Page 39 of Donovan's Men

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes. And you know what I mean.” Apparently, we were both being obtuse.

“I want things back the way they were.”

“Of course you do. You’re watching your friends suffer.” I went with plural because I assumed seeing Julie, Elouise, Seamus, and the others dealing with the situation would affect him. He carried an empathy that way. His closeness with Cole was so damn clear.

“Yeah.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“I’m conflicted.”

I grabbed my mug of tea and headed toward the living room. I sank into my couch and settled before I continued the conversation. “About what?”

“If Meggibeth hadn’t fired those shots, then I never would’ve met you and Tyson.”

“That’s true.”Don’t say it. Please don’t say it—

“I can’t regret you, Doc. And I want more. I fucking want more.”

“You know—”

“Yeah, I fucking know. Doesn’t stop the longing.” With that, he cut the line.

For a long time, I stared at the blank screen. I sipped my tea and replayed the conversation in my head.Did I say the right things? Did I show empathy? Did I reveal too much about myself?

I just didn’t know.

In the end, I dumped my cold tea down the drain and headed to bed. I could always type up my notes in the morning.

Only as I lay in bed, wide awake, did I remember I hadn’t eaten a cookie.

Yeah. Right. Likethatis the most important part of this evening.

I rolled onto my side and begged for sleep to claim me.

Eventually, it did.

Chapter Nine

Donovan

I was a complete and utter shit.

And I didn’t give a flying fuck.

As Tyson and Hamish sat in my living room, my inner child danced with glee and I reveled in my success at securing not one but both of my men.

They just…didn’t know they weremymen.

Yet.

But the time would soon be upon us.

Tyson held his soda. Hamish nursed his tea in a to-go cup.

“You’re wondering why I brought you here.”