No problem. Let me get my coat and shoes, and I’ll be over in ten minutes.
He didn’t meet Simon on the front steps, because that seemed desperate, but he did answer the bell quicker than Simon had answered the text message.
Simon was as cute as Hong-Wei remembered, possibly cuter. He wore jeans and a plain T-shirt, and a thin blue coat that brought out the color of his eyes.
“Ready to go?” Simon gestured to the street, where an SUV sat idling. “I brought Owen’s car because it has more cargo room, in case you wanted to get a lot of things.”
“Ready. Thanks again for giving me a ride.”
“It’s no trouble, really. Though eventually you’ll want to get a car. The walk to the hospital will be no joke in the winter.”
The stroll he’d taken to the hospital had been enough to get his attention, and it was April. “How cold does it get here, exactly?”
“This is northern Wisconsin on a bay off Lake Superior. It gets cold. And snowy. You paid for a garage with your condo, didn’t you?”
“I did. It’s beneath my first floor—if you drive to the rear of the building, the ground is a story lower. A car was next on my list, but my sister reminded me tonight I go a bit batty if I don’t have music playing, so Bluetooth comes first. At some point I’ll get a proper stereo system, but this will do in the meantime.”
They were almost to Simon’s car, but at this comment Simon stopped and gave Hong-Wei a reproachful look. “You didn’t let me play anything for you on the drive back from the airport. I asked what Spotify station you wanted, and you told me it didn’t matter.”
He could hardly say it was because he’d had too much fun watching Simon be adorable, that for Hong-Wei, doing so had taken the edge off the terror of what he’d just done. He settled for an abridged version of the truth. “The company was too good to spoil.”
If it was possible to get Simon to be flustered like this but still handle instruments properly in surgery, St. Ann’s might not be so bad after all.
Of course, unless the man was out and open to being flirted with at work, Hong-Wei wouldn’t do much more than make flattering comments. The last thing Hong-Wei would do was be that doctor.
“Did you know where you wanted to go?” Simon asked as he climbed into the car. “We could hit Electronics Barn before they close, or you could see what they have at Target.”
“Electronics Barn, definitely.”
Simon nodded, but he had a pensive expression as he drew the seat belt over himself. “What about furniture?”
Hong-Wei did want furniture, but he wasn’t getting it at Target. “I’ll take care of that tomorrow.”
“I wish I could help you run errands tomorrow, but I have a double shift. Surgery, then filling in on the floor in the evening. But I’m happy to leave you my car and get a ride with Owen so you can get around.”
Neither Simon nor Gagnon had said anything to make Hong-Wei think the two of them were anything but roommates, and yet Hong-Wei couldn’t help a ridiculous flare of jealousy at the idea of Simon riding with Gagnon. “If I were going to borrow your car, I’d give you a ride. I couldn’t put you out, though.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t mind. It’s not as if I’d be using it while I’m at work. Besides, you rode in my car already. You might be the one put out.” Simon gestured at the road ahead. “What kind of car were you thinking of getting? I could take you past the dealerships too, unless you wanted to go to Duluth for something nicer.”
Hong-Wei shrugged. “Probably a Honda or Toyota, a few years old. Nothing fancy. Though I suppose I should consider four-wheel drive with the snow.”
“You only need four-wheel drive if you’re going off-road or in the country, and I doubt you are. A good set of snow tires will do you fine on whatever vehicle you want otherwise once winter hits. However, if you want a foreign car, you’ll need to go to Duluth. We only have Chevy, Ford, and Dodge dealerships in town.”
Hong-Wei laughed, but when Simon didn’t, he immediately sobered. “You’re serious?”
Simon nodded, clearly embarrassed. “Sorry. We’re lucky to have those. The auto crisis about did us in. Without the bailout, we’d have lost those too.” He smoothed the side of his hair in an awkward fidget. “I have Saturday off. I could run you to Duluth then. Jared will want to come along too. He loves cars. Owen would enjoy coming as well, but he’s on call.”
Hong-Wei was still reeling from the idea that Cooper Point only dealt in domestic vehicles. Vaguely he’d known places like this existed, but he hadn’t been prepared for the reality. It seemed so odd. He wanted to point out that most Hondas and Toyotas were built in the United States and plenty of US-owned companies were sending factories and parts to Mexico, but he didn’t. That was the kind of antagonism that got him in trouble.
He didn’t want trouble with Simon. Not like that, anyway. He wasn’t sure what he wanted with Simon yet, but it wasn’t to make him upset.
“I’d be grateful if you took me on Saturday, thank you.”
“Sure. No problem.” Simon gestured to a small strip mall on the left. “We have a bakery, and a repair shop, and a home and garden center. Several restaurants are on the next block, and a few bars, but between you and me, I wouldn’t go in there. The ones on Main Street are nicer and friendlier. The restaurants here are okay. Family Table is a home-cooking kind of place, but they focus on fried food. The burger place next door is one of my favorites. The Mexican place is good as well, and China Garden—” He cut himself off, blushing. “Well. I mean, it’s fine for me, but maybe you have other ideas.”
A Chinese restaurant, eh? He supposed it could be an outlier, but since most restaurants in the Midwest featured American Chinese cuisine, he doubted it served the sorts of dishes he craved. Still…. “Are the workers native Chinese?”
“Oh, yeah. A few speak decent English, but for the most part just enough to say hello and thank you and excuse me.”
“Do you know what region in China they’re from, especially the cook?”
Simon blinked. “I—I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Hong-Wei sighed. “I wonder if they know how to make proper beef noodle soup. I’ll have to ask.”
A lull in their conversation caused him to worry that he’d made Simon uncomfortable, but when he glanced Simon’s way to check, Simon only looked deep in thought. When he spoke at last, Simon said, “Can I ask you a question?”
Shifting in his seat, Hong-Wei studied Simon’s profile in the semidarkness of the car. “Of course.”
“Why did you move to the United States?”
“My father had been studying abroad in medical school and was accepted into a surgical residency at McGovern. My family moved to Houston to join him.”
“And you really learned English from movies?” He frowned at Hong-Wei. “Because now I’m feeling guilty for not learning anything from Asian dramas.”
“I learned from movies and studies, first in Taiwan and then here, at school and with tutors. Also, you’re watching foreign films with zero pressure to learn the language. I’d come home to the next DVD of Friends knowing it might keep me from being beat up.”
Simon winced. “Fair point.”
“Our private school had a strong support system for international residents, and they helped us find affordable tutors. My mother helped us study as well, when she wasn’t working, and my grandparents took care of the house so my parents could focus on work and parenting. Once my father got through his residency and became a practicing surgeon, we had more money, and my mother was able to finish her hospital administration degree. Now we’re all grown, my grandparents live like royalty in my parents’ suburban home, and my family raised two doctors, just like they wanted.”
He hadn’t meant that to come out as acerbic as it did, but thankfully Simon didn’t pick up on it. “So your sister is a doctor too? What’s her specialty?”
“Surgical oncologist.”
“You’re all surgeons
? What’s your father’s specialty?”
“Orthopedics. He’s a hand surgeon.”
“Wow. So specific. And then you’re a general surgeon. How lucky for us. Oh, here’s the electronics store. Will this do?”
Hong-Wei studied the red and yellow sign. General surgeon. He had to practically bite his tongue to correct Simon, to explain that no, he wasn’t just a general surgeon. Which was ridiculous. That had been his entire point in coming to Copper Point, to be just a general surgeon.
You came out tonight to get a Bluetooth speaker, not dump your dirty laundry on your new friend. “Yes, let’s stop.”
The store was about a quarter the size or perhaps smaller than the one by the same company near the condo Hong-Wei had shared with his sister in Houston, and the poor selection of Bluetooth speakers and stereo equipment had him feeling anxious. Luckily, the store clerk not only helped him find a decent speaker to take with him, they also placed a special order for the stereo system and speakers he’d been eyeing in Texas but couldn’t get because Hong-Su had threatened him with her scalpel if he did. Hong-Wei left the store buzzing with anticipation.
“I’ve wanted this model for so long. It’s exactly what I want.”
“So what is it you’re going to listen to on your incredible system? What’s your audio poison?”
Hong-Wei was so high on his euphoric bubble he almost answered. He didn’t feel like sharing that part of himself, not yet. Be a normal general surgeon. “This and that. What about you?”
“Oh, a little of everything.” Simon cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. “So, you talked about furniture shopping tomorrow, but if it’s not too late, I know a place you could go tonight. Good quality and variety, and if there’s something you wanted to order, you could. If you’d rather wait, though, no pressure.”
Frowning, Hong-Wei checked his watch. “Sure, but I can’t imagine anywhere is open at this hour.”
“Trust me, I can get you in. Is there anywhere else you want to hit first?”
Hong-Wei wanted nothing more than a real bed and somewhere to sit. “No, by all means, let’s go.”
Simon drove them into the downtown area of Copper Point, to a building off the cross street opposite City Park and Main Street. Hong-Wei saw the sign first, an old but well-maintained double-faced sign reading Petersen Home Furnishings displayed over a metal awning above a long spread of glass windows, well-lit despite the fact that the store was clearly closed for the day. Yet as soon as Simon parked the car and got out, an affable-looking man with a thick mustache wearing a driving cap and tan jacket came out to meet them, beaming.
“Hello, Simon. So good to see you.”
Simon waved at him. “Hello, Uncle Jimmy. This is Dr. Wu, the new surgeon I told you about on the phone. Dr. Wu, this is my uncle, James Petersen, the owner of Petersen Home Furnishings.”
Petersen held out his hand, eyes twinkling, mustache lifting as he grinned. “A pleasure to be at your service, Doctor. We’re so glad to have you here in Copper Point.”
Hong-Wei accepted the handshake. “Call me Jack, please. Especially if you’re going through the trouble of opening your store at this hour just for me.”
“Nonsense. I escaped hauling junk out of the basement and clearing out drains to come here. Besides, the way Simon put it, you’re in the mood to furnish an entire apartment, and I’m always happy to help a man part with his money.” He laughed at his own joke but quickly sobered, placing a hand on Hong-Wei’s arm as he led him inside. “That said, Jack, you take your time checking everything over, and if you need to place any special orders, I have plenty of catalogs. Plus, we work with Amish craftsmen direct from Cashton, and if you see anything close but not quite right in any of our fine wood furnishings, we can get something custom designed exactly the way you want it. Above all, I want you to let me know precisely what you need. Furnishing your home is the most important thing you’ll do. It’s your refuge at the end of the day.”
Hong-Wei had to hand it to Petersen. The man knew his business. He was a born salesman, using just enough grease to ease Hong-Wei into more purchases than he planned to make and at higher prices than he’d originally intended. Petersen had him book an appointment with a local interior designer to help him set up his condo as well. Normally Hong-Wei would have balked at the idea, assuming anyone from a place this small wouldn’t share his design taste, but once Petersen showed him the sample design options in the designer’s portfolio, he had an appointment for a free initial consultation with her the following afternoon. When he finally left the store two hours after he entered it, he was over seven thousand dollars lighter, and he had a good chunk of his condo coming the next day with several items on order.
“Your uncle is exceptionally good at his job,” Hong-Wei said as they got into the car.
“I hope he didn’t talk you into spending too much.” Simon frowned as they drove away. “It was my only reservation in calling him.”
“Oh, no. It saved me a lot of headache, because I didn’t know where else I was going to get most of these things. I don’t care for ordering furniture online because you can’t tell the quality until you touch it. I like having a nice atmosphere, but I don’t care to put in the work of setting it up. I let my sister design our condo in Houston. I asked her to come here and help me get organized, but she laughed.”
“Well, I’m glad it worked out, then.”
“It did. Thank you very much. It was kind of you to take me.”
“Are you kidding? Uncle Jimmy pulled me aside three times and thanked me and told me to pick out whatever recliner I wanted, and once you special ordered the bookshelf and stereo cabinet, he told me I could make it a leather one. There’s a rival furniture store on the other end of town. He’s going to get all the bragging rights that the new doctor bought all his things from Petersen’s.”
Hong-Wei attempted to wipe away his smile, but it didn’t work. “I’m grateful all the same. Not the least of which because tomorrow night I get to sleep in a real bed.”
“You’re welcome. Is there anywhere else you want to go?”
Back to his place to hook up his new Bluetooth speaker. “I’m good. If you’re still offering to let me borrow your car during the day tomorrow, I won’t say no.”
“Oh, sure. Did you want me to leave it with you now?”
Taking the car now was a sure bet Lane would get a ride with Gagnon in the morning. “No, go ahead and pick me up on your way. Then when I’m done, I’ll park it, bring you the keys, and walk back to my condo.”
He was ready for Lane to make noise about putting Hong-Wei out, but he didn’t. “If it turns out you need to keep it, don’t worry. I can always get a ride home.”
Mmm-hmm. Hong-Wei let him pretend this was an option, since it made him feel better. “Sounds like a plan.”
He waved at Lane as he drove off, then hurried inside, where the emptiness of his condo still nagged at him, but now that he knew exactly how temporary it was, it didn’t bother him quite as much.
Also, Hong-Su was right, as usual. He wasn’t sure what he was doing with his surgical nurse or why he cared who gave him a ride to work, but once he had the speaker hooked up and a violin concerto echoing through the room, the world felt a lot better.
Chapter Three
SIMON TRIED to make it out of the house without Owen or Jared cornering him, but he couldn’t escape the kitchen before the pair of them confronted him while he packed his lunch.
“So.” Owen took up Simon’s right flank, leaning against the cupboard. “Someone came home awfully late last night and snuck into his room before he could be properly interrogated.”
Jared blocked the other side. “I heard a rumor a certain surgeon spent a handsome chunk of change at Petersen Home Furnishings. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
This revelation alarmed Simon. “What, did Uncle Jimmy post it on Facebook?”
Owen laughed. “No. Your aunt told my mother, who te
xted me wanting more details. Which sadly I don’t have, because I wasn’t given any.”
Simon did everything he could to avoid their gazes, but since they were practically boxing him in, he had to stare at the floor. “Dr. Wu needed to do some shopping, so I helped him out. And yes, I called my uncle so Dr. Wu could get some furniture. There’s nothing else to tell.”
Jared rested his elbows on the countertop and withdrew a tomato from the bowl by the sink, examining it casually. “What do you think, Owen? Is Si blushing this red, or is he more the color of a strawberry?”
“I think he’s the color of someone smitten by a handsome surgeon who, out of the thirty-some people who offered to shuttle him on his errands yesterday, chose our boy to be his escort instead.”
Simon pressed his hands to his cheeks and shut his eyes. “Stop. Both of you.”
Jared popped Simon lightly on the ass. “I’m about to head in, and since the golden surgeon hasn’t started yet, I’m the lucky draw for the empty ER shift tonight. Do you want a ride, since we’re both wallowing in St. Ann’s shorthanded misery today?”
Simon felt his blush spread across his body as he realized they were about to get worse. “I… I can’t. I told Dr. Wu I’d pick him up so he could borrow my car for the day.”
They were merciless, lighting into him to the point he was still rattled when he got to Hong-Wei’s condo, and Hong-Wei commented on it, frowning at Simon as he climbed into the car. “Are you all right? You look flushed. Are you coming down with something?”
Simon touched his cheeks. “No. My housemates were teasing me this morning, is all.”
He meant the remark to dismiss the matter, but when he glanced at the passenger seat, he was surprised to see Hong-Wei was angry. “Were they bullying you?”
It shouldn’t make Simon dizzy, having him rise to his defense, but it did. “No—thank you, but no. Like I said, they were only teasing. We’re old friends, the three of us. It’s just the way they are.” When Hong-Wei didn’t look convinced, Simon kept babbling as he pulled onto the street. “Owen, Jared, and I went through a lot in middle school, survived a sometimes small-minded town by turning ourselves into the Three Musketeers. We went to University of Wisconsin at Madison and roomed together, then decided to come back to Copper Point. Even when they drive me nuts, I still love them both to death.”
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