Chapter Fifteen #2
“Nope.” I checked my notifications but didn’t find anything interesting.
“That’s not true. I’m accountable to the executive producer, show director, and head of the studio.
If they tell me to jump, I consider for ten seconds, then ask how high.
I would really only ever argue if they were asking me to do something unsafe. Which they’d never do.”
“Cole got injured.” He made a right turn on Burrard Street.
“Right. He was on crutches when you met him.”
“Yep.”
My phone buzzed.
—Come on in. We’re chilling in the living room.—
Well, okay, then. “He says it’s fine.”
“That’s great.” He turned left onto West 4th Avenue.
“We haven’t talked about what you’re going to do.” I tapped my hand on my thigh.
“Me? Do about what?”
“Work.” I didn’t want to bring it up. Given what had just happened with Hamish, though, I figured being prepared was a good thing.
“Oh.” He stopped for yet another red light. “I’ll talk to my sergeant. Really, there’s not much else I can do. I’ve done the investigative work.”
“What did Meggibeth say to you?”
“Nothing. I mean literally nothing. Just sat staring at the wall. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but she hasn’t said anything to anyone—either before at the hospital or now at the jail.”
How do I feel about that? Aside from her inappropriate—but understandable—crush on Cole, she’d been an upbeat and friendly person. Always quick with a smile. Taking care of the cast and crew. None of this made any sense. Not your problem.
The light turned green, and we were off again. Silence descended as Tyson brought me closer and closer to the end of our time together. I cleared my throat. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to come in?”
“I haven’t been invited.”
“Oh shit. We’ll that’s easily rectified. Just let me text—”
He laid his hand on my phone—all while keeping his eyes on the road. “No. Not tonight. Hell, maybe not ever.”
“Why would you say that? Are you breaking up with me?”
He hung a right on Bayswater Street. Then he sighed. “Donovan, we aren’t even truly together. There’s…a lot of shit to deal with. Maybe Hamish has this right. Professional first—then regroup.”
“What if I don’t fit into your life?”
“I didn’t say that.” He cast a quick glance my way. “Life’s complicated. We’re not in a hurry, are we?”
“Yes, damn it, we are. I fucking want you both. Now.” I nearly shouted that.
He chuckled. “Well, at least there’s no pussyfooting around you.” He made the final left turn onto Point Grey Road.
“Cole lives three houses down. Shit, you know that.” I rubbed my forehead with my left hand. I could do shit with my right, but my arm didn’t always enjoy the movement.
“A reminder isn’t a bad thing.” Tyson chuckled as he pulled up in front of Cole’s house. He yanked his wallet out of his back pocket, lowered his window, and flashed his badge at a woman in a car parked across the street.
“Still? I know they needed someone when he first came out of the hospital, but—”
“Another attempt to trespass was made two days ago. We’ve got people checking periodically. The studio’s considering hiring a security guard full-time.”
“How did I not know this?” What the actual fuck, Hamilton? I thought I was your friend.
“No one knows. We’re trying to keep this under wraps. Of course, if the trespasser is charged, it’ll go on the public record.”
I pursed my lips. “But if things are swept under the rug?”
“That’s Cole’s call. He’s getting good advice, for what that’s worth.”
“I suppose.”
“You going to be okay?” He met my gaze. He didn’t touch me, though.
With his colleague just across the road, I understood why. Didn’t make it hurt any less, though. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.”
“Good. Call me if you need me, all right?”
“Can I call you if I don’t need you but miss you?”
He winked. “Of course.”
Resisting the urge to kiss him took all my strength. But I had to respect his boundaries. Didn’t make me wish any less that we hadn’t done more last night. “Maybe check in with Hamish? I don’t want to push.”
He chuckled. “Right. I’m glad you can acknowledge you can be…persistent.”
“Are you saying you didn’t enjoy last night?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “I had a great time last night. And despite how today ended, I still enjoyed myself. Breakfast was amazing. We both know Hamish had to do what he did. I would’ve preferred he wait until Monday morning.
When our weekend had ended. But he did what his heart told him to do.
Who knows? Maybe things went better informally than if he’d been called onto the carpet. ”
“Getting out ahead of things?”
“Sure.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Slowly, Tyson shook his head. “This was always going to be a shitstorm. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to you. Or why Hamish has to be part of that. We’ve barely spent any time together—”
“And yet we all know.”
His smile came on gradually. “Yes, that.”
“Thank you for the ride.”
“My pleasure.”
I put my hand on the handle.
“Donovan?”
I met his gaze.
“For what it’s worth, I can’t see me living without you either. Have a nice night.”
On that note, I exited the car. I kept my face turned away from the other cop. Maybe on the off chance she’d feel the need to report Tyson having someone in his car.
To my surprise, the front door opened as I stepped up to it.
“It’s freezing out—get in here.” Michael held the door wide.
I scooted in.
He shut the thing. Then rubbed his hands together. “You made it.”
“Yeah.”
He held open his arms.
I fell into them.
“It’ll be okay.” He rubbed my back.
“How—” I swallowed as I pulled back from the embrace. “How did you know?”
He cocked his head. “Well, something’s been going on. Cole’s been worried but hasn’t wanted to interfere.”
“But…nothing…” I gestured.
“Right. And Detective Tyson McGillvary showing up the night of the Golden Globes had nothing to do with anything. Let me take your coat. Can I get you a drink?”
“A beer? I’m not driving.”
“Well, the spare bedroom’s yours, or I can drive you home later.”
“I’m capable of taking a bus or a cab.”
“Sure, but why bother? You’re here now. Get comfortable.” He took my coat. “Cole’s in the living room. I’ll grab that beer.” After hanging up my coat, he headed for the kitchen.
For the first time in the almost ten-year friendship, I hesitated.
I wanted to follow Michael into the kitchen and ask if it was really okay I was here.
I wanted to pull Caressa aside to get a read on Cole’s true condition. As a nurse, she might be more honest with me than Cole would be.
Finally, I wanted Cole to myself—so I could unload all the crap swirling in my head. But he didn’t have that role anymore. He had two people who were more important to him.
Michael clapped me on the back. “You forget how to get there?”
“Uh, no.”
He was about to hand me the beer, but he held it back. “You’re not okay.”
Not a question.
I blinked.
“Tyson?”
I nodded. “And Hamish.”
Michael linked his arm through mine. “We’ll get you sorted. If you need alone time with Cole, then Caressa and I are cool with that.”
Again, I blinked. “No, you can stay.” Cole often said Michael was more nurturing than the guy realized. Now I saw what he meant.
Caressa rose from the couch when she spotted me. “Donovan.” She made her way over to me.
Michael released me and didn’t hand over the beer.
Just as well because soon I had an armful of one of the nicest people I’d ever met. Whose taste in men had much improved since her return to Canada after her stint as a nurse in South Sudan. “Hello, gorgeous.”
She held on extra tight. “Thank you.”
I didn’t have to ask. She meant what I’d done after Cole got shot. She’d already thanked me so freaking often—I just had to accept that was likely to continue into the future.
Possibly forever.
Just accept you’re a hero. Not the exact words either Hamish or Tyson had used—but the sentiment was there. I pulled back. “I didn’t bring anything.”
Her brow knit. “Why would you? You’re always welcome.”
“Your…engagement?”
She laughed. “More like a commitment. No engagements.”
“Too heteronormative?”
Again, she laughed. “More like logistics. Who would best be married? That would leave someone out, and that’ll never do.”
“Instead we called a lawyer.” Cole held out his hand. “Slow day.”
Ah…he’s still in pain. We weren’t even three weeks gone from the shooting. I made my way over to him and allowed myself to be pulled in for a hug.
“Glad you made it.” He whispered the words in my ear.
“Uninvited, no less.”
He patted the couch next to him, and obligingly, I sat.
Michael handed me the beer, then he and Caressa cuddled together on the other part of the sectional.
I took a deep breath. “I’m in love with two men.”
Cole snagged my hand and squeezed. “How about you tell us about it?”
And so I did.