Page 84 of Leading the Blind
“Good. I got to keep you that way for a few hours, all right? We’re almost to the hotel, but we’ll go in through self-park and go right up that back elevator.” Bax’s voice was actually kinda soothing, so if he had a mad-on, he was hiding it well.
“Sounds like one hell of a plan.”
“Good deal. You gonna get all urpy if I order some food?” Bax knew him well.
“No. I probably need to eat something. French fries, maybe?”
“Sounds good. Anything else hurt? Jonesy didn’t check anything but your head.”
“I’m just tenderized. I’d make a great chicken fried steak right now.” Shit, he was funny.
Bax snorted, and Jason felt the tension ease some. “You would. Your scrambled brains can be gravy.”
Oh, ew. “That’s borderline gross, man. I approve.”
“Thank you. I try.” Bax chuckled. “You gonna live over there?”
“Are you kidding? I got two more rides before I announce.”
“I know. I know, which is why I’m keeping my mouth shut.” Bax made a wry noise. “It ain’t easy.”
“I know.” Two more rides. That was it. He could manage. Two more. Even if he had to duct tape his head onto his shoulders to do it. Bax would just have to suck it up.
Which he knew Bax would do for him.
“I love you.” He reckoned Bax knew, but more than that, he figured Bax needed to hear it.
“Love you, Mini. I really do.” Bax finally touched his arm, and he could breathe. He knew it was all right.
“I know. We’re checking out in the morning, driving from the end of the finals? We can make it to Vegas, maybe, spend the night, go home.”
“Yeah. Yeah, we can do that. I’ll drive half dead, so we can just go home.”
Jason knew how Bax felt. Home, home, home.
“Yeah. Go home. Soak. Sleep. Eat hot dogs.” Park the truck for a few months. “We going to see Momma for Thanksgiving?”
“Her and Jack are coming to ours. Coke and the clown too. We’ll go to Coke’s next year.” Bax chuckled, the sound soft. “Beau and Sammy want us for Christmas.”
“Cool.” Look at his man, settling down. Jason was ready to settle in and do…almost anything else. His bones were tired. Hell, his everythings were tired, when he got right down to it.
“Don’t go to sleep, Mini. We’re almost there.”
“M’okay.” He was feeling so muzzy, but he sat up a little, trying to do as he’d been told.
“Uh-huh. I will take you to the ER if you don’t even out. Your momma has my number.”
“Shut up.” He would rather have Doc than the ER. Christ.
“Well, you can’t ride like this, Jase.” They pulled into the parking lot. He could hear the sound of the grate to the parking structure.
“Good thing I got a few hours.”
“Yeah.” The truck stopped. “We’re two spaces from the elevator. We got back fast.”
“Okay. You coming around?”Please?
“I am. I won’t just leave you out here.” Now Bax was laughing at him, but that was okay. That was better than mad.
