Page 74 of Donovan's Men

Tyson and I both had shut that shit down.

Hell, Hamish had even offered to grab a ride share back to Vancouver.

I considered for a nanosecond and vetoed that as well. I could’ve covered the exorbitant cost. But Tyson and I wouldn’t have enjoyed ourselves for even a moment. Not knowing our third was hurting.

When we arrived at my place, Hamish offered a smile, grabbed the new gym bag full of the clothes he’d bought, and headed toward his car.

Tyson and I watched him go. We waved.

He didn’t wave back.

“I’ll carry your bag inside for you.” Tyson had my bag in one hand and his in the other.

“You needed new jeans.” I tried to smile.

“And Hamish looks damn good in his.” He gave me a small smile in return.

A thought struck. “Could you drop me off at Cole’s? Shit, never mind. Forgot you live in New West.”

“A drive over to Point Grey won’t be the end of the world.”

“I can take a cab. Or a bus. Or something.”

“Stay here.” Tyson headed to my front door. He put his bag on the ground and used my key to open said door. Then he disappeared.

I bristled at being ordered to do anything.

But I remained where I was. If Tyson was being assertive, I had to give him the space to do it.

He was back a moment later, locked my door, then pressed my keys into my left hand. “I could use the drive. It’s a lovely Saturday night.”

At least there wouldn’t be congestion either from my place to Cole’s or from Cole’s back to Tyson’s.

What I really wanted was to invite him in so I could get him to submit to me.That is definitely not happening. Even if I thought I could bend Tyson to my will, it wouldn’t be the same without Hamish here. Truly, I felt incomplete without him. So I got into Tyson’s car.

Moments later, he pulled out onto the street and headed west. “You want to talk about it?”

“What?” Dusk had come, and the streetlamps flickered on.

“About Hamish. About how maybe we should’ve tried to talk him out of speaking to his bosses. Or how maybe we should’ve insisted on being there.”

I snickered. “Well, at least you. I would probably have made it worse.”

“How do you figure?” At Renfrew Street, he turned right to go north toward East 12th.

“Well, I’d say I’m the cause of all this mess. You might’ve been able to back him up. I mean, that’s what you’re good at, right? Having people’s backs?”

“You have his back. Hell, you have my back. Not to mention all the other people you care for.” He maneuvered into the left turn lane. “Sometimes things are more complicated.” The advanced green arrow appeared, and he turned. “Hamish needs to be able to absorb what’s happened. To…what’s the word—”

“Process.”

He snapped his fingers. “Right. That. Do you need to give Cole the heads-up that you’re coming over or something?”

“Naw, I just show—” I winced. “Crap.”

“What?” He eased into the right lane where, amazingly, we found few other cars.

“I didn’t used to have to call ahead. I’d just show up. Hell, sometimes I’d let myself in and make myself at home if he wasn’t there.”