Page 96 of The Irresistible Distraction

When Maggie is calm enough to allow Tyler to move two steps away, Dr. Morgenstein and Jesse take turns updating Tyler on the progress so far, treating him with more respect and giving him more details than they ever did Maggie.

When they finish, Tyler asks what the final recommendation is.

Jesse looks at Dr. Morgenstein and doesn’t contradict the older gentleman when Dr. Morgenstein repeats that everything is fine, nothing to worry about here. Tyler takes mere seconds to digest this before he turns to his old high school friend. “What would you do if it was Sophie?”

Jesse swallows and, after another look at Dr. Morgenstein, explains, almost apologetically, “Because I’m not officially associated with the hospital⁠—”

“Fuck that. What would you do?”

Jesse’s throat moves visibly, before he squares his shoulders. “Take her down the mountain. We’re not equipped to run any of the tests necessary if we want to rule out some of the worst-case possibilities, and we’re not equipped to handle them if any of them arise.”

“Dr. Williams—” Dr. Morgenstein starts, but is cut off by Tyler, who’s demanding an ambulance that the elder medical professional continues insisting is not necessary.

Tyler holds up a hand, stopping the older doctor. “Just stop. I’ll call dispatch myself.” As a firefighter, Tyler knows everyone on staff. Less than five minutes later, everything is arranged.

“My man’s got connections,” Maggie half whispers, still crying, shaking with fear.

On my way out to the ambulance, I make sure to stop and squeeze Jesse’s arm. “Thank you.”

My ex gives an affected shrug, but I know that standing up to a superior wasn’t easy for him, to make that kind of call against someone more experienced, and who he was supposed to be theoretically training under . . .

Because Tyler knows everyone, he tells them he’s a stable patient, introduces me as a translator and I understand that this is some kind of code about which rules are and aren’t being broken. All that matters to me is that I’m allowed to ride with them, a harrowing journey I’d love to never repeat and am hoping my brain erases at some point. I’m lucid enough that I remember to text Brody to pick up Sebastian, only to find that Brody’s already texted me:

BRODY: don’t worry, I’m going to leave early and get Seba from school

BRODY: also, if Walter tells you his new title is emergency manager, I’d go with it

BRODY: I might have also agreed that the emergency manager deserved his own, couture uniform

BRODY: no idea how a guy like Walter knows the word couture, but he saw an opportunity and went for it

BRODY: respect

I respond via emoticons, grateful I can direct my attention back to Maggie.

Just as Tyler and I trusted Jesse to tell us the truth, I find . . . I trust Brody will take care of my son. After all, Brody remembered to arrange for Seba’s pick-up before I did.

By five that night, Jesse arrives in his casual clothes to offer moral support for Tyler. Half an hour later, Brody arrives with Sebastian and Vera’s camera (which he stopped to pick up while checking in on Spock and Kirk).

“Why are you bringing my son?” Jesse asks, his tone belligerent.

“Not the time,” I tell Jesse in a low voice.

“Not the place,” Tyler says as he’s coming out of Maggie’s room, where the rest of us aren’t allowed. “Or in this case, not your place.”

I punch Tyler, but there’s no heat in it. I’m more worried about Brody, since my ex’s presence always seems to bring out the worst in the man.

But Brody surprises me, holding out a hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to start anything here, or now.”

Jesse looks at the hand suspiciously, as if worried there’s a secret zapper and he’s about to be the butt of some joke, but he shakes it and they’re able to sit in the waiting room without further problems, one on either side of Sebastian.

Brody hands me the Yeti mug, and I can smell the lavender scent wafting out. To our side, Seba tries to engage Jesse in a riddle that Brody apparently distracted him with on the drive down.

“And I didn’t get to tell you yet, but Mom’s considering letting me have a pet.”

I turn in time to meet Jesse’s gaze, because this is normally something we would have discussed. “Really?”

“All I’ve technically agreed to so far is that I’ll consider it.”