Page 85 of After the Chase

"Just promise me you'll stay in touch. Call me and always give me the heads up before you come back."

"I will. I promise."

Ivan sets down his coffee cup with a soft clink. "I, however, am devastated."

I blink. "What?"

"I'm losing my bestie." Ivan's tone is light, but there's genuine disappointment beneath it. "Noah and I were just starting to bond."

Tyler snorts. "You've seen him maybe five times in the past six months."

"Quality over quantity, sweetheart." Ivan looks at me. "Tell Noah I'll miss our stimulating conversations and butchering people."

“Ivan…” Ty sighs.

“What? Stop pretending you don’t love that side too. Did you know your brother gets jealous if anyone I hurt touches me?”

“Ivan!” Ty shouts, his face turning scarlet.

“Ty…and here you are questioning me,” I say, with humor in my voice. “I guess we are both fucked up?”

We all laugh before Ivan speaks.

"I’m serious though, Noah is unique. He really appreciated my inventions and work, he’s the best torturer and killer I’ve seen."

“I’ll let him know,” I say, while Ivan drifts off into a memory in his mind.

Tyler squeezes my hand again. "How often will you be in LA?"

"I don't know yet. We're still figuring it out. Noah wants the best of both worlds, sanctuary in LA, access to other things in New York."

"Smart." Tyler's expression is thoughtful. "And you're okay with all the travel?"

"I go where Noah goes.”

“I'm happy for you. Both of you."

When we separate, Ivan is watching us with an expression I can't quite read. "You're good for each other," he says finally. "You and Noah. It's rare to see that kind of... synthesis."

"Synthesis?"

"A merger of two people into something new. Something that couldn't exist separately." Ivan's smile is knowing. "It's beautiful, in a deeply fucked up way."

Tyler laughs. "That's one way to put it."

We spend the next hour talking about Tyler's recovery, and Ivan's work, about my writing. It's normal. Comfortable. For a little while, I can almost pretend we're just two brothers catching up, nothing dark lurking beneath the surface. But when I stand to leave, Tyler walks me to the door and pulls me aside.

"Chase," he says quietly. "Promise me you'll be careful. That you'll protect yourself, because I can't lose you."

My throat tightens. "I promise. We’ll be safe over there and it’s not forever."

"I know. Just call me. Even if it's just to say hi.”

"I will."

He hugs me one more time, tight and fierce. "I love you, Ty," I say.

"I love you too."