Chapter 10
RAFFERTY
I stayed over at Elton’s place. My wolf and I couldn't bear to leave him when he'd been so upset after we'd had sex. A lot of his concerns had to be stemming from mentally wrestling with the physical changes his body was about to go through. Men were taught that their masculinity, their very essence, was represented by their genitals. Losing both testicles along with the fear that he might have trouble getting an erection had to be messing with Elton’s mind.
His sofa was a little small for me to lie down on, so I reluctantly let him convince me to take his bed.
We debated making a wall of pillows between us so we could sleep together, but the risk of accidentally touching was too great, so Elton slept on the couch.
I was grateful he was tired enough to sleep.
I got up to check on him a little after midnight, and he was dead to the world.
Elton didn't let me talk him into getting mimosas, but he did order some decadent waffles with caramelized bananas on top. When he was mostly finished eating, I finally asked the question I'd been holding in all morning. “Have you told your family we’re dating?”
He laughed. “You're forgetting that I posted about our date on Friday on social media. My brother texted me before I even got home, and my parents weren’t far behind.”
“Your parents aren’t coming for your surgery?”
“No. They’re heading this direction starting next week, and I expect they’ll alternate visiting me and Lennon for a while before taking off again. But they were too far away when I found out I needed surgery to get here by tomorrow. My brother’s tasked with updating them on my status.”
“I'm looking forward to meeting him. Though I understand if you want to have brother-only time today.”
Elton appeared uncertain. “Would you mind? I already promised Lennon we’d go to the Menil Collection this afternoon and then have dinner at this hole in the wall taqueria he likes.” He made a face.
“You're not a fan?”
He shrugged. “It's pretty greasy, but their chalupas are decent. I usually get those.”
“Well, I’ll miss you, but spending time with your brother is important too. Will you give Lennon my number, and ask him to text me when you’re out of surgery tomorrow?”
“Sure. It’s scheduled for 7:30 a.m., and it’ll take an hour or so.”
“Thanks. That’ll ease my mind. What if I bring dinner for the two of you tomorrow night once you're home from your surgery?” I winked at him. “It'll be so romantic for Valentine's Day.”
Elton's face went slack with horror. “Oh my god, Valentine’s Day! I haven't even thought about it. Rafferty, I'm so sorry.” He made an aborted gesture to grab my hand but pulled away at the last second. “I don't even have a card or anything for you.”
“When did you have time? We’ve only been dating since Friday, plus you’ve got bigger things on your mind.
” I smiled into his worried eyes, wishing I could smooth away the creases on his forehead.
“If you're willing, there's one thing I'd like above all else for Valentine's Day.
But it can also be something you give me on a random day several weeks after Valentine's Day. No pressure either way.”
He eyed me warily. “Okay, what is it?”
I leaned forward until my face was only around six inches from his—not quite near enough to trigger our magics reaching out—and I lowered my voice to a whisper. “A kiss.”
Elton's pupils dilated, and as close as we were, I heard his heart rate pick up. “Oh.”
“Like I said, only if you’re ready.”
He looked down at his plate, then back up at me. He leaned forward another inch. Our magics flared up, trying to create a connection, so he backed up a bit. “Will you ask me again tomorrow night, so I know you still mean it after the surgery?”
I suppressed a sigh. I had to accept that he wasn’t going to believe I wouldn’t change my mind.
“I promise I will still want to be your mate after the surgery. But, yes. It would be my pleasure.” For the first time, I concentrated on sending my emotions to him.
Strong affection, probably only days away from becoming love.
Elton’s cheeks tinged pink, and he smiled as he dropped his gaze.
My wolf was restless after we left Elton. He didn’t understand why we couldn’t sleep in the same space as our mate again tonight, and he was extremely uneasy about Elton having surgery without us there. Frankly I felt the same on both counts.
Sleep was difficult, which was the only reason I was awake at 4:00 a.m. when Elton called. I sat up in bed, gripping the phone too hard. “What’s wrong?”
“Hey, sorry to wake you.” He sounded like he was on the verge of crying.
“I want you to wake me.” My wolf pressured me to point out that we would’ve already known what the problem was if Elton had let us stay over again, but I refrained.
“Lennon ate something bad. He’s been throwing up all over the bathroom for the past couple of hours. I’m supposed to take this super-clean shower with this special anti-bacterial soap, but I can’t even get in there.”
“Shit.” I threw back the covers and rolled out of bed, scanning the floor for my shoes. “I’ll come get you and you can shower here. Do you feel alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I didn’t eat any of the sketchy-looking tacos al carbon!” He said that last part very loudly, and I heard retching sounds in the background in response.
I grabbed my keys and left the apartment, not bothering to lock the front door. “What time do you need to be at the hospital?”
“6:00 a.m. You don’t mind taking me?”
“Baby, I wanted to be the one to take you all along.”
He let out a big breath. “I’d really appreciate it. But don’t you have to work today?”
“I only have one appointment I can’t move, and Gordon can handle it for me. I’m getting in the truck now. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Do you want me to stay on the line with you?”
“No. I’ll make sure Lennon has some water and stuff. I’ll be downstairs by the time you get here.”
“Okay, see you soon.” My wolf wanted us to take Elton back to my place to recover from the surgery, but he’d be more relaxed at his apartment. Plus I’d need to check on Lennon and clean up that bathroom anyway.
Elton practically jumped in the truck when I stopped in front of his apartment building. “Thanks so much for doing this. I owe you.”
I shot him an exasperated look. “We’re dating. Partners. About to be mates. Of course I’m going to come help you. Anything you need, I’m here for it. You don’t owe me.”
He heaved a big sigh. “Yeah, okay. I’m just used to having to do most things on my own, you know?”
“Well, those days are over.” I was glad I could see well in the dark, because it meant I didn’t miss Elton’s smile. “Will Lennon be okay by himself? I can have someone from the pack stop by.”
He shook his head. “Thanks, but I suggested having my neighbor look in on him, and he was adamant he’d be fine. I left him some water and sports drinks, and I put your number in his phone.”
Within forty minutes of his call, we were back in my apartment, and Elton was in the shower with his special soap.
I knew he wouldn’t be allowed to have anything to eat, so I took the opportunity to down a granola bar.
I could get something heartier at the hospital during Elton’s surgery if my wolf would let me leave the waiting room.
I used the bathroom off the common area by the pack kitchen to get cleaned up and dressed in more respectable clothes.
Eventually Elton emerged, wearing sweats and clutching his backpack like a life vest. “I’ve got special underwear I have to put on after the surgery, and then when we get home, I have to lay down with something supporting my balls.
Last time I used a little stack of towels, but t-shirts work too. ”
The hospital was ready for him, and check-in was tedious but efficient. Sooner than I was ready for, they had him in a room and in a gown.
I gaped when the nurse gave him a marker so he could draw an arrow to indicate the correct testicle for them to work on.
“Is that really necessary?” I never went to the doctor myself, having fast shifter healing as part of my magic, but I was under the impression that surgeons were generally pretty skilled.
The nurse smiled and shrugged. “Not usually, but it reduces patient stress, and it never hurts to be extra cautious.”
And then it was time for them to wheel Elton away. My wolf howled, and Elton grimaced. “I’ll be fine.”
I tried to smile confidently at him, but I could feel my lips trembling. “See you before you know it.” I stepped back from the bed, and the nurse eyed me strangely, no doubt expecting me to kiss Elton. And fuck, did I want to.
I argued with my wolf until he let me go to the cafeteria and get some coffee and a muffin. My stomach was in knots; I couldn’t handle anything more than that. Elton had given me phone numbers for his parents and his brother, so I created a group chat with them.
Me:
This is Rafferty. They just took Elton in for his surgery.
Phoebe Johnson:
Rafferty? You’re the young man Elton has been seeing. Where’s Lennon?
Oops. Should’ve led with that.
Me:
Sorry, Lennon isn’t feeling well this morning. I brought Elton to the hospital instead.
Phoebe Johnson:
Lennon Newton Johnson, tell me you did not drink too much the night before your brother had surgery!
I waited a moment, but Lennon didn’t reply. I figured I should intervene, since he was probably still dry heaving.
Me:
Elton told me Lennon has food poisoning.
Robert Johnson:
Lennon, did you go to that awful taqueria again?
Lennon wisely didn’t respond.
I went back upstairs twenty minutes later. It was way too soon for the surgery to be done, but my wolf and I needed to be closer to Elton. I paced the length of the waiting room until a woman and her small child came in, then I made myself sit down in one of the uncomfortable chairs.