“It was an accident,” Talon adds.
Officer Michaels raises a brow.
“Punching him in the face was an accident?” he repeats with skepticism.
“Oh, no,” Talon clarifies. “Punching him in the face was on purpose. His fall was an accident. I didn’t expect him to lose his balance.”
“Mmm,” Officer Michaels hums.
Talon and I give our official statements to Officer Michaels, who then disappears through the doors that lead toward the patient rooms.
Unsure what to do next, Talon and I take seats in the waiting room for news of Derek’s condition. Talon’s leg bounces with nerves the entire time.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” I tell him, even though I have no clue if that’s true.
He smiles, but it’s drawn tight, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s already regretting this thing between us.
Our path has been anything but conventional. Not that I’d even know what conventional is, but I doubt most relationships start by thinking your boss is a straight waiter who rescues you after being beaten to a bloody pulp, only to discover that he might be a little gay for you and moves you into his million-dollar home.
But hey, what the hell? Nothing in my life has been normal. Why should my relationships be any different?
“How are you holding up?” he asks.
“I’m fine; just worried about you. Worried about us. This is a lot for a new relationship,” I tell him, attempting to communicate well.
“We’re going to be okay,” he says confidently. “Come here.” Talon puts his arm across the back of my shoulders, pulling me into his side, where I stay until Officer Michaels makes another appearance.
“Well, Mr. Palmer was ready to file all kinds of charges until I showed him the pictures I still have on my phone from my last trip to this emergency room. I reminded him that he violated that protective order the second he opened his mouth and took a step toward you, Zeke. I also may have let it slip that if he didn’t press charges, his ambulance ride and ER visit would be covered, but if he went a different route, I’d personally see to it that his bill, along with your surgical one, found its way to him.”
Talon smiles and shakes the man’s hand.
“Thank you. I promise, you’ll get no more trouble out of us,” Talon says.
“I think it’s safe to say Mr. Palmer won’t be causing any more trouble, either. It’s been my experience that when the dogs with the loudest bark finally get bitten, they tend to go quiet,” he says reassuringly. “You two enjoy your night.”
Talon leaves his information with the nurse to make sure he receives the bill, and when we get back in his SUV, it’s almost eleven. It’s been a brutal night of highs and lows, but it seems my chapter with Derek is finally closed, and I couldn’t be happier about that.
“I want a redo,” Talon says, breaking the silence.
“What?”
“A redo. On our first date. Where I punch no one. And no cops are called. And you get the special treatment you deserve without a run-in with your shitty ex and without your current boyfriend going apeshit,” he clarifies.
“Boyfriend?” I ask. We hadn’t really defined things, and I didn’t want to presume.
Talon scrubs a hand across the back of his neck and gives a nervous laugh.
“Did I fuck that up, too? I mean, I’m happy to ask formally. I just figured, you know, with sleeping in the same bed and coming on you twice now, that it kind of made us a thing. Unless it’s too soon,” he adds quickly. “I’m not so great at casual hookups, but I can try. I just need to know?—”
“Talon, I’d be honored to be your boyfriend,” I say, putting him out of his misery.
“Yeah?” he asks with a smile and a sigh of relief.
“Yeah.”
Chapter 25
Talon
