by Darien Cox
The way Tyler’s presence got him all fluttery tonight put questions in his mind that he probably didn’t want to hear the answers to. Was it really just a sympathy-fuck all those months ago? Or had Tyler, on some level, wanted him too? Could he ever want him again?
Hope. What a tease.
After locking up, he climbed back down the ladder. When his feet hit the ground, he froze, surprised to see Tyler. He’d expected the guy would be halfway down the mountain already, leaping over boulders like a freak. But Tyler stood still as a statue with his gun pointed, a light atop it shining toward the support beams beneath the station.
“Tyler. What’s wrong? You see something?”
“Was that there when you were outside before? Because it wasn’t when I got here.”
Tim stepped closer to him. “What are you talking about?”
“On the beam.”
“Oh. Shit.” A drape of green fabric hung over one of the diagonal wooden support beams. His blood chilled. “No. That wasn’t there twenty minutes ago. I’m sure of it.”
“Is it yours?”
Tim took a step closer, then swallowed hard. “Yeah. That’s my missing jacket.”
“Follow me,” Tyler said. “We’re getting out of here.”
Chapter Five
“Tim! Get your ass back here!”
“They couldn’t have gotten far. I’m gonna find the fuckers!”
Tyler gritted his teeth as he watched Tim run toward the woods that edged the clearing beyond the station. “Tim, wait! Goddammit.”
“Who the hell is out here?” Tim shouted as he disappeared into the trees. “Show yourself!”
Cursing, Tyler darted into the woods after him. It was like dealing with one of his damn recruits, except Tim was supposed to have age and maturity on his side. Spotting Tim’s light blond hair shining like a beacon up ahead, he called out, “Patterson, get your ass back here right now! That’s an order.”
He didn’t expect compliance, but Tim turned around and stomped back toward him, fair skin flushed pink. “Whoever left my jacket must still be around here.”
“I know, and that’s why we need to leave.”
“Thought you were a tough guy, Tyler.”
“I’m a cautious guy first, tough guy second. We have no idea who we’re dealing with, so let’s go.”
“The cameras! They would have caught whoever it was. Let’s go back inside the station and check.”
“Tim, no. I can check the footage back at Nolan’s place. Whoever left your jacket could be dangerous, I don’t want to risk it.” Actually, I’d risk it if you weren’t here. I just don’t want you getting hurt.
Tyler didn’t say this, because Tim seemed overtaken by an ego rush, needing to prove himself or something. Tyler knew Tim was probably just scared, but the chest-thumping routine was stupid and reckless, storming out into the woods like that.
“Fine, we’ll do it your way.” Tim snatched his jacket off the beam and examined it.
“How’s it look?”
“Looks like someone dragged it through the dirt.”
“No damage? Nothing else out of the ordinary?”
“Not that I can see.” Tim shook the jacket out then slid it on. “Okay, let’s go.” He headed toward the path that led to the road, Tyler following behind him. “You riding with me? Not gonna hike down the mountain all lone wolf?”
“Of course I’m coming with you. The situation has changed, obviously.”
“Yeah, situation’s changed,” Tim said. “Now I know it’s not aliens.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, please. Why would an alien steal my jacket then return it?”
“Doesn’t matter who or what did it. People can be dangerous too. Walk faster.”
Tim was silent the rest of the hike down until they reached a chain across the path with ‘RESTRICTED AREA’ and ‘FALLING ROCKS’ signs hanging from it. His ranger truck was parked just on the other side. “They must have been listening to us,” Tim said as they both shimmied past the chain. “They heard me shouting to you about my jacket going missing, so they decided to bring it back to fuck with me. It’s a person, not an alien.”
“And what kind of person can control technology like that? What kind of person would go to the trouble?”
Tim stopped and turned back when they reached the truck. “What do you mean?”
“Did the motion sensors go off, Tim? If someone walked right up to the station with your jacket, an alarm should have sounded on the computer. We heard nothing.”
“Maybe the sensors aren’t working?”
“They were working just fine when you were outside walking around.”
Sighing, Tim placed his hands on his head. “Damn it.” He kicked the truck’s tire. “God damn it! I do not need this shit! I don’t need this shit.”
“Stay calm.”
“Fuck calm!” He kicked the tire again. “Why should I stay calm? Someone’s fucking with me! And if this is the same person who’s been making those crybaby sounds and shit, it means they’ve been fucking with me for a while now. When I’ve been alone up there.”
“Give me the keys,” Tyler said. “I’m driving.”
Whirling around, Tim scowled at Tyler, nose wrinkling. “Fuck no. It’s my truck.”
“Come on, don’t argue, we need to go. It doesn’t exactly feel safe out here tonight. Gimme the keys.”
“You’re not driving my truck, Tyler.” Tim took the keys out and hit the button on the door lock. “Go get in the other side.”
Tyler stepped in front of him. “You’re freaking out. I don’t trust you to drive right now.”
“Ah, so that’s it. Still think I’m a headcase who’s gonna fall apart and sob in your arms? Well, don’t worry. I’m not freaking out that much.”
A blast of heat rushed to Tyler’s face. “This isn’t about...that. Just give me the keys, Tim.” He stepped in closer. “Now.”
“Back off, Tyler. I’m bigger than you and I’m not scared of your black ops stare.”
“No? Then how’s this. Give me the keys or I’ll shoot you with this stunner and throw you in the truck unconscious. Do you want that?”
Puffing his chest out, Tim loomed over Tyler, trying to use his height as intimidation. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Really? You wanna put a bet on that?”
Tim’s shoulders sagged. “Yeah, you probably would dare, you freak.” He shoved the keys at Tyler, then rounded the vehicle and opened the passenger side door. “If you dent it you’re paying for it.”
Tyler hopped in, set the gun in the backseat, then started the engine. Once Tim was in, he backed the truck up and turned around, heading down the bumpy mountain road. Tim sat with arms crossed over his chest, handsome face set in a scowl.
“You all right?” Tyler asked.
“Oh, I’m just peachy, Tyler. Just wonderful. As one is when they’ve got someone skulking around the woods like the Blair Witch watching them and stealing their shit.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“I’m tired of feeling weak.”
Tyler did a doubletake at him. “You’re not weak. Don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t something you can control. It’s being done to you.”
“That’s just my point. Ever since learning about this stupid alien shit I feel like a weak little human who can’t control anything. I hate it. Hate all of it. I used to have a nice life. Now it’s all crazy scary bullshit all the time. And now you show up and make it worse.”
“I’m here to help! How the hell am I making it worse?”
“By treating me like some creampuff you have to protect. I’ve dealt with dangerous shit in the forest before. By myself. I don’t need you.”
“Fine, Tim. You want me to take my gun and go home? Let you go up there by yourself next time, face whatever it is alone?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Tim scowled for a long moment, then he chuckled. “No. Not
really.”
Tyler smiled and took the turn off at the bottom of the mountain, heading up the main road toward the village. “You sure?”
“Positive. Those woods scare the shit out of me now. I’ll keep both you and your weird gun around, much as it annoys me. I have my pride but I’m not stupid.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Sighing, Tim rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry I flipped out.”
“Understandable, don’t worry about it. It was fucked up, finding your jacket outside like that. You handled things better than a lot of people would have.”
“I don’t mean just tonight, Tyler.”
Tyler inhaled softly. He didn’t know how to respond, so he stayed quiet, hoping Tim would drop it. No such luck.
“I wasn’t myself that night after Nolan and Elliot’s wedding.”
“I know you weren’t. You don’t have to explain.”
They both remained silent as he drove around the curve of the lake, the sparkling lights of the village coming into sight. Cottages dotted the watery cul-de-sac, people partying on colorfully lit boats, congregating on the wall edging the beach, darting in and out of the pubs and restaurants. On the sidewalk, someone in a bear costume sold pints of Arctic Angel beer from a vendor cart. A young woman with electric-blue hair chased after a man on a unicycle, shouting, “Ronny you fucking cock-stain, give me back my rum!”
Ah, Singing Bear Village. Still a cesspool of wanton celebration. But Tyler found he wasn’t exactly unhappy to be here. Maybe he’d missed it, just a little.
“Where are we going?” Tim asked. “Elliot’s place is down the other mountain road.”
“I want to stop into the pub and talk to Nolan. We need to let the others know what’s happening.”
“Can’t we text them or something? I’m anxious to go back and look at that footage. Aren’t you?”
Tyler shrugged. “Yeah, okay. I’ll cut through the village and head back now. Do you have Nolan’s number?”
“Yeah. I have everyone’s number now that I’m on Team Alien.”
“Text him.”
Tim pulled his phone out. “What do I say? It’s been kind of a complicated night. Should I call Myles too?”
“No, not yet. Just tell Nolan what happened with your jacket and that the motion sensors didn’t go off. Tell him we’re heading back to his place to look at the footage. He’ll know what to do and who else to call.”
Tim went to it. After several minutes of typing, he said, “There. Hope that made sense. He’s working though, so he might not get it right away.”
“He’ll get it right away,” Tyler said. “They’re all required to have their phones on them at all times.”
“Are you their boss?”
“No. Brett is their boss. I just know how it works.”
“But you said tonight that I have to do what you say while you’re in town. So if you’re not their boss, why are you my boss? Because I’m low man on the totem pole?”
“What difference does it make? I’m here to help figure out what’s going on. Are you that bothered having to take direction from me?”
“Guess it depends what you’re directing me to do. I can think of a few scenarios where I wouldn’t mind you bossing me around.”
Tyler glanced at him, taken aback by the brazen flirting.
“Jesus, you should see your face right now.” Tim laughed. “I was joking. Relax. You should be glad I’m acting normal and not flipping out anymore.”
Tyler supposed flirting was normal for Tim. At least it was in the past, before they had crazy emotional sex. But they had had crazy emotional sex, so now the flirting gave him a stomach-flip.
“Tyler. I said I was joking. Don’t go all mute on me again.”
“I’m just driving, Tim. Don’t go looking for shit that’s not there. Quiet is my default.”
“Yeah, good point. Okay I’ll stop trying to dissect you.”
“Good.”
“Why did you let me fuck you that night?”
Tyler nearly went off the road. Flinching, his fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“You do remember that, don’t you?”
“Of course I remember,” Tyler said. “You want to talk about that right now?”
“Well...I wasn’t gonna bring it up. I was all determined to play it cool and forget it because it’s humiliating. But it’s not easy trying to be cool with you when I’m sitting on this huge unanswered question.”
“You’re not the first person to have a bad reaction when the reality of extraterrestrials is shoved in your face. I’ve seen worse, and from people who had to deal with far less than having to watch those hybrid Q-Tips drink martinis three feet away. Don’t overthink it.”
“I’m not overthinking that part,” Tim said. “I know why I melted down. It’s the way you dealt with it that I’m confused about.”
It looked like Tyler wasn’t getting out of this. Tim obviously wanted to talk about the sex. But Tyler wasn’t sure what to tell him, because he was still confused as hell about it himself. “Doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.”
“I only want to ask you one thing.” Tim stared out the front window, posture tight. “If that’s all right.”
Tyler took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“Was it only because you were trying to calm me down? Is that why you let me? I mean...is that the only reason you went along with it? I’m cool with whatever your answer is. I’d just like to know.”
“I forgot how weird this village is,” Tyler said, glancing at the figures dancing around bonfires on the beach—desperately searching for a distraction. He took a right turn. “I’m just gonna cut through town and head up to Elliot and Nolan’s this way.”
“Really, Tyler? Just say you don’t want to talk about it. Don’t insult me by changing the subject. Christ. Now I know why JT and those guys call you the robot.”
“I’m taking a moment to think. I’m just not sure how to give you an honest answer.”
Tim looked at him. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t know. Yeah, I wanted to calm you down. But was that the only reason I let the other thing happen? I don’t know. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth.”
Silence followed. Tyler didn’t expect his answer to satisfy Tim. He waited to be pressed about it further, but Tim was quiet as they headed out of the main village.
He remained quiet as they drove along the dark, isolated road that led up to Arctic Angel Brewery, a shield of shadowy mountain peaks jutting into a star-speckled sky in the distance. Eventually they passed the brewery, and just beyond it, Nolan and Elliot’s big contemporary house came into sight.
Tyler took the long driveway that led up to the mountain home. He was actually pleased to be back at the house. The place was warm and welcoming. He thought he’d hate staying with the newlyweds, because despite what he’d told Tim, he did feel kind of awkward about crashing there. But when he arrived, Nolan and Elliot told him to make himself at home, that while he was here, this was his house too.
Tyler was surprised, because while they’d had each other’s back on missions before, on a personal level they didn’t always get along. But Nolan set him up in the finished basement, no questions asked, and treated him like he belonged there. For all Tyler’s bitching to Ogden about how different his village crew was, being back here made him remember all they’d been through together, and that at the end of the day, they were all on the same team.
Plus, Nolan made him sit down at the table and eat homecooked enchiladas. It was difficult to stay moody and distant with chili sauce and melted cheese dripping down his chin.
The house wasn’t brightly lit, but he could see a few lamps on inside through the wall of giant windows on the upper floor. Elliot’s car was in the driveway, but it was possible he was locked in the studio where he did his radio broadcast.
As Tyler parked in front of the garage, Tim said, “Thanks. For answering my question. I know it’s awkward. But it w
as bugging me, so I just wanted to get it out of the way.”
Tyler shut the engine off. “No problem.” As he handed back the keys, something Tim said before came back to him. “Hey, wait a second. What do you mean they call me ‘the robot’? Who said that?”
“Oh. Crap. Did I say that out loud?” Tim’s phone pinged and he pulled it out of his pocket. The luminescence highlighted his handsome features and gave his pale hair a blue tint as he studied the screen. “Nolan says Elliot’s here, and that Brett is coming over to see the footage too.” He looked at Tyler. “We’re supposed to wait for Brett before watching it.”
“Okay.”
Tim slipped his phone and keys into his jacket. “Should we go in?”
“First tell me who called me a robot.”
“Oh.” Tim winced. “Shit, I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have said anything. I just assumed you don’t care what anyone thinks or says about you.”
“I don’t.”
“Fine. Then forget it.”
“What do they say about me?”
Tim smirked. “Liar. You do care.”
“Just tell me.”
“They think you’re a bit...emotionless. That’s why they call you the robot.”
Tyler huffed. He understood how they could have come up with the nickname. Robot. They didn’t know the half of it. They didn’t know about his past, how hard he’d had to work to control his own thoughts, and for what reason.
But that aside, he’d assumed the village team would at least understand that he had to stay focused to do his job properly. That his caution and calm state of mind were beneficial to the work. Were they not happy he’d kept it together the night Nolan’s neck got sliced open by that rogue hybrid? Were they not pleased he’d remained emotionless that night, putting pressure on Nolan’s hemorrhaging wound while everyone else in that chopper was freaking out?
