I pulled up a chair and sat next to his bed. “I know you wanted me to come over to your place again, but there are better ways, you know?” I said, trying out a smile as I looked him over. He appeared weak and washed out.
“Yeah,” he rasped, “but hey, now you’re here!” Then he launched into a coughing fit.
I rubbed his back as he practically hacked up a lung.
When he was done, he collapsed against the pillows and closed his eyes. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. You just need to take it easy for a while. You’ve got some good friends out there, you know? They seem to be willing to do anything for you, even run your shop for a while.”
René smiled. “They’re the best. We’ve been there for each other through some interesting times. It creates a strong bond.” He coughed a little, then wiped his nose on a tissue. “So did you like Bryce’s pastries better than mine?”