by L. J. Hamlin
Those who share their luck get double,
just don’t let it lead to trouble.
“That’s…This is really magic. Can you believe it?” Hunter says.
Jamie looks at the two four-leaf clovers, both shimmering faintly green, and he looks at the note, written in gold. And then he looks at Hunter, his best friend, here with him the night before St. Patrick’s Day.
“Yeah, I believe in magic,” Jamie says.
Nurse Levi
Monday nights are neither the worst nor best nights at the hospital, and this Monday has been busy enough to keep Levi from getting bored, but he hasn’t been rushed off his feet. He’s been working at St. Mary’s Hospital for over a year now, but he’s been an ER nurse for years, and he likes this ER the best.
He likes where he is, he enjoys his job, and his family has finally started to accept his choice. Levi’s always found it weird that his parents had no issue with his sexuality whatsoever but hadn’t reacted as well about his career choice.
They thought he’d have less of a career, but their main problem was thinking his career choice made him less of a man. They were a little old fashioned, and in their minds, men became doctors and women become nurses.
It was something he heard all the time. Why a nurse? Why not a doctor? No one seems to get that he likes being a nurse. He likes helping people, but he doesn’t ever want to do more than he does. The thought of being a surgeon or anything like that has never held any appeal. He might not save lives every day, but he helps people, and that’s all he’s ever wanted to do.
And then there are the stereotypes that go with being a male nurse. People expect him to be some twink out of a porno, a skinny guy in a pair of scrubs. But Levi is nothing like that. He’s six foot six, broad, and covered in tattoos that he has to hide with long sleeves at work. He works hard in the gym to keep muscular. He’s blond and blue eyed, but he doesn’t think he’s at all the kind of person people picture when they think of a male nurse.
In the past, he’s had problems with guys not thinking his profession isn’t manly enough, but Levi’s always told those guys to go screw themselves because he sure as hell won’t be screwing them.
He’d already run the gauntlet of macho jocks when he came out in high school. They were just dumb kids. As much as it hurt at the time, he tells himself they didn’t know what they were doing. They had preconceptions about gay men and masculinity; of course teenage boys did. Levi can understand that. But he’s an adult now. He’s thirty-one. He’s come to expect more from the people around him.
Hanging out with the other nurses is great because male, female, straight, or gay, they understand what it’s like for him. They work the same hard job, the long shifts, the difficult patients, and they all get some people treating them certain ways just because they’re nurses. The doctors can be the worst. Some of them seem to think all they have to do is wink in a nurse’s direction to get them into bed. Levi has a firm rule: no sleeping with doctors. He’s been tempted in the past, but it just isn’t worth the hassle. He doesn’t want to be a conquest, a notch on some guy’s bed post. He’s never had his heart broken because he’s careful about protecting it.
“Levi,” one of the other nurses, Jenny, calls out to him, and Levi changes his direction and walks over to her.
Jenny isn’t the tallest, and next to him she looks like the tiniest person ever, but she’s one of the fiercest people Levi’s ever met.
“What’s up?” Levi often gets called in before security to deal with difficult patients because sometimes his sheer size is enough to have them re-thinking the way they’ve been treating the staff.
“I need someone to take over a patient. I have to leave early. The babysitter called. Jayden’s sick, so I’m going home.” Jayden was Jenny’s youngest child, only five, and the poor thing seemed to suffer with his health all the time. Levi just hopes it’s nothing serious this time.
“Give me the chart, and I’ll take over. Give Jayden a kiss from me.” Levi smiles.
“It’s nothing too complicated, just some scratches and light burns. He mainly just needs cleaning up.” Jenny hands over the patient file.
“I’m on it. You go home to that kid of yours. Spoil him rotten,” Levi insists.
“Thank you. I will. I wish I could take it from him you know? I’d rather be ill myself than have him be ill.” Jenny sighs.
“He’ll be well again soon,” Levi says, and hopes he’s right.
He lets Jenny leave and looks at the file to find out where he needs to go. He heads for the right cubicle and finds two men inside. One is sitting in the chair beside the bed. He’s good looking and big, but not at all what catches Levi’s attention. His eyes go straight to the man sitting on the bed. He’s almost as tall as Levi, probably a little bit broader and muscular all over, tanned, with dark hair and eyes. He’s positively gorgeous.
“Hi, I’m Nurse Roman, and you are…” Levi flicks the file open.
“Ash Smith, but call me Ash,” the man offers, and it makes Levi smile. This guy’s really cute.
“Hello, Ash. Care to tell me what landed you in the ER today?” Levi asks, putting the file down.
The man in the chair giggles a little.
“It’s not that funny.” Ash complains.
“He hurt himself saving a kitten.” The man in the chair grins.
“I’m a fireman, and you’re an asshole, Chris. I was stupid to ask you to drive me here.” Ash groans.
“I’m your cousin. Which means of course I brought you, and of course I’m going to mock you.” Chris smirks.
Levi hates to be a cliché, but his brain catches on fireman. “You saved a kitten?” Levi asks, because that really just makes him want to go “aww.”
“It’s part of the job. There was a fire, and it was trapped, and the little girl would have been devastated if it died.” Ash glares at his cousin a little, but then he looks at Levi and gives him this smile, hot enough to have Levi’s heart fluttering a little. He’s had hot patients before, but it’s never really affected him.
But Ash is a hot, kitten-saving fireman. It’s like something out of a wet dream.
“I’m sure the little girl really appreciated it,” Levi says just as a cell phone starts ringing.
“Sorry—it’s your mom, Ash. I better get it, tell her you’re okay.” Chris gets up and leaves them alone, and Levi practically has to shake himself to get to work.
“She worries. I think all firemen’s moms do. It’s that kind of job,” Ash says.
“I can imagine. Can I take a look at your arms?” Levi asks.
“Sure.” Ash holds his arms out straight as Levi approaches. None of the burns look bad. They’ll need antibiotic cream, but that’s all, and the cuts don’t need stitches. Ash looks relieved. “I’m not a big fan of needles.”
“I really don’t have that problem.” Levi smiles.
“You give blood a lot or something?” Ash asks.
“No, I have a lot of tattoos.” Levi shrugs. And then thinks, fuck it, he’ll tell the whole truth. “I can’t give blood. I’m gay.”
“Same here. Even if I didn’t have a needle phobia, I couldn’t donate.” Ash sighs.
“So you’re gay? Wait, that’s really rude of me to ask.” Levi groans.
“No, it’s okay. A lot of people are surprised because of my job.” Ash shrugs.
“No one’s that surprised with me and my job.” Levi rolls his eyes.
Ash smirks. “Of course, because all male nurses are gay.”
“I know, right?” Levi laughs, getting out some stuff to clean up Ash’s wounds. Levi warns as he gets ready to dab the first cut: “This might hurt.”
“I can take it,” Ash says, and then he blushes, which is just adorable.
“I’m sure you can.” Levi smiles and gets to work. He maybe goes a little slower than he needs to…maybe.
* * * *
Saturday mornings are the worst. Levi leaves his shift at six in the morning af
ter eleven hours in the ER. The first thing he does is head for the closest coffee shop. He’s in line when someone taps him on the shoulder, and, half asleep, it takes a moment for Levi to realise that the sexy fireman from the ER earlier in the week is right behind him.
“Ash, hi.” Levi doesn’t think he could claim to remember all of his patients’ names, but a cute gay firefighter is the kind of person who sticks with a guy.
“I thought I’d seen you in here before, but I wasn’t sure. Thanks again for all the help on Monday.” Ash has a breath-taking smile.
“You’ve seen me here?” Levi asks as the line shuffles forward.
“Well, I may have asked one of the other nurses where I might be able to catch you. That’s not creepy, right?” Ash asks, looking nervous.
“No, it’s kind of cute.” Levi admits.
“Cool, so can I get you a cup of coffee?” Ash asks.
“I’d like that,” Levi smiles, and Ash moves so that he’s beside Levi instead of behind him.
“So, you only just finished work?” Ash asks after a moment.
“Yeah. Long shift.” Levi groans.
Ash smiles. “I know how you feel.”
“A lot of people say that, but I think with your job you really might actually get the whole long, unsociable hours thing.” Levi’s had so many people tell him they understand how hard his job is, but most really don’t comprehend how difficult it is to work all the hours that he does.
It’s destroyed more than one relationship with men who said they could handle all the hours he spent at work. Only they realize after a little while that they can’t cope with him working all the time. Most people want to spend Saturday night out partying or on dates; Levi wants to spend his Saturday nights catching up on sleep.
“I get it. I mean, I work all the time. My family kind of hates that aspect of my job: that it’s not your basic nine to five kind of deal.” Ash shakes his head.
“My family just hates my job.”
“Why? I guess it could be dangerous sometimes, with some patients. Is that why?” Ash asks.
“No, although that would be an understandable reason. They just don’t think it’s very masculine. Their son being a male nurse seems more gay to them than the whole sex with men thing.” Levi snorts even though he doesn’t find it all that funny, but he’d rather laugh about it than cry.
“What? I don’t mean to insult your family, but that’s bullshit.” Ash scowls.
“Feel free to insult them. I do. My relationship with them isn’t all that great. Me becoming a nurse against their wishes just widened an already big gap.” Levi admits. He doesn’t like to lie about his life; he doesn’t tell people he has the perfect family life because it isn’t true and never has been.
“I’m sorry. That kind of blows. I guess I got lucky. When I came out they just said they’d known since I was five and they loved me anyway. When I said I wanted to be a fireman my dad took me to the local fire station and asked them to show me around.” Ash finishes just as they make it to the counter.
They order coffee and sandwiches and head for a table in the corner to wait for their food.
“It’s nice that your family are so accepting.” Levi used to feel jealous over people with families like Ash is describing, but now he hardly even feels a pang. It’s not like he’s outgrown wanting a family who accepts him: his sexuality, his job, his everything. He just doesn’t resent others for having what he doesn’t anymore.
“I’m lucky.” Ash smiles.
“And they must be proud of what you do, saving people and kittens.” Levi grins, remembering Ash’s adorable blush as he’d explained how he got hurt.
“They are, but what you do, it’s saving people too. I know nurses don’t do all the same things as doctors, but they do save lives—they do help people,” Ash says firmly.
“I’ve performed life saving measures, so I’ve saved lives.” Levi tries to shrug it off, but he has to admit that he does feel proud about it.
“You help people every day that you go to work. If your family don’t see that, well, fuck them,” Ash says, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Where were you when I was fifteen? I could have used someone saying that back then. But now I’m pretty relaxed about it. It doesn’t hurt the way it used to,” Levi says honestly.
“Well, I’m glad you decided to be a nurse. I’ve never been patched up by someone so cute before.”
“You’re a charmer.” Levi tries not to blush, but his cheeks feel hot.
“I try.” Ash looks so happy, so carefree. It’s somehow catching, and Levi finds himself grinning back.
“You’re doing a good job so far.” Levi wraps his hands around his coffee cup and lets himself look at Ash. He’s a good-looking man. He would have caught Levi’s eye even if they hadn’t met in the hospital.
“So if I asked you out, you might say yes?” Ash asks. He sounds hopeful, which is very endearing. Levi hates men who are cocky. He doesn’t like smug men.
“I might.” Levi feels himself blushing again.
“Might?” Ash raises an eyebrow.
“Okay, I totally would go out with you, if I can. But I really do work a lot. Nurses, we have shitty social lives.” Levi groans. He’d like to go on a date with Ash because Ash seems like a nice guy as well as being really hot, but being a nurse comes first. He can’t just take time off whenever he wants.
“When are you free next? I’m sure we can work something out between us.” Ash pulls out his cell phone, and Levi does the same, pulling up his work schedule.
“Next Wednesday. I know that’s not the best day. People like to go on dates on Fridays and Saturdays, not in the middle of the week.” Levi sighs, biting his lip.
“I can’t do Wednesday night. Are you free in the daytime?” Ash asks.
“Whole day off.”
“Here, I’ll give you my number. Call if anything comes up and you have to cancel. I can text before then, if you want. My job gets boring sometimes, when I’m waiting to be called out. Sure, there’s stuff to do around the station, but if you have time, I’d like to get to know you.”
“I’d like that. I get breaks when I can check my phone and stuff,” Levi says, and they trade numbers. Levi feels a buzz at the simple action. It’s been a while since he got a guy’s number, longer still since he went into it feeling as positive as he does right now.
“So, tell me about training to be and being a nurse.” Ash actually sounds interested as their sandwiches arrive, and for once, Levi feels like he’s not about to get mocked for his job choice.
Ash, being a fireman, might understand his need to help people, might be enlightened enough to realize that there are all kinds of ways for a person to help other people.
So they sit, eating and talking, and it’s really nice. Ash listens to him, and he does as Levi hoped: seems to understand why Levi likes being a nurse. Time slips away as they talk, and several of the servers come past their table and clear their throats. Eventually, as it gets late, the lunch crowd coming in, they give in, get up from the small table, and wander outside together.
“I had a really good time talking with you, but I have to go to work soon.”
“Well, unless you’ve changed your mind, we’ll get to talk again pretty soon,” Levi replies.
“I really haven’t changed my mind. But, damn it, I really have to go.” Ash complains.
“Come here,” Levi says on impulse, and when Ash comes closer, Levi reaches out and puts a hand on his waist, drawing him closer and pressing a quick kiss to his full lips.
“You say goodbye to everyone like that?” Ash asks, staying close, his chest just brushing against the front of Levi’s jacket, which is zipped closed over his uniform.
“Just the cute ones.” Levi grins.
“You think I’m cute?” Ash sounds practically delighted.
“No fishing for compliments. I like you without a big ego, thank you very much.”
“Well, if you like me l
ike this, I guess I can keep my ego in check.” Ash brings one broad hand up, and he cups Levi’s face. Then he leans in for a kiss. It’s as chaste as their first but lingers a little longer, and Levi could swear he feels his heart flutter.
“I really need to go.” Ash doesn’t look happy about it.
“I’ll text you later,” Levi promises.
“I’ll look forward to it.” Ash leans in and pecks Levi on the lips lightly before drawing back.
“Don’t get hurt saving kittens,” Levi orders.
“I won’t, I promise. Well, I’ll try. I just can’t help myself when the nurses are so sexy,” Ash says brightly before he turns and walks away.
Levi can’t quite stop smiling as he turns and starts making his own way home. He’s tired, but buzzing. He hasn’t felt like this about meeting someone in years. But talking to Ash made him feel good. He’s feeling so good that he almost doesn’t notice how tired he is until he’s back in his apartment, climbing into his shower.
Somehow, he manages to scrape together the energy to get through his shower and dry off, and then he stumbles into his bedroom and falls into bed. He notices his phone is flashing as he gets under the covers and picks up his cell. He has a text from Ash.
Sleep well. I’m counting today as a date. Proof that we can find time for dates anytime.
Levi finds himself smiling stupidly. It seems like he’s found someone who’s willing to try unusual dating, to find time for it when they can. He goes to sleep thinking maybe, just maybe, this might work out.
* * * *
Levi finds himself feeling unusually nervous about his date with Ash, mainly because he wants it to go well so badly. He really likes Ash. They’ve been texting all week, and it’s been nice. Ash is sweet and funny, and it’s been nice to know there’s someone he can randomly talk to. When something happens at work, he sends a message to Ash, and Ash seems to do the same to him. They talk every day. So he shouldn’t be so nervous, but he is. He really, really wants this to go well.
He goes to the restaurant that Ash has picked out, and it’s a cute little Italian place that he’s seen before but never taken the time to try. He’s standing there, breathing onto his cupped hands in the chill night air. He’s cold and nervous and not feeling that great, and then he spots Ash not even a minute late appearing from around the corner, and the first thing Ash does, before he even says hello, is give Levi a kiss. Warmth sweeps through his body, head to toe, and Levi wraps his arms around Ash, wanting the kiss to last longer.