Page 26 of Survival Game

Eric shrugged. “I guess. Kyle is good fun, and we get on well.” In his mind that translated into, He’s smoking hot and I’m really into him, but he wasn’t telling his nosy partner that. In the past, if he’d been even marginally interested in a guy, Aaron had seemed to make it his life’s mission to push him into a committed relationship. Aaron knew most of the story about Lincoln and believed Eric needed another warm body in his bed to get over his grief.

His best friend Deke felt much the same way. He was always trying to convince Chrissy to set Eric up on dates with random guys. He hadn’t been a priest; he’d had a few sexual exploits since Linc died, but Eric hadn’t found someone he really liked. Until now.

Aaron stared at him, eyes narrowed. “You’re not telling me everything,” he growled. “There’s something about this guy. Kyle’s special to you. I can feel it.”

Eric stared back innocently. “You’re not your bubbie, partner,” he chuckled. “Don’t have me married off like she wants you to be. I’m quite happy with the status quo.” For now, he admitted silently. He certainly wasn’t averse to things getting a little more serious.

Before Aaron could respond, the radio crackled again with another callout. His partner grunted as Eric started the engine and pulled away from the parking lot. “Maybe we need a double date. You and your man and me and Leah.” Aaron’s face brightened at that prospect.

Eric shuddered. The last thing he wanted to do was introduce Kyle to an inquisitive Aaron. The two men potentially chatting together gave Eric hives. Who knew what might be revealed in the heat of a relaxed or drunken moment. Aaron knew a lot of embarrassing stories Eric would rather not have revealed.

“Sounds good,” he lied as he raced down the road toward their next emergency. “It’ll need to wait until I get back from France in a couple of weeks’ time. I’m subbing for David at that camping trip at Verdon Gorge, remember?”

One of their paramedic friends, David, had broken a leg skiing in Austria a few weeks ago. He’d been desperate and Eric had agreed to fill in as one of the official medics on call at the camping lodge in France at the so-called Grand Canyon of Europe.

Fortuitously, David happened to be the son of the chief medic at Shoreditch, and strings had been pulled to enable Eric to go as part of his on-going training. He was looking forward to it as a working holiday with pay.

He groaned softly when he realised he hadn’t mentioned it to Kyle. Then again, things weren’t serious between them, and still too new. Kyle wouldn’t be bothered if he went away. Would he?

“Oh, yeah, you’re gadding off to Europe to spend time with the rich people,” Aaron sniffed. “Leaving me to be paired up with that twat Rosie.” He rolled his eyes and Eric grinned.

Ross “Rosie” Corkton was a beefy, hairy brute of a man, who constantly sweated in the truck and gave off a cheesy aroma that made them both gag. Rosie was also one heck of a medic.

“Aww,” Eric teased as he glanced at his scowling friend. “You’re gonna miss me. How cute.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I won’t miss your sorry arse,” Aaron growled. He held on tight as Eric took a corner sharply, avoiding a bicycle courier that had darted out in front of them.

“Stupid tosser,” Aaron yelled out of the open window. “You want to be travelling with us then? First-class accommodation in the back, you knucklehead.”

Eric sniggered. Aaron certainly had a way with words.

At least the incident had made him forget the double date.

Eric’s mobile rang as he was walking down the path to his front door. He grinned when he saw who it was, his spirits instantly lifting.

“Kyle. Hey there. This is a pleasant surprise.”

“Yeah.” There was the sound of retching and he frowned.

“You okay? You sound sick.”

“I am.” Kyle’s voice was muffled. “I went out today and grabbed a quick doner kebab from a food cart and now I’m fucking puking my guts up.” There was another awful sound as Eric fumbled to get his door open.

“You want me to come over and play medic?” he asked as he threw his keys onto the dining table. “I know it’s late, but I’m happy to do it.” His shift had finished half an hour ago. It was almost eleven pm.

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry.” Kyle’s voice was panicked. “I’ve been in bed all afternoon, and didn’t realise how late it was. Fuck, I’m a complete plonker…”

“Hey, don’t sweat it. You were obviously out of it. Are you sure you don’t want me to check you out?” Kyle’s tired chuckle made Eric’s chest fluttery.

“You know, any other time the chance to get you to play medic and come to check me over would be a resounding yes. But right now, I’m a mess, all barfed out and I just want to get into bed with my bucket. I’ll take a rain check though.”

“Um, okay.” He still wasn’t sure why Kyle had called. “Did you need me for anything else?”

The muffled expletive on the other side of the phone made him laugh softly. “Yeah, I was supposed to pass on a message from Ryan for you much earlier but I forgot. Hence the late night call. When he sent me home, saying, and I quote, ‘You looked sicker than a goat on fucking crack’, he asked if it was possible to remind you about coming around to the club tomorrow before your shift? Apparently, you’re going to be a witness for him on some business thingy. He’s out somewhere this evening where he has no mobile signal or he’d have called to remind you himself.”

Eric had forgotten about that. “Sure. My shift starts at ten, but I’ll pop over a bit before then.”

“Cool. Okay, I’m going back to bed to puke over my sheets and feel sorry for myself. And before you start on me, I have some boiled ginger ale, a packet of crackers and some anti-nausea pills. I’m all set.”