Page 17 of Not Even A Mouse
Going home
Andy
He woke with a jerk, yanked out of a bloody nightmare with welcome pressure from a now-familiar hand on his shoulder. Blinking up blearily, he stared at the face hovering over him.Myron. Beautiful, kissable Myron. Reaching up, he wrapped his hand around the back of Myron’s neck and tugged him down. When their lips met in a soft caress, the sparkhe anticipatedleaptbetween them, heat flaring in his groin at the rough slide of whiskers on his skin. “Babe,” he whispered, releasing his hold and moving to sit upright. He’d been dozing sprawled out across three chairs, Myron’s bundled leather jacket his pillow.
Myron’s eyeswarmed,and the corners of his lips tipped up. “Doc’s here, says he’s got good news.” Andy peered around him to seethe surgeon standing near the doorway, phone in hand, studiously not looking their direction.
“I’m up,” he said, pushing to his feet and listing sideways until Myron’s hand cupped his elbow, steadying Andy.Like he’s done since he got here. That was three days ago. Endless days filled with brief visits to Talya’s bedside, vats of bad coffee, and a bellyful of fear. If it hadn’t been for Myron’sfriends, they would have starved.Theybecause Myron hadn’t left the hospital, either, staying by Andy’s side through everything. Even when the bleeding startedagain that first night, Myron hadn’t panicked, just punched the button to call a nurse and ripped the door open, shouting for help while Andy cradled Talya in his arms.
A second round in the surgical suite meant Talya had spent anothertwo days in ICU. She had finally been cleared to be put into a regular room last night, but none were available. That meant she was still parked in ICU, and they were out here except for fifteen minutes every two hours.
“I’m releasing Natalya.”
Andy blinked. “What?” Myron’s fingers squeezed hiselbow,and he leaned sideways, resting his shoulder against Myron’s solid frame.My rock. “Releasing,like to go home?”
“Yes, she’s recoveringnicelyand with healing well underway, I think the calmer environment at home would be more beneficial now. I’ll write the orders now, and you’ll be ready to head out in about an hour.”
“I’m going to…she’s coming home? Really?” A thousand thoughts ran through his mind, but all he could think of was this same surgeon telling him thesamething just overa week ago.“She can go home now, Mr. Kasmouski. Just convince her to take it easy. She seems like a handful.”Patent lies, because look where they were right now.She nearly died. Andy’s throat tightened with fear, muting his hundreds of questions.
“She’ll need someone with her, of course, and you’ll want to follow-up with her regular pediatrician on Monday.” Andy stared, mouth still stubbornlysealed shut. “She’s healing well, and home is the best place for her, Mr. Kasmouski.” The surgeon flashed a smile and turned, walking out of sight down the hallway.
“It’s a good thing.” Myron’s voice rumbled in his ear, and Andy twisted his neck, meeting his gaze. “It is, Andy. She’s going to be fine.” Somehow when Myron said it, Andy could finally believe the words.
“I get to take her home.”Terror made his voice high andwispy,and he watched Myron’s expression soften in response.
“Yeah.Talya’llbe excited to sleep in her own bed.” Myron’s hand wrapped around his and Andy held on tight, as he did every time. “I think the novelty of the hospital bed wore off a couple of days ago.”
“Come home with us.” He blurted the words, less of a question and morea demand, and snapped his mouthshut immediately. “I mean…I’m just…” His voice trailed off as chin down, he studied the pattern of the waiting room carpet, tracing memorized lines back and forth. “What if it happens again?”
“It’s not gonna happen.” Myron’s words were as firm as the wall the man erected between them whenever any of his friends were around. Sturdy and composed, he’d not given one single indication that beinghere meant to him what it did Andy.But he’s here. That’s what he kept telling himself. Myron was here, and he’d been here since Andy called.He came.
“What if it does?” He just couldn’t shake the fear. He repeated his thoughts, sharing them in a whisper, “She almost died, Myron.”
“But, she didn’t.” Myron leaned closer, and Andy felt the heat from his hand as it skimmed up his arm, coming torest againstthe side of his neck. “She won’t.” Myron shook him gently, that tiny knowing smile staying in place the whole time. “She’s going to be fine, Andy.”
He stared into Myron’s eyes, willing him to understand how terrifying it was to be alone in this. To be the sole person responsible for such a precious human being.Please. Myron used his hold on Andy’s neck to pull him closer, restingtheir foreheads together.Please don’t leave me alone.
“I’ll follow you home. Stick around for a bit, if that’s what you need. We’re friends.” That drove a startling dagger through Andy’s gut. It was unexpected, and after Myron’s presence through this, seemed to minimize what Andy felt. Myron’s gaze locked on Andy’s, eyes searching. After a moment, the corners of his mouth tilted up, and Myronshook his head. His next words set Andy’s world back to rights, laying the foundation for something more. “But that’s not why. I wanna be with you not because you need me, but because I want to be what you need.”
Andy nodded and took a shuddering breath. Myron’s hair brushed against the side of his face like a caress. They stood like that for a moment until Myron broke the stillness by anglinghis head forwards, lips brushing across Andy’s.God.
“I do need you. Thank you.”I could kiss you again right now, right here. The impulse wasoverwhelming,and as if he read Andy’s intent, Myron broke away, pulling his ever-present phone from the front pocket of his jeans. He understood why when he heard booming laughter in the hallway, and recognized the voice of one of Myron’s friends.Ofcourse, they can’t really know. It didn’t matter that most had already guessed. As long as they kept the PDA to a minimum in front of his friends, Myron could continue to deny anything was happening between them. A sharp pain bloomed in Andy’schest,and he shoved it away, tucking it into a back corner to examine later.Talya’s coming home. He closed his eyes, letting Myron’s certainty that shewas going to be okay cover him like a blanket.Myron’s coming home. “Thank you,” he repeated on a whisper and, even though he didn’t understand the subtext, Myron rewarded him with a crooked, sideways smile that lit up his insides in a way that didn’tsayfriends.I’m in so much trouble.
