Page 16 of Not Even A Mouse
Over the past couple of years, a lot of his friends hadcoupled up. It was one thing to see it at a club party, where any Rebel member would only be alone by choice. Eager women lusting after patch holders in leather were a staple at their events, and any man who chose that route was only looking for a good time. These brothers and their old ladies were in it for the long haul. So it was another to be confronted by their happiness by the harsh lightof the fluorescent hospital lights. If he could see them and how they felt, they’d recognize everything he wanted to keep secret.Nowhere to hide.
Forestalling their questions, Myron said, “She made it.” The women smiled, DeeDee’s eyes going misty. He took a deep breath. “Her tonsils came out lastweek,and the doc said when the scabbing in her throat came off it tore too deep. Hit her carotid.She nearly bled out before Andy…” He winced and corrected himself quickly. “Before Mouse got her here. They got it fixed, but she’s still not out of the woods. He’s back with her now.”
“Oh,Myron,” Bexley whispered and laid a hand on Myron’s arm, not gripping, just pressing, her reassuring touch making something inside him bend nearly to breaking. “Is Mouse okay?” He nodded, not trusting hisvoice.What the fuck is wrong with me?It wasn’t like the man was anything to him, not really. One night where Myron had let down his defenses, weeks ago.Followed by a hundred conversations and kisses. I’m such a liar.
He wouldn’t let himself think about all the reasons why Andy had calledhim. They’dspoken frequently, sure, mostly on the phone. And in the backroom of the bar. And in thebackseatof Andy’s car. Andy had invited him for a repeat trip to his house again the first time Myron walked back into the bar, but he’d shut that shit down hard. Not knowing the truth about Roger, he had made some assumptions.Got a lot wrong.
The group in front of himparted,and he saw Andy walking back in, the expression on his face smoothing as he came straight to Myron. Instead of demandinga resumption of the comforting embrace from earlier, Andy turned and stood beside Myron, keeping a careful distance between them. Taking a deep breath, Andy swiped at his cheeks with both hands and lifted his chin. He seemed to survey the men and women, nodding at the ones he knew, reaching out to grip Bexley’s hand as he did so. Out of everything, that single action bothered Myron, the back ofhis throat burning as he watched Andy reach out to Bexley for comfort, instead of to him.Ofcoursehe did, you didn’t exactly welcome him back, did you?It didn’t make sense why it would hurt, but it did.
He cleared his throat, forcing out a question. “How is she?”
Andy pinned him with a watery gaze. “She’s better than I expected. So pale, she’s so pale, Myron.” Needing to touch him, to restorethe connection between them in some way, Myron crossed the gulf of space between them and rested his hand on Andy’s shoulder. He squeezed tightly, fingers digging in hard. “As long as everything stays as it is now, she’ll be fine. They’re putting her in ICU because someone can be with her all the time.” Goose made a sound and Andy shook his head. “No, I know not me, not all the time. But, family,”he leaned towards Myron, a sway really, their bodies nearly brushing before Andy pulled himself back upright, “and close friends can go in every couple of hours, two at a time.”
It grew quiet in theroom,and Myron imagined he felt the weight of everyone’s stare, shocked when he glanced around to find only Bexley was looking at them, the othershavinggathered into a group off to the side.
Maybe it’s still too fresh for him. Talya wasn’t that old. For her to have memories of Roger, his death couldn’t be too far in the past.
He was furious suddenly, so angry that his need to lash out was nearly unstoppable, chairs and phones and his brothers all likely looking targets.I want…I need to be here for him. Muscles tense, hands shaking, Myron slipped his hand around Andy’s. The immediatecrushing hold told him he’d made the right move.I want to be what he needs. He squeezed, offering a hopeful promise. “She’s going to be fine. Back to singing in the kitchen in no time.” Bexley made a sound like she’d suppressed a laugh and he glared at her, anger flaring again at her smile. Making this statement as he was, it would be the death knell for the thing that had saved his life so longago,and he wanted her to respect that, even if she’d never reallyunderstand.
Andy’s worth it.
“You want me to stay?” Andy nodded, the barest ofmovements,as if he were afraid of making too largea gesture.
Fuck ‘em all.
Myron squeezed Andy’s hand and leaned close, shoulders brushing. “Okay. You need me, I’m here.”
Andy’s audible sigh told Myron he’d again made the right decision.
