"Shit, no. I can't take a sick day. I've got too much to do, and the time between now and Christmas is rapidly dwindling, and the to-do list is rapidly growing, and I have no idea how they expect me to just keep my head above water with all of this. I don't mind stepping in when either of them are away, but both at once? Then if I fuck anything up, it'll be my fault. This is not the job I signed up for, and I had no notice whatsoever." Tristan didn't even realise any of this was bothering him to this level because he had been working like a machine to try to get everything done, and effectively do the jobs of three people. Now all of a sudden with Caden exposing his vulnerability, everything was bubbling up to the forefront.

He stopped and held up both his hands, trying to regain his composure. "You know what? Fuck it. I'm calling in sick, and I'm not giving a reason. I swore to myself I would never in my life stop looking after myself like this again, and it's gone and happened. I didn't even realise. And us. When we started this thing, we promised each other we would make time for our relationship, because it was important with the schedules we have. You've been upholding your end of the bargain, and I've been letting you down left, right and centre. I'm not willing to do my relationship in halves when it is the best thing to have happened to me in a very long time, and I'm not willing to do my health in half for anyone." He stopped, putting a hand to his forehead. "Shit, I'm dizzy."