry, buddy. So damned sorry.” Shit.

Shit. Brian had been everything to West. The light of his

fucking life. “You sure you don't want me to come?"

"I'm sure. I am. I just...” West made a soft little noise. “I've

been at the hospital for hours. There was a shooting—

some drug thing, they think. He never woke back up. I

talked to his mom and then told them to turn off the

machines. He just sort of ... stopped breathing."

"Oh, West. Shit. I'm sorry. That had to have been just awful.

You going to be al right? You need anything?"

"I need Brian back."

"I wish I could do that for you, West.” He truly did. He knew

how devastating the death of a loved one was, had seen

what it had done to his Momma, losing his Poppa so early.

Seven years West and Brian had been together, maybe

more. Christ.

"Yeah, me, too. I'm sorry I woke you. I just needed to hear a

friendly voice."

"I wish I was there for you, West. Wish I could help you out."

Mabel came down along the long hal from her and Bil y's

wing. He put his hand over the mouthpiece and whispered,

“Brian was kil ed."

Her eyes went wide, her hand to her mouth.

"Mabel offers her condolences, too, West. We al real y

liked Brian."

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. He loved you al ."

"He was a good guy, West. You did al right. Had some

good years together, too, yeah?” He slid down the wal ,

cradling the phone against his shoulder.

"Yeah. Guess I wasn't meant for forever. He was too good

for me."

"No, West, that's not the way it works. You're a good man

and you deserved him. You made him happy."

"How's everybody there? I ... I was thinking I'd fly down for a

day or two, just to say hel o after ... Before I came back

here."

"That sounds good, West, real good. You come home and

let us hold you. Let us help make it better."

"Just a day or two. I'l cal and let you know when my flight

comes in?"

"That'l work, West. You know we're here for you."

"I know. I need to make some more cal s, Ard. I'l talk to you

later."

"Cal when you need to, West. Cal col ect, whatever. And

you take care of yourself. Okay?"

"Yeah. Goodbye Ard.” The click seemed loud, so odd and

final.

Damn.

He reached up to hang the phone up and leaned his head

against the wal , fretting, worrying about his best friend.

About the man he loved.

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