by Ella Frank
“Yeah, of course, whenever. I was just catching up.”
“I appreciate it, and you. Love you, Bay.”
“Love you too. Talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and skimmed through the long list of emails in my inbox—many of which were forwarded from concerned and loyal fans—and just as I’d told Bailey, I decided to leave them until later.
I wanted to dive back in, get my hands dirty, and to do that, I needed to get out from behind this desk.
“BEFORE I GO tonight, I wanted to end this broadcast on a more personal note. Two weeks ago I was involved in an incident that left one person deceased and another severely injured. I would like to take this moment to personally thank the Chicago Police Department, EMTs, and medical personnel at University Hospital for your service that night. You were brave, calm, and heroic in the face of absolute chaos, everything that’s needed from those who work on the frontlines, and I sit here tonight because of you, humbled by your grace and grateful for your service. Also, to those of you who have reached out through email or social media to send well wishes my way, I thank you. I appreciate each and every one of you, and will continue to do my best to bring you the news that matters most—the truth. I’m Alexander Thorne; thank you for being with me here on this Monday evening. Have a safe and good night.”
As camera one’s light turned red, I reached for my earwig and pulled it free. It’d felt good being back in the chair tonight, and I was happy to note it was just like riding a bike.
“Great job,” Jim, my EP, said, as he walked over and took my mic pack from me. “Didn’t miss a beat.”
“Were you worried?” I asked. We walked out of the studio and headed toward my office.
“No, not at all.” I stopped and eyed him for a beat, and then Jim smiled. “Okay, maybe a little bit. But that bit at the end, nice personal touch.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being sincere, but I didn’t much care. I’d decided to add my closing speech at the last minute, wanting to convey my thanks. And what better way to do that than by using the platform they all knew me from.
“I thought so. I have a meeting first thing tomorrow morning with Marcus, so I won’t be in until a little later—if you could get the run-through going, I’ll sit in on the final draft before going live.”
“No problem.” Jim’s phone buzzed, and he looked at it. “If you don’t need me, looks like Stephanie needs some help with tracking down a guest for tomorrow night’s broadcast.”
“You’re fine. We’re done here. I’m going to head out in a few; text me if you need me.”
“Will do.” Jim smiled then stepped forward and threw his arms around me in a very un-Jim-like way, which caught me off guard. “We’re so happy to have you back, boss. That night was…it was insane.”
I clapped him on the back and nodded. “It was, and I’m glad to be back. Thanks for keeping the wheels greased while I was out.”
“That’s my job,” he said as he turned and headed off. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.”
After a quick change of clothes, I handed my suit off to Ryan and immediately thought of the conversation I’d had with Sean about sending them out to be laundered, and wondered if he’d missed me half as much as I’d missed him today.
He’d sent a few texts throughout the day, all of which avoided asking me how I was doing directly. But I had a feeling if I hadn’t gotten back to him in a timely manner, calls, voicemails, and maybe a drop-in by some buddy cop of his would’ve happened.
That protective side of Sean was one that had taken me a minute to get used to, but now that I’d seen it, now that I’d experienced it, I had to admit—I found it one of his most appealing attributes.
When the elevator doors opened for me to go down, I was shocked to find Marcus standing inside. It was unusual to see him leaving so early, but it gave me the opportunity to thank him in person for keeping Sean’s involvement with me private.
“Alexander,” he said, and stepped forward to hold the door open. “It’s good to see you back.”
I stepped inside and pressed the button for the garage. “It’s good to be back, thank you.”
Marcus gave a clipped nod. “I trust Detective Bailey is doing better and there were no complications with his surgery.”
“No, no complications. Sean’s doing great. Actually, I was going to say this tomorrow, but now that you’re here, thank you for not telling everyone why he was really here.”
“Of course. That’s your private business. No one needs to know anything other than what they already did.”
“Well, either way. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime.”
We stood there for a few seconds in silence as the elevator descended several floors, then Marcus said, “How are you doing after everything that happened?”
“I’m fine.” I tightened my fingers around the handle of my briefcase and thanked God that Marcus wasn’t the kind to indulge in small talk. There’d be no probing questions from him, something I was extremely thankful for tonight.
“That’s good. I’m glad. ENN is happy to have you back.”
“Thank you.” I flashed my most practiced smile, and when the elevator hit the lobby and the doors slid open, a loud bang boomed throughout the building and echoed off the walls.
Jerking back, I hit the corner of the elevator and plastered my back against the wall. My legs began to shake, my vision began to blur, and as my knees gave out from under me, I crumpled to the floor.
“Alexander?”
My head spun, blood rang in my ears, and as my heart thumped at a dizzying pace, black spots appeared before my eyes.
“Alexander? Are you okay?”
Marcus crouched in front of me, and I blindly reached for him. “Sean… Call Sean.” Then I passed out.
21
Sean
I’D NEVER REALLY noticed how a day could drag on by until Xander had walked out the door nearly ten hours earlier.
Shit. It felt like an eternity had passed since then. I’d watched television—which was mind-numbingly boring during the day—Bailey had visited for an hour or two, I’d finished The Stand, which I’d been halfway through, and at one stage I’d even resorted to reorganizing my cereal cabinet.
How I was going to get through several more weeks of leave on my own, I had no idea. I’d be able to start going on walks and runs soon enough, but for now, I was bored out of my brain.
I’d just finished making dinner for when Xander got home, and was settling in now to watch his broadcast. Funny thing: I’d never really tuned in to the news until I’d started watching out for him. Yeah, I’d known it was his job and he was paid well to do it. But I’d never been one to watch the nightly news. Chalk it up to seeing enough bad shit in my everyday life.
These days, however, I was tuning in for very different reasons. Sure, I was curious about what was going on around the country, but I was more interested in laying my eyes on Xander.
After flicking to ENN, I caught the opening sequence of the blue-and-white globe on Xander’s set, then the camera zoomed in on his handsome face.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us here at Global News this Monday evening. I’d like to start by saying how thrilled I am to be back here bringing you the news tonight…”
Fuck, Xander was one seriously attractive guy. I knew he’d been worried about looking tired and strung-out, but he looked neither of those things tonight. He looked handsome, sophisticated, and one hundred percent put together in his light blue shirt and charcoal suit, and I couldn’t believe that I’d been lucky enough to wake up with him in my arms this morning.
For the next thirty minutes—okay, more like forty after I re-watched his closing speech a couple of times—I didn’t leave my chair. I was like an addict who’d been denied his fix all day. I sat there drinking in the curve of his lips, the laugh lines by his eyes, and the joy that lit his face a
s he finished his broadcast for the night.
He looked happy, excited to be on the job, and it gave me a sense of ease to know that his first day back had gone smoothly, because I’d been worried the questions and memories might bring forward a response he wasn’t quite ready for.
Figuring I had about an hour or so until he got home, I decided I’d shower to pass the time. It was either that or sit and stare at the second hand of my wall clock. Just as I was about to head down to my bedroom, my phone began to ring.
I grabbed it off the kitchen table, thinking it might be Xander. But my heart nearly stopped at the name flashing there—Marcus.
I only knew one Marcus, and I couldn’t think of any reason he’d call me now unless something had happened. “Sean here.”
“Detective? It’s Marcus St. James. Alexander’s boss.”
“I know, I still have your number. What’s wrong? Did something happen to Xander?”
I could hear someone talking in the background, and was about two seconds from asking Marcus to move somewhere quiet when he barked at whoever it was, “Shut the hell up, I can’t hear.” Things got real quiet then. “You still there?” he asked.
“Yeah. Is Xander all right? Where is he?”
“He’s right here, and he’s okay for the most part—”
“For the most part? What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means he passed out on the way to his car this evening.”
“What?” My mind began to race. I needed to get to him. I needed to go to him now. “Where are you?”
“At the news station. He wanted me to call and—”
“I’m on my way,” I said, already grabbing my keys. “Can you stay with him?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks. Be there soon.” Not a second later, I was out the door and in my SUV, heading downtown to the ENN building.
SOMEHOW I MADE it into downtown Chicago in under twenty minutes. The universe must’ve been on my side tonight, because I hadn’t been pulled over.
I pulled up to the front of the building and slapped my official tags on the dash, not feeling guilty about it in the slightest. I didn’t want to waste time looking around for parking. I needed to get inside, get to Xander, and I’d do whatever I had to to accomplish that.
I marched toward the front doors, my mission clear. I stepped inside and scanned the lobby, immediately spotting a small crowd gathered by one of the black leather couches lining the wall.
“Excuse me? Can I help you, sir?” the security guy asked as I walked toward the crowd. I wasn’t in the mood to stop and give him an answer. I wanted to see Xander with my own two eyes, and until that happened, I wasn’t stopping to talk to any-fucking-body.
As I approached the group, a woman I didn’t recognize spotted me and frowned, then the man who’d been blocking my view of the couch turned, and I was face to face with Marcus.
His serious expression was one I remembered well, and when he started in my direction, clearly about to try to head me off at the pass, I thought, I fucking dare you.
“Detective Bailey, if we could talk for a—”
“Where is he?”
Marcus gave me a quick once-over, and it only just occurred to me how underdressed I was for a place like this. Too fucking bad. I wanted to see Xander, and I wanted to see him now.
“He’s sitting over on the couch there, but—”
I stepped around Marcus.
“Detective Bailey…”
“Xander?” I said. Two men who had their backs to me turned, and something on my face must’ve screamed fuck off, because they quickly got out of my way.
The woman who’d spotted me when I first entered the lobby tapped Xander on the shoulder. He slowly opened his eyes and focused on me, and pure relief lit his face.
“Xander,” I said again. He got to his feet, took two steps forward, and threw his arms around my neck. I hugged him tight, pulling him in so close that I was shocked I didn’t hurt him.
He nuzzled into my neck and whispered, “You came.”
I ran a hand through his hair and kissed his temple. “For you, always.”
Xander shook as we stood there in the lobby surrounded by strangers. When he pulled back and looked into my eyes, I noticed how pale he was.
“What happened?” I asked, and ran my fingers down his cheek.
“Nothing, I just—”
“Xander,” I said, taking his face between my hands and looking him dead in the eye. “What happened?”
He tried to look around, and when I noticed the curious looks aimed in our direction, I bit back my urge to tell them all the show was fucking over. “Thank you for helping him. I’ve got it from here.” After all, they had helped him.
As they each wished Xander the best and headed off, I noticed Marcus standing to the side watching the two of us closely. He clearly wasn’t leaving, and I figured if Xander wouldn’t tell me what’d happened here, maybe Marcus knew more.
“Why don’t you sit back down and let me go and talk to Marcus real quick, then I’ll get you home.”
Xander nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry.”
“Hey. Don’t apologize. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Okay.”
As Xander took a seat, I made my way to Marcus. “Do you know what happened with him?”
Marcus nodded. “He got spooked.”
“Spooked?”
“Yes. We were coming down in the elevator together and he was fine. But when we reached the lobby, a piece of furniture being moved was dropped. It caused a loud bang, and—”
“He got ‘spooked.’”
“Yes. But it was more than that. I think he had an anxiety attack. He got very pale and shaky, asked me to call you, and then passed out.”
I cursed and looked over to Xander. “I told him it was too early.”
“Excuse me?”
I turned back to Marcus. “I told him he was coming back too early.”
Marcus looked past my shoulder and said, “I’m sure he knows how he feels. This was probably just a one-off.”
“It’s not just a one-off,” I snapped. “Being back in the place where this all started for him is fucking him up, and he doesn’t even realize it. He needs time off. He needs to get away from all of this.”
“Good luck trying to convince him of that. I didn’t make him come back to work today, detective. He told me he was coming.”
I knew that, just like I knew there was no way in hell Xander was going to admit this was more than a one-time issue. I needed another plan of attack, and luckily for me, I’d just thought of it.
“It’s going to have to come from you.”
Marcus frowned, and I nodded, knowing deep down that this was the only way to get Xander to listen.
“You need to tell him to take some time off.”
“He won’t take it.”
“Then make him. He’s not ready, Marcus. You know what he’s been through. He’s suffering, up here,” I said, pointing to my head. “If we don’t help him now, it’s just gonna get worse until this happens every night.”
I was pretty sure I was the only person on the planet who dared order this guy around. But if it was going to help Xander, I didn’t care what Marcus thought.
Shocker of all shockers, though, he gave me a clipped nod, stepped around me, and headed over to Xander. I turned to watch. Xander nodded, and Marcus clapped him on the shoulder.
It seemed to all go well. Xander wasn’t glaring my way. When they stood and shook hands, I let out a deep breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Xander came over to me and took my hand. “Don’t think I don’t know that decision was all you.”
I probably should’ve felt some guilt over what I’d just done, but I didn’t. Xander needed me, and just like he’d been there for me, I’d be there for him—no matter what.
22
Xander
WARM LIPS AGAINST the back of my neck made my eyes open, as Sean moved in
close behind me and curled his body around the back of mine.
The curtains were still drawn from the night before, but through the sliver of material in the middle, I could see it was still dark outside.
“Stop foxing, anchorman,” Sean whispered behind my ear. “I know you’re not sleeping.”
I smiled against the palm under my cheek, and I realized that was the first time I’d done that since last night.
Yesterday had been a wake-up call. I’d been so sure I was ready to get back to work, confident that it was what I needed to be able to move forward and get on with my life. For the most part, I’d been right. I’d had a great day, felt revitalized and back to my normal self again. But in one moment, that had all changed.
A loud noise—a piece of furniture being dropped, Sean later told me—had caused my brain to panic, my body to shut down, and the next thing I knew, I passed out in the damn elevator.
If I wasn’t so freaked out by the attack itself, I’d be mortified that it had all happened in front of Marcus. But in the end, I was glad it had been him with me and not anyone else, because he’d had Sean’s number and known exactly who to call.
That didn’t mean, however, that Sean was out of the doghouse. I knew he was the one behind Marcus ordering me to take the rest of the month off. But the gentle way he’d held me all night definitely meant I was willing to work out a pleasurable form of punishment for him.
“I’m not foxing, but I am wondering what time it is.”
Sean smoothed his hand around my waist, and I reached down to entwine my fingers with his.
“Five.”
“Five in the morning?” When the bedside lamp flicked on, I winced and turned my head to find him grinning at me.
“What? I know you’re not adverse to an early morning. So stop your grumbling and get up.”
I frowned. “I’m sorry, but weren’t you the man who made my boss give me time off yesterday so I could rest?”
Sean pretended to think about that for a second and then nodded. “Yeah, that’d be me.”