“Best to do as the docs say. Get you back on your feet sooner,” Morgan interjected before demolishing his second dog.
“Does your wife never feed you?” I asked. He flipped me a finger coated in cheese and chili. We all had a fast laugh, then the door opened once more. Tim stood in the doorway wearing an expression I’d only ever seen on a scolded puppy. I lookedfrom Tim to the other two. All humor had fled their faces. “Tim,” I said in way of a greeting.
“Dane, I was home, and then I thought… look is there any chance I could talk to you for a few minutes?” he said, staying planted in the doorframe as if he thought he’d be told to leave. Given our past, I probably should tell him to fuck off, but he seemed to be not quite himself. The boastful set of his shoulders was missing.
“Sure, they were just heading off to find me a Coke to drink,” I said with a pointed look at my friends. Both mumbled slightly but gave us some privacy, leaving their food behind to indicate they would be back—and soon. Once the door closed, he gave the room a fast, cursory check before easing closer to the bed. Just a foot or so closer. “You can sit down. I promise the gay won’t infect you.”
He winced. “That’s justified.” He headed over to the seat Courtney had vacated then sat down with a huff. “I met your boyfriend in the elevator this morning.”
The bite of chili dog I’d just taken clogged up in my throat. “If you say one bad thing—” I warned around a mouthful.
He held up a hand. I chewed and swallowed roughly.
“I’m not. Look, I know we’ve not exactly been what you’d say close, or even, buddies. I’ve been a dick.”
I blinked. Was my injured brain not working well? Did the ringing in my ear cause me to mishear what seemed to be a confession of asshole behavior? Maybe I needed to stay here for another couple of days just in case…
“Forgive me for being cautious here, but what is happening right now?” I laid my half-eaten dog on the paper wrapper it had come in atop the rolling tray. The sound of a doctor being paged floated into the room.
“I’m just trying to apologize. For being a jerk about you being gay.”
“Oh-kay.” Yeah, I was hallucinating. Had to be.
“Maybe that crack on the head jarred something into place.” He tenderly rubbed at the knot on his brow. It was going to be an ugly thing. “I had some time to think, you know, about life, about how if you’d not taken the worst of the blast instead of me, how things might have been different. I have this family history of… ” He blew out a breath. “Not important. I was raised in a shitty house saying shitty, stupid things. Even with the training, I was still clinging to those shitty things because that was how it’s done in my family. But those shitty things are just wrong. You saved my life.”
His sight met mine. The humble firefighter inside me wanted to brush it off, but something told me to just let him say what he had come here to say.
“You’re a good guy.”
“Okay, what the hell did you do with Tim Pegg? Are you some kind of alien clone monster that took over his brain?”
That made him snort in amusement. “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. I think I just kind of had a moment of reflection or saw God or whatever people want to call an epiphany. Things have been upside down since the blast. I think in a good way. No, for sure mostly in a good way.” He stood, took a step, and offered me his hand. “Thank you for what you did. Sorry I’ve been an asshole. I’m going to try to do better.”
“That’s all we can ask from anyone.” I placed my hand in his, mindful of the IV cannula, and found a truth in his gaze I’d never seen before.
The door swung open. Morgan and Courtney entered, holding cold cans of cola, their eyes narrowed at first, then flared. I released Tim’s hand. “Looks like the drinks are here. You’re welcome to stay. I’m sure Morgan has at least a half dozen dogs in his bag.” Morgan gasped as if I’d offered to give away one of his dogs.
“No, thanks, I have some shit to do at home. I’ll see you in a few weeks.” With that, he dropped my hand, nodded at our fellow firefighters, and left.
As soon as the door swished closed, Courtney was in my face, holding the can of Coke out of reach. “You only get to drink dusty, warm water if you don’t fill us in on everything that just happened with him.” She jerked her chin at the door.
“I’m not really sure what’s happening with him, but he apologized for being a homophobic ass.” They both gaped. “Yeah, go figure. Can I have that Coke now? I’m injured and weak from saving lives.”
“Oh, my God, what a drama queen you are,” Courtney teased before handing over my soda and a straw.
“You going to finish your dog?” Morgan asked as he eyed my wiener with lust.
That made me laugh out loud. It hurt, but again, it felt great.
Chapter 15
Chip
The next timeI visited Dane, his apartment was all wrong.
Not badly wrong. The chair by the window had been moved flush against the wall, and the TV stand was blocking half the corridor to the bedroom. I know the things were moved for Dane so he’d have a clearer view of the TV, although my research said he maybe shouldn’t be watching TV, but that was another issue altogether.
I closed the front door behind me, stood just inside, and registered the changes.
