“I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. I was… I lost track of time. I can’t believe it’s Friday already.”
“Of course you did. Your guy’s in the hospital. Dork.”
“They said he’s gonna be okay. I’ll see you in a bit.” He hung up the phone before he had to get into any more details.
He just needed to breathe and figure it out, that was all. He got dressed, cleaned the room, made the bed, tossed his towel into the hamper. He didn’t want to leave a mess for when he brought his boy home.
Then he made himself a cup of coffee, which he drank in the truck on the way to the hospital. He could do this. He could work and look after his boy too. He’d talk to Emma, cut his schedule back as much as they could, and then Troy was just going to have to manage with other people when he had to work. He had an idea, he didn’t think Troy would like it much, but Geoff and Carter might. Truthfully, he didn’t think Troy was going to like anything much.
The way Troy was talking yesterday, he was going to walk out of the hospital and go back to work. Fat chance. Saul knew damn well that wasn’t going to happen, and deep down? Troy probably knew it too.
He parked the truck and eyed the building as he headed inside. He was fine before last weekend but now he really didn’t like hospitals.
His phone buzzed, Troy’s name popping up.
Morning. Did you sleep?
He smiled. He wasn’t expecting Troy to be up for texting yet. Or for worrying about him.
Like a log. I’m here. B there in a sec.
He got a smile in response, a thumbs up.
He’d wanted to stop for coffee, and bring Troy some real food too, but since Emma needed him at work he didn’t have time. When he got to the room he poked his head in the door and grinned. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, it’s sleeping beauty!” Geoff laughed and stood.
“Shut up, I wasn’t talking to you.” He went right over to Troy. He’d been hoping his boy would look better today, but no. Troy still seemed so damn tired. “Did you sleep?”
“I did. I just got up and let them change the bedding. The physical therapist is coming around again this afternoon.” Troy leaned back into the pillows. “I did a good job.”
He bent over and kissed his boy, gave him a smile. “Good for you. You better rest up for that therapy, he means business.”
“I kept the evil vampires at bay all night so he got about six hours in a row. Not too bad.” Geoff was texting and heading for the door.
“Thank you for your help, man.” Troy waved goodbye even as he turned his attention to Saul. “Good morning.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be back in a bit. Carter’s coming to say hi to you and then take me to breakfast.”
“Thanks Geoff. Really.” He was glad they were coming back so Troy wouldn’t be alone all day. He sat on the edge of his boy’s bed and tangled their fingers. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Tired, right now, but I walked around. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“I slept hard, but it was weird as hell waking up in your house alone.” He grinned and ducked his head. “Our house. Alone.”
“Yeah. I bet. We didn’t even get your stuff over yet. Soon. They’re saying Monday at the latest, maybe even Sunday.”
“Let’s hope for Monday. I have to work all weekend.” He caught Troy’s eyes and held them. “And today. I’m sorry. Emma is drowning.”
“I’m a big boy. I’ll be fine. I swear.” Troy held his hand, thumb drawing circles on his palm.
Maybe that was true, but it didn’t make him feel less guilty. “I’ll be here after work, and I’m going to talk to Carter, see what we can work out so you’re not alone all day. Okay?”
“Hey. Hey, I have my phone and my charger. I’ll be okay. It’ll be when I have to walk up the stairs at home that I’ll need help.”
He nodded and looked away, swallowing hard against the rush of emotion. A good night’s sleep was supposed to make things easier, not harder wasn’t it? He took a deep breath.
Pull it together, man. Doms don’t cry.
Lovers might though. Maybe? God, this was so confusing.
“Thank you for being here. I fell asleep dreaming about you.” Troy cupped his jaw. “I love you.”
He looked back at Troy, just letting his lover see whatever there was to see. “I love you too. You scared the fuck out of me is all. We’ll figure it out.” He didn’t want to talk about his dreams, they were scary too.
“I bet. I don’t remember much. I remember your voice making it better.”
“Yeah? It seemed like you could hear me. Carter said you would.” That made him happy. “I knew you needed me and I’m glad it helped.”
“I do. I’m sorry about this. I swear, I’ve been trying to stay healthy.” Troy sighed and rubbed his chest. “Jesus.”
“The surgeon said you’re really strong. You are healthy. This is some weird thing you were born with. He said there wasn’t any reason you’d have known about it.” He put his hand over Troy’s. “Still hurts, huh?”
“Yeah. It’s freaking me out that they wired my breastbone together, you know?”
“That is kind of freaky. I had a really hard time with the words ‘open heart surgery’. It still makes me a little queasy to think about it.”
“Yeah. I don’t know… they… I can’t…” Troy shook his head. “My ink’s all messed up too. I hope we can fix it.”
“You know Geoff is going to love trying.” He smiled and squeezed Troy’s fingers. “It’s going to be okay, Troy. I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I will. I’m going to make it okay.”
“You already have.”
A knock came to the door, a lean man with a shock of white-blond hair and a pair of gauzy pants that barely hung off his hips appeared. “Good morning, my friend. Are you up to breathing this morning?”
Saul saw the bare shake of Troy’s head. “Solomon, come in and meet my partner, Saul. Saul, this is my yoga teacher.”
“Oh. Hey.” He shifted off the bed, smiling at Solomon. “It’s good to meet you.”
“It’s excellent to meet you too.” Solomon grabbed him and hugged him like they were friends. “Finally.”
He blinked for a second but damn, the man gave good hugs and he needed one. He gave Solomon a quick squeeze in return. “Troy talks about you a lot. He’s even taught me some things.”
“You’re welcome at class, any time. I figured since Troy can’t make practice, I’d come to him.”
He looked at Troy and winked. “Doesn’t sound like he’s giving you a choice, baby.”
“He never does. Butthead.” Troy sighed, but there was a grin on his boy’s face.
Solomon would help Troy relax, maybe his boy would sleep some. “I have to get to work, so this seems like a good time to leave you to your breathing.” He leaned in and kissed Troy again, longer this time, making sure his boy felt the connection.
“Don’t work too hard.” Troy cupped his jaw, stroking him. “I’ll text you later.”