Page 15 of Burned By Love

“It’s not.As I said, it could’ve been much worse.It would’ve been if you hadn’t been with a firefighter.”

“I was just doing my job,” West muttered.

“You weren’t working, so no, you weren’t doing your job,” Jonathan argued.“Never mind.I know you won’t ever change your mind.”He looked at the doctor.“Can I get back to work?”

“Not today.You’ll need someone to keep an eye on you for a few days, but I can discharge you later this afternoon.You’re not a firefighter, are you?”

“God, no.I’m a tattoo artist.”

The doctor nodded and took a note on the tablet.“In that case, as long as you can sit down while you’re working, I don’t see a problem with you returning to work.If you feel out of breath, though, make sure to rest, and if it doesn’t pass, you’ll need to come back.”

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid,” Caleb promised.The way he was glaring at Jonathan told everyone in the room that Jonathan would have to walk over his dead body if he wanted to do something the doctor would disagree with.

West was glad.He wouldn’t be there to keep an eye on Jonathan, but at least Jonathan wouldn’t be alone.It was clear that Caleb cared about him.The way they behaved with each other didn’t make them sound like a couple, but they were close.

West hadn’t missed the way Austin had sniffed Caleb when he’d stopped next to him.He was curious and wanted to do the same, but Austin would tell him what he found out.West couldn’t smell it for himself because of the heavy stench of disinfectant and hospital.From the other side of Jonathan’s bed, he wasn’t close enough to be able to ignore those.He also didn’t want to look like a creep going around sniffing people, but he didn’t have any problems with Austin being one.

The doctor didn’t linger after she’d given Jonathan her orders.For a moment, the four of them stood in the room in silence, but West knew what would come out of Austin’s mouth as soon as Austin opened it again.

“So, how did it happen?When did you get engaged?”

Jonathan looked like he wanted to strangle Austin.If he wanted to give it a try, West would be happy to hold Austin down for him.

“Thank you,” Jonathan said, turning to look at West and ignoring Austin and Caleb.“I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there, but I doubt I’d be getting away with only a sprained ankle.”

“And smoke inhalation.You have to be careful with that.”

Jonathan bit his lower lip.West wanted to stay, but he was worried about what he’d do if he did.He had no idea what Jonathan wanted, and Jonathan needed rest and sleep before he could make any kind of decision about anything.

“Maybe I could give you my number so you can check on me and reassure yourself that I’m fine,” Jonathan offered.

West told himself it was just a friendly offer.He wasn’t entirely convinced of that, but now wasn’t the time and place.“That would be great.”

“He sucks at texting, though,” Austin teased.“He uses proper punctuation and everything.Takes him ages.”

“I don’t usually text, but I can do that if that’s what you’re most comfortable with,” West told Jonathan.He’d make Austin pay later.

“We’ll figure it out.”

It sounded like Jonathan might wantsomethingwith West.At the very least, he wanted to get to know him, and West was down for that.He didn’t know where it would lead, but he didn’t need to.Maybe Jonathan would only ever be a friend.West would be perfectly happy with that.

Chapter Five

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WEST’S PHONE VIBRATEDon the table.He glanced around the room, but Lisa and Jeremy were busy in the kitchen, and everyone else was off doing whatever they were doing.It was just him and Austin, who looked at him from above his cup of coffee and arched a brow.

West ignored him and snatched his phone up.He couldn’t help but smile when he saw Jonathan’s name on the screen.He unlocked it, read Jonathan’s text, and quickly answered.

He didn’t have the time to put the phone down before Jonathan answered back.They talked for a few minutes, with Jonathan reassuring West that he was okay and back at work and West asking a few pointed questions.Maybe he should have asked for Caleb’s number, too.Something told him that the other man would’ve been more honest with his answers about Jonathan’s health.

“You’re smitten,” Austin said.

“And you sound like you’re eighty.Who uses that word?”

“Everyone.”

West sighed.He’d been expecting this conversation since he and Austin had left Caleb and Jonathan at the hospital.He’d threatened Austin with bodily harm so that his friend would keep his mouth shut that day, and they’d worked one infernal shift since then, but today was calm.They’d had a few calls, but they’d been back at the station for an hour, and everyone had drifted off.West had known he couldn’t avoid this conversation forever, but he’d hoped he could.

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