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“How’re you guys doing?” Jake asked in a quiet voice. “Need anything? Bennett, Xander, and Lucky came with me. They’re grabbing us all coffees downstairs. Decaf for you,” he said as he gave Ash a little smile.
“That’s perfect,” I said. “Thanks.”
Jake assessed Ash’s injuries, paying close attention to his eyes and face.
“These abrasions are getting better. Shouldn’t take too long, and I don’t see any that will give you much scarring, so that’s good,” he murmured. “Can I look at the bruises on your ribs? I’ll be quick.”
Ash pulled his gown open while I kept a firm grip on the blankets to help him preserve as much modesty as possible.
Jake furrowed his brows as he ran his fingers over the bruising.
“Swelling looks much better. Be sure to stay on the anti-inflammatories they give you even after you go home, okay? Shouldn’t be but a couple of hours till they let you out of here. I’m sure Bennett and Xander will take good care of you at the lodge, but don’t hesitate to call if you need anything or have questions.”
Ash nodded. “Thanks. Are you a doctor, Jake?” he asked. “I meant to ask you that yesterday, but I was kind of out of it.”
Jake glanced quickly at me, and I saw him calculating how to answer the question.
“Used to be… a lifetime ago,” he said quietly, his eyes somber.
Since Jake was only in his early thirties at the most, the remark made no sense, but Ash merely nodded against me.
Just then, Bennett’s crew came barreling into the room, full of chatter and delicious-smelling coffee. I let go of the curiosity about Jake’s statement as we all practically inhaled the hot drinks Lucky passed around.
Once Lucky’s hands were free, he came over to the bed and placed them lightly on Ash’s cheeks.
“Excuse my language, but don’t ever fucking do that to us again. You scared me half to death.”
I noticed Bennett’s look of concern while Xander nodded. Jake’s eyes were sympathetic as if he was in full agreement with Lucky.
“I promise,” Ash said. “Sorry, Lucky. Forgive me?”
He rolled his eyes. “Well, hell. That deserves a Star Trek quote. You’re really gonna make me go there, huh? Alright. ‘I have been— and always shall be— your friend.’ There, I said it.”
The rest of us cracked up and spent the next hour hearing all about Xander’s proposal. Bennett cried as he recounted the words Xander had said to him and showed off the ring. Lucky, predictably, was suitably grossed out when his fathers finished telling their story and began kissing. He dismissed them in favor of getting Ash and me to commit to coming back for a visit in a few months.
“To ski, dude! You gotta do it. Xander taught me last winter in Vermont just so I’d be ready for the ski season here,” Lucky gushed.
“Alright, alright. You talked us into it,” Ash agreed. “Just give me a few months to get back home and spend some downtime in bed first, okay?” He shot me an adorable look that told me exactly what kind of “downtime” he had in mind.
“He means, give him a chance to recover from his injuries first,” I corrected.
Xander snorted. “Sure. That’s what he meant.”
When it was finally time for them to go, we reminded them we’d be back at the lodge within several hours. I hadn’t even noticed Jake wasn’t among them when they took off and wondered at what point he’d left. To my surprise, he returned about an hour later.
Ash and I had lucked into a Star Trek marathon on TV. I’d gotten out of the bed long enough to let Ash’s doctor do one final exam before she started the process of discharging him, but as soon as the woman had left the room, Ash had been motioning me back into the bed.
Ash muted the television when he caught sight of Jake hovering in the doorway. The man seemed oddly reluctant to enter, and I wondered if he was worried about intruding.
“I just wanted to say goodbye,” Jake offered as he reached out to shake my hand, then Ash’s.
“Will we see you back at the lodge later?” I asked.
“Um, no, I’m heading back to the cabin.”
He turned to leave, but Ash quickly called, “Jake, wait.” I helped Ash sit up enough so he could see Jake better. “I just… thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” the man responded. “I’m glad things worked out.”
“Xander and Bennett were talking about cooking dinner tomorrow night… maybe making it a movie night. Lucky’s already rented all three of the Star Trek reboots.”
Jake was silent for a moment before he tilted his head. “The remakes?” he asked. “That kid has no idea what he’s missing.”
“Thank you,” I said. Ash laughed and lightly punched my chest.
“You could help us referee the fight over who’s hotter— Zachary Quinto or Chris Pine,” Ash suggested.
