by Brandon Witt
He must have grimaced. God, he was a shit friend. Here they all were, giving him all their extra time, and he resented it. He forced a smile. “No, that sounds great! How about we do both versions of The Little Mermaid. Marina and then Ariel. I may not be able to do drag at the moment, but I can at least pay homage to my namesake.”
Cody looked unconvinced.
Zachary opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out a small bottle of liquid, then handed it to Cody. “Can you please put some vitamin E onto my finger?”
“Of course.” That was the beautiful thing about Cody. He seemed to realize Zachary needed some space. He didn’t offer to put it on the scar for him like the others would have done. He took the bottle, unscrewed the lid, and squeezed a drop of the gel onto Zachary’s fingertip.
“Thanks, sweetie.” Zachary turned back to the mirror, lifting his left arm too quickly and igniting a flash of pain in his ribs and a quick intake of breath, which only caused more pain. Gritting his teeth, he waited for the pain to recede, then rubbed the vitamin E over the cut on his chin.
“I know you don’t like it, but maybe you should take one of the Vicodin before we go to the hospital. I bet the jostling in the car might hurt a bit.”
Zachary couldn’t help but wince at the thought. Cody was probably right. “No. I hate it. It makes me too fuzzy and out of it. I’ll just double up on the Advil. The last thing I want is to make a fool of myself in front of Tee—Dr. Chau.”
For a second Cody seemed about to argue, but he didn’t. Thank God. “Okay, if you’re sure.” A shy grin began to curl Cody’s lips. “So… I’m going to stay in the waiting room while you see Dr. Chau.”
Zachary met Cody’s gaze in the mirror, then turned around to face him. “I know that look. It says someone put you up to something. And I’m willing to bet that someone is Daniel, Vahin, or Steven.”
His cheeks flushed. “Steven.”
“Wonderful, I’m sure this won’t be pleasant. Why have you been instructed to stay in the waiting room?” As if he couldn’t imagine.
Cody’s tone said as much. “To give you and Dr. Chau some time alone.”
“Oh, good grief.” If only the thought didn’t make his pulse increase. “That’s stupid. What good will giving us time alone do? He’s checking if I’m ready for a cast yet. That’s it.”
“He came to the bookshop, Zachary. He’s interested. And from what Steven said, he’s hot.”
“That’s insane. Well, yes, he is hot. But he’s not interested. He needed a book.” The excuse was weak, at best, and he knew it. But the other explanation made no sense either.
Cody didn’t argue. “Let me help you with your jeans and T-shirt, and then we’ll go.”
“You’re going with me into the doctor’s office.”
“Do you want the blue Rainbow Dash shirt or the pink Ursula shirt?”
Zachary chose not to argue. “God, I need to get new clothes. Neither. Let’s do the gray DuckTales.” It was a little more butch. Kinda. He was going to see Teegan Chau with cartoons on his shirt and only one testicle in his pants. Cody had already turned to retrieve the clothes. “Cody?”
He poked his head back through the bathroom doorway.
“Will you do my hair too?”
Cody’s smile grew.
“Don’t give me that look, Cody Russell. You know I’d never leave the house without my hair done.”
Cody didn’t argue and was back with Zachary’s clothes in a matter of moments.
Cody was right about two things.
The car ride was a little taste of torture. Almost enough to make Zachary ask to go back and get the Vicodin. However, the thought of being in the same room with Teegan Chau and the possibilities of what all Zachary might say with his brain full of fuzz was so much worse than any pothole Cody managed to hit.
And Zachary was waiting for Dr. Chau alone. Cody stayed with him through the X-rays and getting situated in the doctor’s office, but as soon as the nurse sat down at the computer to put in Zachary’s information, Cody made an excuse of needing the restroom and disappeared.
Zachary nearly called out after him but stopped, knowing that doing so would hurt his ribs and make him look insane. He wasn’t sure which reason was more compelling.
Then he was on his own, having received promises from the nurse that Dr. Chau would be in at any moment. He sent Cody a text filled with begging and cursing, which stayed unanswered. Part of him felt guilty, as he knew Cody enough to be sure the guy was beating himself up wherever he was hiding. The other part of him was more than okay with that fact.
The nurse had been true to her word. Before Zachary could completely work himself into a tizzy, there was a knock on the door and Dr. Chau stepped into the room, then closed the door behind him. “Hi, Zachary. How are you doing today?”
“I’m good. Thank you. How are you?” Holy crap. He could speak. He wouldn’t have bet money on that.
“I’m good as well, thank you.” Dr. Chau looked like he was about to say more, then closed his mouth and took a seat at the computer the nurse had vacated.
It almost seemed like he was nervous. Which was impossible. Unless he was afraid Zachary might have a thing for hot doctors and become a stalker. Which, though he hadn’t been aware of the possibility before, Zachary could suddenly see becoming an option.
Teegan typed furiously on the computer as different screens flashed and then disappeared. Within seconds the X-ray of Zachary’s arm bones popped up. Teegan cleared his throat and turned to face Zachary again.
Nervous. He really did seem nervous.
“I had a chance to inspect these before I came in, but I thought you’d still like to see it.” Teegan rolled back in his chair, revealing more of the wide computer screen. He pointed to a shadowy line in one of the bones by the wrist. “The ulna is fractured like I thought, and the good news is it’s a clean break and shouldn’t need surgery. Given the severity of the—” His dark gaze flashed up to Zachary’s. “—of what you went through, the injuries could be much worse.” His words sped up. “Not that they aren’t bad enough. It’s just that everything is repairable and should be back to normal fairly quickly.”
Zachary forced himself to look away from Teegan and back to the monitor. He’d never broken a bone before. It was strange to see the inside of himself. He’d seen diagrams of skeletal bones before, of course, but it was different somehow knowing that the glowing image was what was inside of him. For some reason, it made him feel even more fragile than he already had. “So what’s the bad news?”
Teegan hesitated so long that Zachary looked back at him. “Bad news?”
“Yeah. You said the good news is that I won’t need surgery. What’s the bad news?”
“Oh. No.” Teegan shook his head and smiled kindly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to give that impression. There’s no bad news. You have a broken arm that should heal normally, and the nurse feels your swelling has gone down enough we can fit you for a cast. I’ll double-check, but I’m sure she’s right. So within four to six weeks, you should be relatively back to normal, though your ribs will hurt a bit longer than your arm, actually. I’ll prescribe some physical therapy, just to make sure all goes okay, but I don’t see any reason to think you’ll have any side effects at all.”
Except for a missing testicle and the inability to sleep alone.
Zachary kept the thought to himself. “That’s great news. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Again, the doctor seemed like he wanted to say more, and if Zachary wasn’t mistaken, his cheeks flushed before he turned back to the computer.
Zachary had to be imagining it. There was no possible way Teegan was interested in him. The tension that filled the room had to be about something else. Maybe he was uncomfortable with drag queens. But it didn’t feel that way. There was an excited undertone to the tension. Like an electric charge between them. The feel of Teegan’s fingers moving over Zachary’s face as he removed the smeared makeup four nights befo
re was so clear Zachary nearly lifted his fingers to touch his own cheek. “You came to the bookstore the other day.”
Teegan glanced back, startled, then swiveled around to face him again. “I did. I, ah… wanted to see…. Your store is completely charming. Like a little storybook home.”
Zachary melted a bit at the words, as if he needed more of a reason to be smitten. “It was my mom’s baby. And that was exactly what she wanted. A place that felt as if it came from a fairy tale.”
“Well, she nailed it. It’s perfect. She must be really proud of it.”
A pang cut through him, sharper than the broken ribs. “She passed, actually. And my dad. I love the store, but I think I love it because I feel like they’re still with me more than actually having dreams of owning a bookstore.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. You mentioned the other night that you lost your parents. I’m not sure how I forgot that.” Teegan looked like he was searching for words.
How Zachary hated this part. He hadn’t meant to bring all of that up. And he couldn’t even blame the Vicodin. People never knew what to say, and they all ended up saying the same pointless stuff. He couldn’t take it from Teegan, so he jutted his arm forward, wincing at the pain in his recently displaced shoulder. “So you think the swelling is down enough for a cast?”
Teegan seemed as eager to latch on to the topic change as Zachary was to offer it. “I’m sure it is. Let me check, though.” He rolled the chair closer to Zachary, eliminating the space between them, and took Zachary’s arm tenderly in both of his hands.
Zachary sighed at the contact. Again, their eyes met. For a second, Zachary could have sworn he felt Teegan’s thumb caress his skin. He had to be imagining that. And he’d sighed. Sighed! At a touch. Dear Lord. He averted his gaze. “I, ah, cast… I mean, I’m really dreading a cast. I’m kinda claustrophobic and the idea of being trapped in that thing….”
Teegan cleared his throat again, obviously more of a nervous habit than out of any real need. “Actually, with as clean as the break is, I don’t have to put on a cast. It would be best, but I could do a wrap, as long as you promise to leave it on 99 percent of the time and to be careful.”
Though he’d said it more out of desperation, Zachary brightened at the thought. The idea of being trapped in a cast truly did make his skin crawl. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Teegan nodded. “That helps people with claustrophobia sometimes. Just knowing that they’re able to take it off diminishes the symptoms. And if it still gets really bad, you can loosen it or even remove it, but only for a few minutes, and definitely not when you’re moving it. At least not until the physical therapist has you begin some basic exercises.”
“That would be great.”
Teegan’s smile was so bright and made him even more handsome. He smiled like he was thrilled he’d been able to give Zachary a gift.
Zachary was suddenly aware Teegan hadn’t removed his hands from Zachary’s arm, and whether the doctor knew it or not, his thumb really was making caressing little circles over Zachary’s tender skin. “Would you go to dinner with me?”
At that, Teegan suddenly released Zachary’s arm, making Zachary wince. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” He reached out to take the arm and then stopped himself. “Sorry.”
At the panic that crossed Teegan’s face, Zachary would’ve laughed if not for the flash of pain in his arm and the absolute terror that rocketed through him. What the hell had he just done? That couldn’t have actually happened. He’d been hallucinating.
Or course, if that were true, Teegan’s reaction wouldn’t have happened.
“Sorry. I, uhm…. Vicodin is really powerful stuff.”
Teegan narrowed his eyes. “Are you taking the Vicodin?”
“I’m not.” He forced himself to meet Teegan’s gaze once more. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Teegan’s mouth moved wordlessly for a moment, then began to curve into a nervous smile. “Actually, I’d love to go to dinner with you.”
CHAPTER SIX
Teegan Chau
It might have been the unusually warm early July weather. Or maybe the countless steps and stairs they’d taken. Possibly Teegan had forgotten deodorant, but he didn’t think so. Whatever it was, sweat had become an issue. Sweating right through his baby blue shirt.
Perfect.
First real date with a guy, and he’d worn a light color that showed every drop of sweat. In his defense, he didn’t usually sweat much, maybe during his first few surgeries, but that was it.
Oh, but that was it, wasn’t it? His first.
His first real date. With a guy.
Teegan inspected himself in the mirror, lifting one arm, then the other, both pitted out. He’d chosen the shirt because the color made his skin glow and the cut highlighted his thick arms and chest and narrow waist. Well, his skin was glowing for sure and the shirt clung to him, both in very wrong ways.
Bending over the sink, he splashed cold water on his face. It wasn’t like he could get wetter and maybe it would cool him off, as if it would do any good at this point. He grimaced as he turned off the faucet. Who used brass fixtures anymore? These people obviously had more money than God; they couldn’t afford an update?
With a final glance at his reflection, Teegan gave up and left the bathroom.
Zachary lifted a perfectly plucked eyebrow at him. “You okay?”
Oh crap. He’d been in there long enough to make his date ask if he were okay? “Oh, yeah. Totally. I’m not having stomach issues or anything.”
The eyebrow managed to arch farther.
“I mean….” Teegan let out a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous, and I hadn’t realized how much of a sweaty mess I am. I almost considered getting in their shower.”
Zachary chuckled softly. “I wonder if anyone has ever done that on a home tour. It would be kind of tempting. I mean how often do normal people get to shower in a Capitol Hill mansion?”
“Well, I’d wait for a different mansion. This one still has brass fixtures.” Great. Now, he sounded like an elitist. A sweaty elitist who might have stomach issues.
“You know, I noticed that in the kitchen as well. Kinda surprising.” Zachary lowered his voice and leaned closer. “I think the tour might have been a little desperate for participants this year.”
“Have you done this before?”
He nodded. “Every year, since I was a kid. My mom loved it. After she passed, Dad kept up the tradition.” He shrugged. “It feels good to still do it.”
Teegan hesitated. Zachary had brought him on a date for a family tradition?
“Sorry.” Zachary glanced down at the floor. “I realize how that must sound. I’m not going to spend our date talking about my folks or anything. I just thought it sounded fun and figured all the houses would give us something to talk about it.” Though he still didn’t glance up, a blush grew over his cheeks. “I couldn’t believe I actually asked you on a date. The last thing I was going to do was the stereotypical dinner and movie thing.”
“No. I love it! I’ve never been on a date like this one.” Boy, he could say that again. Teegan reached out and took Zachary’s uninjured hand, then gave it a little squeeze before letting it go. “Thank you. It’s clear you gave a lot of thought to it.”
Zachary glanced back up, still seeming shy, and motioned toward Teegan’s shirt with his chin. “Well, I didn’t think about it being in the nineties today and how much walking we’d be doing.”
Teegan paused as a couple exited a bedroom across the hall, walked past them with barely a glance in the bathroom, and headed down the stairs. “The weather and walking wouldn’t typically bother me; at least it wouldn’t make me look like I’d been swimming. I’m… nervous.” He might as well call a spade a spade.
Zachary’s green eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then averted his gaze. “Uhm, well, we can skip the last one if you’d like and get an early dinner.”
He was going
to have to ask Kelly if he’d been this bad on their first date. He knew he hadn’t been this nervous, but damn. “No. I’m enjoying it. Plus, the brochure makes it sound like the next one is pretty good.”
“Yeah, I was saving it for last. It’s on the tour every year. It’s amazing. But really, I don’t want you to feel—”
He grabbed Zachary’s hand again. “I want to. We can’t end the home tour with brass fixtures. We just can’t.”
And there was that laugh. He’d only heard it a couple of times, but he couldn’t get enough. For those few seconds when he laughed, the pain that always seemed so near Zachary flitted away.
The week between Zachary asking him out and the date was probably the actual culprit of Teegan’s nerves and sweating. If they’d gone out sooner, there would have been less time to really consider what he was doing. It would’ve felt more like a hookup, more spur-of-the-moment. Instead, with every day that had passed, the date grew larger and larger in his mind. It didn’t matter if Teegan was at work, on his nights with Megan, or seeing his parents, Zachary was never far off. And for the first twenty-four hours or so, that had been a pleasurable thing. The excitement about finally having a date, the anticipation of a first kiss, picturing Zachary’s cute face. They’d only texted once, to set up a meeting place and time, but that text had made everything seem so real.
Whether there would be a second date or not, Teegan had no clue, and honestly it didn’t matter. With the time in between, with the giddy feelings he felt around Zachary, he couldn’t pretend it was a hookup; it wasn’t just sex. Hell, that was another worry entirely. Were they supposed to have sex? Was gay dating the same as straight dating? Was it the standard three dates before sex rule? Not that he and Kelly had followed that; it had been nearly twelve dates before sex… but there’d been complicated details with that one, mainly Teegan wishing she were a guy.
A date was so much more than a hookup.
By its very nature, a date could lead to more dates. To having to introduce families, daughters, ex-wives, parents.
