by Lynn VanDorn
“Sure. That makes as much sense as anything right now.”
Josh gave her the practice’s address. “It'll be fine, Purvi. I'm sure he's okay.”
“Right,” she said, not sounding convinced. Josh couldn't blame her. He wasn't convinced, either.
He headed out to the parking garage, not sure if seeing Ryan’s Volvo in his parking spot would be good or bad. When he got there, the spot was empty. Okay. Assuming it hadn't been stolen, that meant Tyler had taken it. There could be all sorts of reasons why he hadn't shown up at the airport and wasn't answering his phone. Maybe he'd accidentally left his phone in the condo, although that seemed unlikely. Then on the way to the airport, Tyler had gotten a flat tire, or maybe someone else had had an accident and he was stuck in traffic. Maybe he'd muted his phone without realizing it. Maybe he'd gotten pulled over for speeding. Maybe…
In the middle of walking back to his office while thinking up all sorts of scenarios, some more likely than others, Josh ran into Nik, literally.
After they bounced off each other, Nik grabbed his arm. “Hey. Where are you running off to? You've got a patient waiting for you.”
“I know. Mary Bastock. Hives. She’ll live. There’s something I need to take care of first.” He tried to pull out of Nik’s grasp but the other man held on.
“What? You can't just leave a patient waiting like that.”
“Let go, Nik. Tyler was supposed to pick someone up at the airport, and right now he's MIA and not answering calls or texts. I need to find out where he is. He might be hurt or in an accident.” Josh wondered if the Volvo had a security system that could track the car. He needed to call Ryan. And then the police. Or maybe he should call the police first. No, Ryan—
“Josh, are you okay?”
Josh focused on the man gripping his arm. “My boyfriend is missing, not answering his phone, and left his best friend stranded at O’Hare. The car is gone, and since it's his brother's car, I have no clue if the security system could be used to track it down. I need to call his brother and the police, not necessarily in that order, so no, Nik, I am not okay. Now, excuse me so I can go and figure this shit out.”
Nik dropped his arm. “Um… I saw him,” he said.
Now Josh grabbed Nik by both shoulders. “Really? When?”
“Maybe an hour ago? I was on break and walking out to my car when I spotted him. There was some guy with him. They were—” Nik broke off.
“What?”
Nik looked annoyed. “The guy gave him a hug from behind, and Tyler kinda sagged into him. It looked to me like they knew each other.”
Josh felt cold. “What did he look like?”
Nik shrugged. “He was a tall white guy with dark hair. Had some scruff. More than you. Like a closely trimmed beard.”
Josh pulled out his phone and thumbed through his pictures until he got to the one of Tyler’s ex. “Could this be him?”
Nik looked and shrugged. “Maybe. He was far away.”
“Shit.”
Nik looked startled. “Josh?”
“I have to… I have to figure this out.” He started walking back to his office.
“What about your patient? Matt is going to be pissed.”
“Fuck Matt and fuck Mrs. Bastock. If it was the guy in the picture, then it's Tyler’s ex.”
Nik scoffed. “And this is all because you’re jealous?”
“No. Look, I don't have time for you right now. This is important, and if you don't mind, I have to make a call.”
Nik looked like Josh had slapped him. “But—”
Josh’s phone rang, startling them both. Please be Tyler please be Tyler please be—
It was Ryan. “I think David has Tyler,” Josh said.
“How… Josh, there's been an accident. Tyler was driving and David was in the passenger seat. They hit a tree. Both have been taken to Highland Park Hospital.”
“Oh, God. What happened? Is Tyler okay?”
“I don't know. I'm on my way to the hospital now.”
Josh ran a hand through his hair. “Come get me. I've got no way to get to the hospital. Oh, and fuck. I forgot about Purvi. I told her to take a taxi to my office. I'm sure she's on her way here by now.”
“That’s fine,” Ryan said. “The officer I spoke with said Tyler was in stable condition, so here's the plan. I'll drive to your office, we'll wait for Purvi to arrive, and then we'll all go to the hospital together. Okay?”
“Stable condition? Stable condition means dick. A coma is a fucking stable condition.” Josh saw Nik flinch back and realized in a detached way that he was close to screaming.
“If Tyler’s in a coma then fifteen minutes won't matter one way or the other.”
“Fuck you, Ryan.”
“Josh!” Ryan’s voice snapped at him like a whip. “Get ahold of yourself. I will be there shortly. Purvi will be there as well. I need you functional, do you understand? You're no good to my brother in a hysterical state.”
Josh gripped the phone tightly. “I can't lose him,” he said. “I can't. I… I can't do it again.”
He heard Ryan sigh into the phone. “You don't have the luxury of falling apart right now. You need to keep it together for Tyler. Can you do that, Josh?”
“Yeah, okay. I'm… fine. I'm sorry. I'm fine. How soon until you get here?”
“Twenty minutes, maybe.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
After hanging up, he looked at Nik. “I'm going to go speak with Matt. Can you see if one of the other doctors can see Mrs. Bastock, or let her know we need to reschedule? I'll be gone for the rest of today, perhaps longer. After I talk with Matt I'll see if Marisol can deal with the rest of my appointments. She can maybe get them rescheduled or something.”
Josh left Nik in his wake and went to go give Matt the good news: he was going to need a leave of absence. Matt was going to be pissed, but Josh didn't give one single fuck.
–—
Monday, October 3rd, 12:30 p.m.
Highland Park Hospital
Highland Park, IL
The first person Josh saw in the ER waiting room was Cynthia, and he hurried over to her. “Is Tyler okay? Can I see him?”
“Right now, the police are speaking with him, so no.”
“But—”
“Josh.”
Josh looked over at Ryan. He realized that his voice had gotten loud so he lowered his tone. “Sorry. I'm just worried.”
“We're all freaking out right now,” Purvi said. “Cynthia, how is he?”
“He’s a little banged up, but nothing serious. I'm sure you'll be able to see him when the police are finished asking him about the accident. He's been asking where you were from the moment I arrived.” She gave him a wan smile. “I think he was disappointed I was there and not you.”
“He shouldn't be speaking with the police without a lawyer present,” Ryan said, looking irritated.
Cynthia flushed. “Mike’s in there with him.”
“And Tyler's okay with that?” Josh had a hard time picturing it.
“Well, no, he wasn't happy about it at first, but we convinced him it would be better than him talking to the police alone. I don't know exactly what happened, only that Tyler deliberately crashed Ryan’s car into a tree. The passenger in the car, who is apparently his ex, was badly injured. None of this looks good, and when Tyler agreed to speak with the police, I decided using the lawyer we had was better than not using one at all. Luckily, I got Tyler to agree, and it was fortunate Mike was with me.”
“Why exactly was he with you, Mom?” Ryan’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“We'll discuss it later,” she replied. “And then you can explain to me why you left your brother’s wedding with one of your employees.”
Purvi looked at Josh with rounded eyes but didn't say anything. The four of them sat in silence until two police officers walked out of one of the exam rooms and headed their way.
“Well,” Cynthia asked, “is my son free to go?�
��
Ryan put a hand on his mother's arm. “I'd like to know if you're charging my brother.”
“Are you Ryan Chadwick, the owner of the vehicle in question?” one of the officers asked.
“I am. What about my brother?”
“We’d like to speak with you. As for Tyler, things are complicated, but no, we won't be charging him at this time. Your brother is claiming he acted in self-defense and that he was under duress at the time of the accident. We’re still gathering evidence, and I'm afraid your vehicle is part of that.”
“Can we see him?” Josh asked.
“I imagine so,” said the other officer. “He's in the first room on the left.”
Josh and Purvi headed that way. Mike walked out of the room as they approached. He smiled when he saw Josh. “It's good to see you again. I wish it could have been in better circumstances, though.”
“How is he?” Josh asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I think he'll be much better as soon as he sees you,” Mike said, then went over to where Cynthia and Ryan were speaking with the police officers.
As they approached the door, which was only partially open, Josh heard a querulous voice demand, “Is he here yet? Can you go check again?”
“I've already told you that they'll send him in as soon as he arrives, I promise.” The door opened wider and a woman in scrubs with a harassed expression on her face stood there. “Please tell me you're Josh.”
“Is Tyler here? Can I see him? How is he?”
“Oh, thank goodness. He's behind the curtain and he's all yours.” With that, she sailed out of the room.
Josh and Purvi approached the curtained-off bed. Josh drew the curtain back and there was his grumpy elf, looking very disreputable indeed. His face was covered in bruises and cuts. Most were small, but one above his left eye was large enough to be held together with three butterfly bandages. Otherwise, he appeared to be intact.
“I look like Frankenstein’s monster,” Tyler whined. “I'm hideous.”
“Oh, shut up,” Purvi told him. “On your ugliest day, you're still prettier than most of us mere mortals.” She bent down and kissed an uninjured spot on his cheek. “You scared the crap out of me today, Tyler. Don't do that again.”
“Well, since I probably paralyzed my kidnapper, I doubt I'll have to do it again.”
Josh stepped forward and took one of Tyler’s hands. It was ice-cold. “What happened?”
“He was waiting in the parking garage for you, Josh. With a gun. But I was there instead and David figured he'd won the hostage lottery. He made me drive and he had a gun and I have no idea where we were going because he wouldn't tell me but when we got to Highland Park I remembered Melissa Anderson’s house, with that big tree in the front yard, and how her dad said one day some drunk asshole was going to hit it with his car and kill himself, so I got up to ramming speed and went for the tree and the gun went off and there was glass everywhere and everything went white and then I woke up here. Apparently, I have a slight concussion. And David, who neglected to put on his seatbelt, banged around the Volvo like a pinball and broke his neck. Isn't that nice? Even if I end up going to jail, totally worth it.”
“You aren't going to jail, Tyler,” Josh said. “Ryan would never let that happen.”
“That’s good because I'll have to become someone's prison bitch and I look like shit in orange.”
“Do you think he's on morphine, Josh? I think he's got to be on morphine.”
“They injected me with something awesome,” Tyler said. “I can't feel my face.” He poked at it with his hand, and Josh saw his wrist was in a splint.
“That’s probably a good thing,” Josh said. “Facial wounds are especially painful. What did you do to your wrist?”
Tyler pulled a face that would've probably caused him agony if it weren't for whatever pain killer they'd given him. “David happened to it. It might be broken and they want me to keep it immobilized. But look at my poor face! I'm going to have a scar. I'm sooooo hideous now.”
“Harrison Ford has a scar and it didn't make him hideous. It'll give you some character.”
“I think it looks manly,” Purvi added.
“I won't be able to call you princess anymore.” Josh reached over and stroked Tyler’s hair.
“You call him princess? Oh, my God, that's the most precious thing I have ever heard. Princess. Holy shit. Princess.”
“Try calling me that, P, and I'll put Nair in your shampoo.”
Purvi gasped. “You wouldn't dare.”
“Try me, bitch.”
“How come he gets to do it?”
Tyler smiled at Josh. “I love him. It gives him great latitude.”
“Hey. You love me, too.” Purvi put her hands on her hips.
“Well, yeah, but I love him more because he has a dick. You know how this works.”
Purvi grinned at him. “Fine. Be that way. I'm going to go talk to someone about paperwork. They're going to want your insurance and I'm sure your stoned ass was in no position to give it to them.” She kissed Tyler’s cheek again and wandered out.
“I like her,” Josh said.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. She's funny and smart and loves you. What's not to like?”
“Oh, thank God.” Tyler closed his eyes. “Jeremy, my boyfriend when I met her, couldn't stand her. He thought she was competition, like I'd decided out of the blue I was straight or something. Me. But he was convinced I was cheating on him with her. Then David loathed her and vice versa. She and Ethan didn't get along, either, but that was more of a personality clash thing. She thought he was a helpless baby and he thought she was a managing bitch, and they're both right. But you like her. Really?”
“Yes, Tyler. I like your best friend. Conveniently enough, you're related to mine, so that's all good.”
“LA has the Getty,” Tyler said in a rush.
“It… yes, I know that,” Josh said, wondering if maybe they'd given Tyler too much morphine.
“My house doesn't have a view, but it is close to the ocean, and I can look for something that overlooks the ocean if you want.”
“Um…”
“I know you don't like California but you followed Ryan there and I know it hasn't been very long for you but it feels like so much longer for me and he had a gun, Josh, a gun, and he was waiting for you and I can't go home if you're not with me. I can't. Not just for a month. He had a gun. And the Getty is a really nice museum. And the Huntington Library. It has all these rare manuscripts. There's all sorts of culture. You’ll…”
“What?”
Tyler closed his eyes. “Nothing. Sorry, I know I'm babbling. I'll stop now.”
Josh took Tyler’s icy hand and brought it to his lips. “I'm okay. I'm here and I'm okay. And yes, the Getty is very nice. I'd love to go there again. I only saw a small portion of it when I went.”
“Please come home with me. Otherwise I'll stay here and work at Starbucks and I'll be the bitchiest barista that ever existed.”
“I don't think you're retail material, Tyler.”
“No, probably not. Good thing you can support us and my cashmere habit. Also, Oliver does not eat shitty cat food. He is an expensive feline.”
“About that…” Josh put Tyler's hand down and rubbed the back of his own neck.
“What?” Tyler asked. He opened his eyes and looked up at Josh.
“I quit.”
“You what? You quit what?”
Josh rocked on his heels. “The practice. I quit today. Matt said I absolutely could not leave with a patient waiting for me. I explained you were in the hospital and I had to go. He said you weren't a spouse or family member so I… just… quit.” It felt unreal, but he couldn't say he regretted it. Matt refusing to let him leave had made everything that much easier. “I have savings, of course, and I'm sure I can find another practice. One that's a bit more flexible, perhaps. And in another state. I'll have to transfer my license, but Purvi sa
id she'd take care of all the paperwork for me and she'd start looking for practices that might be a good fit. I'm guessing LA could stand to have another dermatologist, right? And in the worst-case scenario I could be your house husband. I'm not the best cook in the world, but I will keep the place spotless and I'll make sure you eat more than just ice cream.”
“That is probably the least romantic proposition I've ever received.”
“It's just the morphine making you think that. I was romantic as hell.”
Tyler snorted. “I'm not that stoned.”
“Okay, fine. I love you, Tyler, and I quit my job today for you. I am willing to uproot my life for you. As much as I hate change and uncertainty, I am certain of you. Everything else will sort itself out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, yeah, I am. I really am.” Josh leaned down and kissed Tyler, but gently, because his lower lip had not escaped the devastation. “Are you prepared to put up with an aging neurotic doctor with a cleaning problem?”
“Forever, if necessary. Are you willing to put up with a mentally unstable, high-maintenance actor with nightmares, a cutting habit, uncertain job prospects, and a house with no view?”
“I left my practice for you. What do you think?”
Tyler smiled, and even with his face battered and bruised he was still beautiful. He reached his hand out to Josh. “Do you want to come home with me?”
In Josh’s mind, he and Tyler stood on their ledge, hand in hand. Both looked down into the abyss.
“Are you ready?”
Josh looked down. “Yeah. I'm ready if you are.”
They stepped to the edge and, holding hands, they walked off into thin air and an uncertain future. Together.
Josh blinked and looked at Tyler and saw his elf and his prince and his love. He took Tyler’s hand and rubbed his fingers. “Always,” he said.
Epilogue