Page 56 of Misconduct Zone

“Are you there?” Finn asks.

“I cannot find him,” I breathe out.

“Wait! What? Fuck, you can’t find Dylon? Because of these pics? We can fix this. We can say it’s a joke. It is a joke. I had Trevor make the shirt. This will be a pain in my ass for a week or two, but I should have made him take the shirt off before he left. Serves me right for having a few drinks with coworkers,” Finn rattles on.

“I do not know if he saw the pictures. Never mind, I have to go.” I hang up, but he calls back. Finn will tell everyone, and the team cannot know Dylon lied to me.

Finn: I’m blowing up your and Dylon’s phones until one of you picks up

It rings again, and I throw it across the room.

Dylon

Lars won’t understand why I have to do this alone. I’m too afraid to look at my messages, so I ask Siri to text Lars, telling him I’m fine and I’ll see him early tomorrow morning. I can’t miss our flight for this.

I dial the front desk and schedule a wake-up call.

After I stick my phone in the bathroom with the door closed, I add ice to the glass and stir it with my finger. I drift in and out of sleep, uninterrupted by the buzzing of my phone.

Me and my bottle of Maker’s Mark have the entire night to ourselves.

One of us will come out a winner. The other loses everything.

Lars

The doorman buzzes, asking if Patrik can come up. I am tempted to refuse, but I could use a friend. He and Trevor get off the elevator with concerned expressions, and I stand aside so they can enter.

“Finn’s on his vay here, but ve vere closer.” Patrik gives me a bro hug.

“If you need to talk, we can keep it a secret.” Trevor pats my arm.

“Or you can vait and let Finn do all the talking.” Patrik settles onto the couch.

I trust Patrik because he will understand and won’t tell anyone about Dylon and me. “I fucked everything up. We leave for Germany tomorrow, and he is gone.” I pace the length of the living room, wearing a path from my stress today.

“Your relationship with Dylon?” Trevor asks. “Because you’re more than friends.” He sits so close to Patrik their legs touch.

“What?” He cannot know about us.

“For almost a year, Trevor has thought you and Dylon are more than friends,” Patrik says.

“Skit,” I mumble. “We haven’t been together for very long, but…” I don’t want to admit I have fallen in love over the last year.

“I could tell when I hosted Thanksgiving at my old apartment last year. You were very broody, sneaking forbidden looks and pining like Patroclus before Achilles gave into their love.” Trevor curls into Patrik’s side.

I rake a hand down my face.

“Ve aren’t here to out you or anyone else, but Finn said you sounded terrible, and no one knows vhere Dylon is. Ve’re here for support.”

“He finally texted saying he’s fine, but he’s not fine. The message was incoherent and has me more worried.” I cannot profess my love for Dylon to them before I tell him. “Things moved fast for us, but I have had feelings for him for over a year,” I admit, and Trevor’s eyes light up. “I had a relationship that ended badly, and I am afraid Dylon will change his mind about us.”

“Oh honey, that man looks at you like I look at dark chocolate.” Trevor pats the seat on the couch next to him.

Patrik grumbles, “Vhat about me?”

“Snug, you’re better than dark chocolate,” Trevor placates him. “What does Dylon think?” he asks.

“He ran out earlier today when I tried to talk to him.” I recount the morning, and his lies, and not answering his phone. Patrik texts him. “Up until I got his text, I thought about calling the police. This is not like him. Because of a past relationship, I am having a hard time figuring out what is rational concern and what is driven by fear.” I pull my hair.

---