Page 47 of Finding Forever in Cedarwood

“You’re a fag,” the man screamed. “Gay.”

“That’s not a crime.” He swallowed his fear. He’d dealt with oddballs before, but this was new. Maybe he should’ve expected something like this now that he’d come out.

“Liam Blackwell, you’re a fag. You’re gay.”

“We’ve established that.” He held up his hands. “Now can I help you?”Or get the hell out of here?

“You stole Stone from me. He turned you gay so he didn’t have to come back to me,” the man said.

Oh shit.He remembered where he’d seen the man—the community center…Jeff. “I’m gay and have been since long before I met Stone.”

“You took him.” Jeff whipped his hand from his pocket and held something shiny.

Liam recognized the item right away. “Gun!”

“No shit.” Jeff waved the pistol at Liam. “I’m going to get rid of the competition.”

His life flashed before his eyes and fear swarmed in his brain. His hands were clammy and his heart hammered. He couldn’t breathe. His world moved in slow motion. He had no slick comebacks or words at all.

“Hold still.” Jeff aimed the gun.

“Help,” Liam managed. Was it a scream? Whisper? He wasn’t sure. He slumped to the side and pain radiated through his left arm. This time, he did scream, but no sound came out. He slid his gaze to Jeff. A form rushed the man, tackling him. Liam wished he knew what was happening. He blinked. His arm hurt and his fear intensified.

Jordan stood over him. “I need an ambulance.”

Liam heard the rest of what Jordan said, but none of it made sense. He complied as Jordan applied pressure to his arm.

“We need to get you to the ER. Can you walk?” Jordan asked. “We can’t wait.”

He nodded and allowed Jordan to help him to the cruiser. Liam inspected his arm. Blood seemed to be everywhere. His sleeve had ripped.Well, shit.He patted his pocket for his phone.Where is it?

Jordan parked at the hospital and said something, but Liam wasn’t paying attention. He needed his phone to call Stone. How else would he tell his boyfriend he was at the emergency room?

A doctor stood over him. “You’ve been shot?”

The shock wore off a bit and the fuzz in his brain went away. He focused on the doctor. “Yes. I was in the park.”

“You’ll be okay and this won’t require stitches.” The doctor cleaned the wound. “I’m Dr. Aiden Connor. I hear you’re Liam Blackwell. I have to say, Liam, you’re lucky. Most people who come into the ER with gunshot wounds aren’t grazed.”

“He would’ve done more damage if I hadn’t gone limp.” He winced as Dr. Connor applied the antiseptic and gave him a tetanus shot. “Do you know if Jordan, er, Officer Hargrove is around?”

“He’s in the lobby.” Dr. Connor bandaged the wound. “The nurse will get your information. Make an appointment with your doctor in a week to check the wound. I can give you a script for pain meds, but I believe in treating with over-the-counter medicine. Stick to ibuprofen. Two eight-hundred-milligram tabs should be fine every four hours.”

“Thanks. I can’t take prescription pain killers, since I’m a recovering addict. I dabbled in cocaine, but that was years ago.” He shook hands with Dr. Connor. “Thank you.” He waited for the nurse to fill out his paperwork. Jordan joined him in the curtained-off space.

“I need your statement.” Jordan opened his notepad. “I know, I know. I rent to you. I’m a witness, too. Jones is going to take the statement, but I want to know what the hell just happened.”

“He shot me.” He massaged his forehead. “Do you have my phone?” His arm ached. “I lost the phone when I ducked the shot. I need to call Stone.”

“If it’s not on you, then it’s at the scene. We’ll get it to you.” Jordan gestured to Jones, who’d joined them in the space. “Talk to him while I find his phone.”

Liam recounted the events to the officer. By now, he just wanted to go home. “So that’s how I got here. I should call my boyfriend. He doesn’t know where I am.”

“Jordan will find your phone.” Jones put the notebook away. “We got the assailant.”

“Great.” How could they not? They’d tackled him.

“He’s being booked for assault, brandishing a firearm in a public space, carrying an unregistered firearm and disturbing the peace.”

Liam nodded. “He’s lost,” he murmured.

“What?” Jones stared at him and furrowed his brow. “One more time?”

“Jeff is lost and it sucks. I can’t say I blame him for being upset. I’d be lost without Stone.” He scrubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “Jeff’s lost because he knows he gave up something good and can’t find a way to come to terms with it.” He sighed. “I want to go home.”

“We’ll get you out of here as soon as we can. Here’s the nurse again.” Jones stepped aside.

Liam relayed his information to the nurse and forked over his insurance card. If he’d known going to the park would get him shot, he would’ve stayed at the rental. This wasn’t how he’d planned on spending his afternoon. All he wanted was to get back to Stone.

He would. Soon.

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