Free Friends and Lovers by Tinnean Page A

shirt, leaving it unbuttoned. “It can’t have escaped your notice that I’m a pretty big guy. Shoot, Doc. I’ve got at least eight inches on Tom, and I outweigh him by at least fifty pounds.”
    James raised an eyebrow. “You’ve never seen Tom fight, have you?”
    “No. Why would I?”
    “No reason, I guess. And I don’t suppose he told you about that little incident down in Tallahassee?”
    “He’s talked about his grandpa, but otherwise, he hasn’t said much about what he did away from home.”
    “Get him to tell you about it sometime. When he can talk again, that is. Just let me say that he can take care of himself.”
    Jack frowned, as if he didn’t like James knowing something about his best friend that he didn’t know, and James swallowed his grin. Tom, I think I see a happy ending for you, if you don’t screw it up.
    “So what happened?”
    “He wasn’t home when I came by earlier, and I decided it would be a good idea to pick up some groceries. The door wasn’t locked when I got back, so I let myself in, put the bags in the kitchen, and went to find him.” He sighed. “He came out of the bathroom looking good enough to eat, and I was thinking maybe we’d have time for a quickie before dinner. I thought Tom was happy to see me, but then he…”
    “I can guess, knowing Tom.” James leaned back in his chair. “He wasn’t expecting you to turn up tonight, was he?”
    “I don’t know why not. I did tell him this morning I’d see him later.”
    “The thing is, Tom isn’t a morning person. He probably had no memory of it.”
    “I guess.” Jack shrugged. “He told me to go home – he was going out to dinner, and then he was gonna find someone and… and bring him back to the… to the bedroom where we’d… where we’d…”
    James looked away, pretending he hadn’t seen the brightness in Jack’s eyes. “And that was when you hit him?”
    Jack cleared his throat. “Yeah. I lost my temper. I never… Tom will never forgive me for this.”
    “You don’t think?”
    He gave an unhappy laugh. “What guy wants a… a boyfriend who blows up and punches him?”
    “When you put it like that… no one who’s playing with a full deck. But Jack… Tom didn’t lock the door. And trust me, he didn’t hit you as hard as he could have. If he had...” James leaned his elbows on the table and studied the man before him. “I think he was glad, deep down, that you came back. I think he was hoping you would.” And James was pretty sure the fact that he was so happy to see Jack scared him shitless. He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll let the department know Tom will be out for a few days. Call his mother tomorrow…”
    “No, that’s okay, I’ll stay with him. I haven’t had a vacation in a while, and I have a foreman who’ll keep things going. Besides, there isn’t anything that can’t wait until Tom’s able to go back to work.”
    “Taking care of Tom when he isn’t feeling well is not a fun task, my friend. I speak from experience,” he added innocently, pleased when Jack scowled at him.
    “I don’t mind. He’d do it for me.”
    “All right.” James rose to his feet. “You have my phone number. Call if you have any problems, although I don’t foresee any.”
    “Thanks very much, James. For coming here. For listening to me yammer on.”
    “Glad I could be of some help. I think you’ll be good for Tom. He’s been alone for a very long time.”
    “What are you talking about? He’s the most popular guy I know. He’s got a new guy every…”
    “But he doesn’t have a lot of friends, Jack. And he only has one best friend.”
    “Me?” Jack’s eyes lit up.
    “You.” James patted the shoulder that wasn’t sore, picked up his medical bag, and dug his car keys out of his pocket. “Goodnight, Jack.”
    “’Night, James.”
     
    Funny how it seems I always wind up here with you…   Karen Carpenter
     
    Jack closed the door behind the doctor,