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that laser stare hadn't lost a single watt of pinpoint intensity. Because you love this. All of it. One battle after another. On the streets, in Immaculate Grace's hallowed halls, it's all the same to you. You're helping people, and you fucking love it. Zane, Eli said, holding on to his temper with the last of his patience. Either calm down or we go our own separate ways until you're ready to act like a grown-up again. Zane scoffed but fell silent. Not that Eli was about to let his guard down. He waited, count- ing the seconds. The elevator came, proved empty, and went on its way. By then, Eli thought he felt comfortable enough to shoulder bump Zane. How about we take the stairs? Keep moving, keep limber. Yeah, okay. Zane turned with Eli and made for the stairwell. So I'm an ass. Nothing I didn't already know. Eli wrapped one arm around Zane's shoulders. This, he'd done before. Still felt risky but he knew it was safe. It's okay. Work it out together, right? Zane covered Eli's hand with his own and squeezed, which he hadn't done before, but no one was looking, so what the hell. Remind me of that when I need it, would you? That promise, I can make. Eli elbowed open the crash bar on the stairwell. Come over to my place again tonight. I'm in the mood for something home cooked, and if you've eaten all day, I'll be very surprised. Hmm. Zane's general good humor seemed to be on its way back. Is that all that's on the menu? Speaking in a sort of code worked well enough for Eli. I was thinking dessert too, he said, feeling extremely brave and surprisingly smug about it. Yet another thing he should have known better regarding. Confidence too easily transmit- ted to hubris, and Eli was well aware that karma lived for moments like these. Zane chuckled. God, I feel so domestic, he remarked. Let's take it again from the top. How was your day, honey? Actually, it had its good moments. Eli let go of Zane to grasp his stethoscope in both hands and tug thoughtfully. You've heard about the Duke job, right? Some gossip here and there. Zane paused, a sharp sort of turn spiking his mood. Why? No big deal. I know the guy spearheading the search. One of my professors. We got along well back in the day. I sent him an e-mail to say hi and to get some more info about the position. Zane, what? Zane had not just dropped Eli's arm but shoved him, hard enough to knock a breath of wind out of him. Fuck you, Eli. He backed up, turning on his heel at the last possible second before falling down the stairs, and started down them at a fast, seriously pissed clip. Fuck. You. What the hell. Zane, wait up! Eli started after him, but not even his longer legs could catch up with Zane on the move. Zane! * * * * * Thank God for the late-afternoon shipments at the loading docks, way back in the part of the hospital where anyone not authorized to be there really, really shouldn't be. Without his coat or gloves, the cold hit Eli with the force of a shock wave. It'd done the same for Zane, who'd stopped long enough for Eli to regain some ground and then had to dodge his way through burly men carrying massive boxes and finally ap- peared to have given up at the far edge. In safety, at least. Relatively speaking. He'd dug a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and was trying to light up, no easy job in the cutting wind. Eli made it to Zane in time to reach for the cigarette with the intention of snapping it out of his mouth, thinking better of it just in time, and blocking his path instead. Explanation. I want one. Now. Zane glared. You know, that's rich coming from you. Enough. Talk to me. I mean it. Zane scoffed. He turned inward, looking somewhere far away, gone someplace Eli couldn't follow on foot. Damn it. Eli hated more than anything to see Zane looking so lost. Where did this unravel? Eli asked. I'm honestly confused here. What did I do? Duke University, Zane said, though who knew what he was thinking. Great job. Great opportunity. Halfway across the country from this. Me. Without so much as a by-your-leave. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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