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He’d been so lucky to get out of that accident alive. Snow hadn’t seen the car, but he’d heard one of the cops talking in the hospital and knew that it was a miracle. Even Jude had told him that. The paramedic had been going out of his way to seek Snow out, had even brought him the missing coat, and Snow was a little ashamed that he’d been going out of his way to avoid him.
Snow put his hands on Ian’s shoulders and bent close so he could keep his voice low. “That transport van belong to you?”
Ian nodded. “Lucas hired it today. And the nurse.” Some of the stubborn fire Snow loved so much briefly lit Ian’s eyes. “They both think I’m not going back to work tomorrow.”
“Most definitely not. Tomorrow is too soon.” Snow shook his head. “I know you want to be here for Rowe, but you should get home.”
Ian opened his mouth like he wanted to argue but instead, he shivered and then nodded, lips turned down.
“I’ll take him back to the van,” Andrei said as he quietly stepped up beside them. The man always moved like that—silent and graceful.
Snow nodded and stepped aside so Andrei could take the handles. He watched as Lucas leaned over to hug Ian. “I’ll be over later to check on you,” Lucas murmured, his voice hardly above a whisper, thick with emotion.
“Yeah, it’s our turn to bring you food,” Andrei said as he turned the wheelchair.
“Wait,” Ian said, staring at Rowe. “Rowe? I’m so sorry.” His voice broke.
Snow took the few steps left to reach Rowe and balled his hands into fists because he was afraid to touch him. Then, he inwardly cursed because this was his friend and he had been for years, since they’d both served in the Army together. He touched Rowe’s arm, hating that he startled him. Rowe looked up at him and then he looked around at his friends. His expression just crumbled, his eyes watering, his throat moving as if he was fighting to hold back the sobs Snow knew were piling up in his throat. He reached for him and Rowe held up his hands and backed up, his steps almost frantic in his need to escape.
And he kept backing up until he turned and stalked toward the parked vehicles. He never uttered a word.
“Rowe, wait!” Lucas yelled and took off after him. He reached him before Rowe got to his SUV, grabbed his arms and pulled him into a tight embrace. Rowe’s shoulders shook and for a brief moment, he held Lucas back, then he pushed him away. He got into his vehicle and peeled out, too fast and too hard.
“He shouldn’t be driving,” Ian said, his voice raspy—probably from the tears wetting his face. “I’ll be happy if I never see one of those company SUVs again.”
“That’s right,” Snow said. His eyebrows snapped together as Ian’s comment jogged a thought loose that had been snagged at the back of his mind. Something that felt wrong. “Jude told me you two were in one. Why?”
Ian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his shaking growing worse. “Her car was in the shop. She borrowed Rowe’s so we could go shopping.” He paled. “Melissa…she was getting Rowe another puppy. We were supposed to go look at a litter after shopping.” His voice broke. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this is real.”
Snow looked around the empty graveyard. “Where is Melissa’s family? And Gidget? So many people would want to be here.” There was also Gretchen—Melissa’s pregnant sister. He rubbed his stomach as acid churned. A strong, cold wind swept through, freezing the corners of his eyes. He hadn’t realized they were even wet.
“I called Gidget and had her start the calls.” Andrei’s hands tightened on the wheelchair’s handles. “I expect people will start showing up soon.”
“Rowe isn’t thinking straight.” Ian shuddered and wiped his face. “Not that I blame him.” He slumped in the chair, exhaustion painted on his features in bruises and healing cuts.
“You need to go. Get warm.” Snow squeezed Ian’s shoulder again.
Andrei pushed the chair back to the van. The male nurse jumped down and came around to help get Ian situated. Lucas still stood by the vehicles, tall and dark with his hair and coat blowing in the wind. When the van pulled out, he turned and grabbed Andrei. They held each other tight. Snow watched Andrei pull back and frame Lucas’s face with his hands. Lucas raised his own and pressed Andrei closer, then placed his forehead against Andrei’s.
The moment between his best friend and his lover was so incredibly tender and intimate, Snow felt something move in his chest. Something he couldn’t interpret so he turned away and stared down at the grave. The faux grass covering the ground underneath looked stark against the dead ground and patches of trampled snow. The flowers made a nicer contrast, their color vibrant and happy—like Melissa.
