by JC Szot
He grabbed his duffel bag. Avoiding their pleading eyes was the hardest thing he’d ever have to do.
Chapter Eighteen
“Maybe I pushed the issue too much.” Zane collapsed into a chair behind the dining room table, burying his head in his hands. His stomach felt as if it were weighed down with cement.
The weather reflected the state of all three. The sky was a violent, angry gray. The sea rose with turbulent swells, tumbling on the shore. Drops of rain splattered on the glass door. Meg brought him a mug of coffee and sat down next to him. She tenderly rubbed his back, glancing outside, her brows furrowed.
“I hope he’s all right on the bike.” She sighed. “I feel like shit.” She sank back in her chair, her eyes roving over the ceiling. “The last thing I wanted was for him to feel screwed up.”
Zane released a breath, his chin in his palm. “He loves you, Meg, that’s why he feels fucked up about everything. I think Sean thinks this is all just a fling.” Her eyes filled. Meg looked away. Tears slid down her cheeks. She shook her head, hastily wiping them away. “You do love him, don’t you, Meg?” Zane caught another tear on her cheek, bringing it to his mouth. She nodded her head. “Remember, it’s okay,” Zane whispered.
“I do,” Meg admitted, her voice cracking. “Last night was beautiful. Maybe I should have told him. I just wasn’t sure of how you’d react.” She sniffed. “I wanted to talk to you, make sure you didn’t think it was too soon. I’m slightly confused, too. I know you wanted this for us.” She took his hand. “I know you meant well. What you both gave me last night was more than any girl could ever want. We just gotta be comfortable with the feelings and where they’re taking us, that’s all.”
“Shit.” Zane pounded his fist on the table. “I should’ve gone into this with a little more tact.”
“Don’t.” Meg sank into him, kissing his cheek. “I think this morning has brought it all out in the open, where it needs to be.” Zane held her close to him, her body still warm from the confines of their bed.
“It has for us, but we gotta go after him.” Zane stood. “That’s all there is to it. We need to talk to him, tell him it’s okay, and smooth this thing out.”
“I’ll start packing.” Meg got up and disappeared down the hall.
* * * *
He was trying to beat the rain. Bulging clouds hung heavy over him. At least he was off the interstate. Sean careened down the rural roads outside of Spring Oaks. Maybe he’d even pack another bag and go stay above the shop until this mess could be dealt with. How, he didn’t know. Meg was a dangerous distraction. Her nude body burned through his thoughts. Her long and slender limbs draped over him out on the deck. The way the moonlight lit up her skin.
Did they still see him the same way after what had happened? The fear of losing them both ripped through his gut. Should he feel ashamed? Could what Zane was proposing work in today’s world? A barrage of emotions attacked him in his head and his heart.
He turned on the radio. Alice in Chains shrilled in his ears, singing “Private Hell.” He related all too well.
The first drops of rain fell, dotting his face shield. A flashing road sign passed through the edge of his vision. Were they doing construction on this road? He pressed on. Almost home. He rounded the corner. His body tightened in alarm as his front wheel hit the loose gravel. He slipped into a slide. Sean leaned, turning the wheel of the bike. The weight of the bike and the gravel worked against him. His knee hit the hard road. The stones and residual asphalt beneath burned through his jeans. The unfortunate possibilities barreled through his mind.
A busted femur took many weeks to heal. He jerked his body, fighting the forty-mile-an-hour wind that cut through him. The front wheel jolted the other way. There was no other option. It was the lesser of two evils. He took all his weight and pulled it down into his feet and hurled himself into the air, bailing off the bike.
Gravity was an evil thing. The ground rose to his face. The earth tilted off its axis. His gloved palms hit the roadway. The force dragged his knees over the gravel, tearing his jeans and skin into shreds. Liquid copper filled his mouth as he rolled into the brushes. The roadside thickets were just as cruel, scratching through his clothing, etching his body with their curse. His back slammed into the ground with a deep thud. Pain seared through his body as his eyes dimmed into darkness.
Chapter Nineteen
“What the hell’s going on?” Zane leaned into the windshield, peering through the rain as he pulled in the driveway. A patrol officer was standing on the front stoop. Zane jammed the car in park.
“Oh, God.” Meg jumped out of the car. Zane was already running up the front walk. The officer wasted no time with a greeting.
“Is this the home of Sean Nevel?”
“Yes.” Zane’s stomach was ready to heave right on the officer’s black, shiny shoes.
“What’s wrong?” Meg’s voice choked. She yanked slept-on strands of hair out of her pooling eyes, her face pinched in pain.
“He’s had an accident out on County Route Four. He’s been taken to Manderville Memorial.”
“Is he okay?” Zane was retracing his steps back toward the car, his breaths a panicked wind.
“He was pretty banged up but conscious when they took him in.”
Meg turned away, her shoulders heaving. Zane pulled her into him, spinning her around. He took her face in his shaking hands. Her eyes blinked, the whites pink.
“He will be okay. You got that?” Zane’s words were flat, attempting to calm her.
“I’ll escort you to the hospital, just stay close. Yield at all red lights and intersections. I’ve got your back.” The officer rested a hand on his arm. His concerned stare moved between them. “Remember, he was conscious when they brought him in. That’s always a good sign.”
* * * *
The electronic double doors slid open as they both ran into the lobby of the hospital. Several women in pink smocks bustled behind the front desk. Zane leaned over the counter, his inquiry spilling in a rush of breathless words.
“They just brought him in. I’ll take you back to the waiting area.” The soft-spoken attendant brought them into the ER waiting room. Zane darted over to the nurses’ station. Despite the creamy beige walls and soft instrumental music, Meg’s body was wound tighter than a spool of thread. She leaned against the wall. Zane’s voice echoed in her head, his tone anxious as he asked another group of nurses about Sean’s condition.
A doctor glanced up, his eyes shifting between them. He handed a chart over to the nurse and met them in front of the desk.
“Are you his next of kin?”
Zane shook his head. “No, but we’re all he’s got.” Meg and Zane hastily introduced themselves.
“Dr. Andrews.” He shook hands with them both, waving them over to a small waiting area. His salted brows met across his forehead. “Your friend is very lucky. He’s got some contusions and two cracked ribs. I just had him taken upstairs to be admitted. We’re going to keep an eye on him for a few days, but he’s in good hands, I assure you.”
Dr. Andrews suggested that they give the nurses a few minutes to get Sean settled in his room and then they could go up. Zane took her hand and led her over to the row of chairs that lined the wall. They sat. Zane buried his head in his hands. Meg wrapped her arm around him.
“He’s okay. The doctor’s right, it could’ve been worse.” Zane sat back. An odd smile tugged at his mouth.
“I bet you he bailed off the bike.” He shook his head.
“He’s an experienced rider. He knew what to do.”
The sounds of an institution that never slept filled the lull. An orderly came in, telling them that Sean was now in his room.
“Is he awake?” Zane stood.
“He’s in and out. They gave him a pretty hefty dose of pain medication, but you’re free to go in and sit with him.” He nodded, leaving them. Meg and Zane walked down the hall and stepped into the elevator. It was quiet during their asce
nt. The doors glided open as dinner trays wheeled past them. The further down the hall they went, the quieter it became. Overhead lighting turned the hallway into a glaring trail beneath their feet. Zane’s grave words made her shiver.
“I was hoping I’d never have to come back to this fucking place.” His face pinched with the memory.
“We’ll get him home where he belongs. If I have to take a few more days off, I will,” Meg squeezed his hand.
They rounded the corner and entered the room. The day’s descending sunlight had the room bathed in a smoky haze. Sean’s body was buried with blankets. Two IV poles stood at the head of his bed. Meg grabbed the cool railing. Recollections of her tearful night with Zane rebounded in her brain. Tears jabbed through her eyes once again. It wasn’t Zane this time, but the angst of seeing Sean in this similar predicament had her chest heaving. Zane leaned over the railing on the other side of the bed, his mouth to Sean’s ear.
“We’re here, buddy. You’re gonna be fine. The doctor said you’re lucky, but you’re okay.” Meg brushed the crunchy strands of bloodied hair away from his eyes. A blackened bruise decorated his cheek. Meg stroked his face. Zane’s eyes glimmered into hers. “Now’s the time, Meg.” Zane’s tone warmed. “Tell our guy it’s all good, and everything’s gonna be okay.”
Meg lowered her lips, resting them on Sean’s cheek, his skin cool. His sharp stubble tickled her lips. His lips were still below hers, but she remembered how they had felt against hers just yesterday, his kiss soft and aching with tenderness. Meg spoke softly.
“I love you.” Her confession was choked with emotion. “We love you. Get well so we can take you home.” Her lips brushed over his. “We’re a family now.”
They sat in silence, the room darkening around them. Zane stood, stretching his muscles. He told Meg he was going downstairs to look for some coffee and a few snacks. Meg knew being back in the hospital had Zane battling a few flashbacks. She stared out the window, down into the brightly lit parking lot. A rustling behind her had her facing the bed.
Sean’s eyes fluttered. He slowly licked his lips, his eyes blinking, trying to process his whereabouts. Meg leaned over him, her eyes misting. She took his hand and kissed his fingers. Her face stared back from the depths of his dark brown eyes. Her reflection was sharp and true, just as the tattoo of her face was that Zane wore on his back, her mirrored image now embedded in both men.
“Meg.” Her name slipped from his lips, a strained whisper.
Chapter Twenty
“God, those boys have had the worst luck.” Nora scratched her head in confusion. “Is he all right?”
“The doctor said he was lucky. He jumped off the bike when he couldn’t gain control. The doctor said that made a huge difference in regards to his injuries.” Meg dusted the shelving and then organized the disarray, results of yesterday’s sale. “Zane’s bringing him home today.”
“Will he be out of work long?” Nora hugged the clipboard to her chest.
“It doesn’t matter because Zane can ink now.” Meg tossed the rag into the bucket.
“Looks like it’s all evening out.” Nora shrugged, a bit rattled over Sean’s accident.
* * * *
“Are you comfortable?” Zane stood over him. Sean shifted his weight on the couch, wincing. The pain in his ribs burned right through his chest. It was getting easier to breathe, but every movement was a reminder.
“I’m good. Just hang with me for a while, could you?” He laughed, sounding like a lonely schoolboy. “I’m fucking bored.”
“Sure.” Zane sat down in the hanging wicker chair. He swayed back and forth. Sean held his eyes. He needed to talk to him but didn’t know where to begin. They hadn’t mentioned the few days they’d spent together at the shore. He kept thinking that he should move out, but now with his injury he was sort of stuck. The thought of leaving sank his heart right into his feet.
Zane spun around in the chair, their eyes connecting with every revolution. Sean knew Zane was reading him. Zane knew his thoughts before his own brain processed and spoke them. His friend’s demand sliced right through him, tearing him open and leaving him unprotected, his soul bared.
“You’re not fucking going anywhere, you got that?” Zane’s glacial blue eyes flashed. “Meg loves you. You leave, and then she’s crushed.” Zane’s face was set. “I can’t have that. Not with all we’ve put her through.”
“I feel strange.” Sean glanced away, needing a minute away from Zane’s pressing glower. “We were naked together, for fuck’s sake! I don’t know.” He shook his head. The images of them at the lake and on the beach were inked in his mind.
“It was the most incredible thing we’ve ever done,” Zane said, shaking his head, “and you know it. I know you love her, and she loves you. I don’t know what your problem is.”
“I do love her, but it’s not a real life.” Sean’s voice rose through gritted teeth. He held his ribs, moaning. Zane hopped off the chair. It swayed with his absence. He knelt down next to him.
“It’s none of anyone’s business what we do,” Zane fumed. “Why are you pulling back? Down at the shore you let everything go, and it was so perfect.” His words were airy. “Just let it all go. If you love her, then ride with it.”
“What’s in it for you?” Sean’s body was already firing with ravenous thoughts of having Meg again, though he wasn’t sure if his body could physically deliver.
Zane’s eyes were relentless, his stare pressing. “There doesn’t have to be anything else in it for me.” His tone was frustrated. “I love her, she loves me. She loves us,” he said, his voice lowering. “It’s what I know you want, as well as Meg.” He blew out an aggravated breath. “Don’t you fucking get it!” Zane bit down on his lower lip, looking away for a moment, as if searching the air for his needed words. His gaze moved back to Sean, warming. “I’ve seen death. I’ve stared it in the face. I had fucking Hodgkin’s disease. My life is so complete now. I have everything I could ever want. I know you’ve been searching for what we have. Why keep looking? It’s all right here.” Zane waved a hand. “I want Meg to have it all, too.” Zane yanked the hair out of his eyes, his face tight with seriousness. “We can’t care what others think. This is our life. You only get one. Let’s live it, man. We deserve it, and so does she.”
“That cancer’s changed you,” Sean whispered. “And it was for the better,” he added, nodding at Zane knowingly.
“You never know.” Zane shook his head. “So while we still don’t know how long any of us has, let’s embrace it, man. It’s all ours. It’s sacred, unique, and all ours for the taking.”
Sean held his gut as he struggled to sit up.
“Well, okay, but what if you’re not home, and, well…you know?” Sean buried his head in his hands. Zane’s hands were on his now, lifting them away from his hidden eyes. They looked deep into each other. The ticking of the clock swelled in the air between them. Zane turned and glanced back at the antique timepiece that was still working, pulling time forward and greeting the future. Zane faced him again, his eyes lit.
“This isn’t high school.” Zane laughed. “If something happens, then I hope it’s the greatest, most wonderful thing for both of you. I’m sure I’ll have my chances, too, while you’re either out or at work. Don’t overthink it so much. This is supposed to give us freedom, not pose restrictions.”
* * * *
The turning of the key in the lock woke him up. He’d been sleeping on the couch since he got home from the hospital. It forced him to keep his body straighter, which minimized his pain. Meg had worked late to help Nora paint the store. Her footsteps quietly faded down the hall.
Sean stared up into the darkness, listening to the water running in the bathroom. A warm shiver ran through his body, awakening him. He rested his hand over his stirring cock. It pressed against the thin cotton of his boxers. Jesus, I want her. He slowly sat up, his eyes straining through the dark shadows of the house. He heard her feet brushing over the
floorboards as she padded her way to the kitchen. He stood and gave his dick a hard squeeze. He’d talked to Zane. He had such an urge for her, and if she received him, then tonight would be the first night, the gateway to their new life together. His affections were real and ripe, and he was ready to express them now. He pulled off his boxers and walked through the dark room. A fire of need ignited off his skin, engulfing him.
He stood in the threshold of the kitchen, naked, ready for her, eager to please and brand her his. He strummed his fingers up and down his cock. It bobbed in response, his body firing on all cylinders. The pleasure of having her had the power to wash away any pain or indecision. Her hushed voice had him quaking with anticipation.
“Hey.” Her eyes gazed up at him from the kitchen table. The glow of the digital clock on the stove made them gleam.
“Hi. Late night, huh?” He didn’t move. The air swirled around his body, cooling his skin. His balls tingled, hugging his groin.
“Yeah, but we got done, that’s the important thing.” She smiled. He stepped closer to the table. He watched the shine of her eyes move over his body. She slowly stood up, her voice soft. His ribs ached, struggling to pull in the extra air that his body suddenly needed.
“Are you feeling better?” Her head tilted in question, her shapely brow arched.
“I am.” Sean felt his lips ease into a smile. He reached for her. Meg moved right into his arms. Her hands smoothed over the panes of his back, her touch warm and gentle. Sean buried his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent. She was all woman, all he’d ever want. Her unique perfume hypnotized him, causing his words to slur. Her palms slid down the slope of his ass. His knees folded at her touch, so skilled and tender. She was perfection, for both him and Zane. He pulled away, needing her eyes, his breaths quickening.