Two hours later, with assistance from Shannon Nash at city police, a judge who owed Colin a favor, and the Charlottesville branch of Veteran’s Affairs, the veteran in question was seen by a VA psychologist and transferred to the hospital for a complete psychiatric evaluation.
“Well, would you look atus!” Joshua said afterward as they flopped on the couch.
“Yeah, we’re impressive as all bloody hell,” Colin grumbled. “Only took us seventeen phone calls, one judge, one city detective, one Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney, the head of the trauma division of the Rainier Clinic, and three people from the VA to get one disabled vet the psych eval heshouldhave gotten from the moment this incident began. Long-term help for these guys is practically nonexistent.”
“Speaking of nonexistent… your dinner is now, um, cold and inedible.”
Colin stretched as he stood, reaching to take Joshua’s hand. “Aaaand, we’re off to Domino’s. You call ahead and get our order going.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
CONVERSATIONS AT THE CABIN
“Oh, sweet Jesus, I am so glad to be here!” Nate breathed out. He was lying on the front porch glider, his feet dangling over the end. Nate had arrived home only two days previously, and the four friends were celebrating with a long weekend at David’s cabin.
“Yeah, well, I’m glad you’re here too,” Colin said from his lawn chair. “But I’m sick of you hogging the glider!”
“Oh, shut up,” Nate muttered, extending his sandal-covered foot to nudge Colin’s knee. “It’s not your glider anyway! It’s ours!”
“Well, technically speaking, it’s mine,” David said with a chuckle. “But I get your point.”
“I don’t care whoseglider it is,” Colin griped, slapping at Nate’s foot. “I just want a turn.”
“Josh,” Nate whined. “Make him stop picking on me!”
Sitting on the porch floor laughing at the conversation, Joshua reached to poke his husband’s ribs with an index finger. “Stop picking on the playwright,” he ordered.
Colin stretched with a loud, exaggerated noise, then grabbed Nate’s foot, which was still nudging him. “Knock it off!” He clambered to his feet and extended his hand to Joshua, who reached to grab it. “Since the playwright here insists on hogging the glider, let’s walk around the lake.”
“Oh, you can have the glider,” Nate muttered, getting to his feet.
But Colin laughed and pushed him down. “Relax. I’m just slaggin’ you. I want to take a walk with my husband.”
“Slagging?” Nate repeated, peering up at him. “That sounds a little kinky.”
Colin laughed as he led Joshua off the porch. “You wish!”
“It means he’s teasing you,” Joshua called over his shoulder. “We’ll be back in a bit.”
* * *
That evening,after dinner, they gathered in the living room in front of the cabin’s huge fireplace. Colin started a fire, then settled on the couch with Joshua, wrapping a warm blanket around them. David and Nate settled on the other couch, Nate’s head in David’s lap.
“Thanks for the fire, Colin,” Nate told him, snugging a wool afghan tight around him. “It feels good.”
“You look tired, Nate,” Joshua said.
“I’d wager that your last two months in New York were an absolute bitch,” Colin added.
“They were,” Nate replied. “Thanks to that asshole, Tanner. I spent half my time protecting the actors from his abusive bullshit and the other half protecting my play from his greedy fingers.”
“Was it the play he wanted? Oryou!”
“Both, I think,” David muttered, stroking Nate’s hair. “But he didn’t get either one.”
“And that reminds me,” Nate announced, bolting upright on the couch. “You owe me an apology, Colin Michael!”
“Oh, for the love of—” Colin rumbled, rolling his eyes.
