Running to You, page 2
“I’m not the injured one. Dayton fell when he was out for his morning run,” Nicholas said. “I heard him scream and made sure he got checked out.”
“You’re a good boyfriend.” She hugged him. “Hope Dayton is okay and you’re ready to nurse him back to health.” She winked. “See you, and don’t be shy. I won’t bite or embarrass you, but I will work harder on being friendly.”
“Sure.” He tried to hide his discomfort. He’d dated a guy named Ryan who claimed he was too high-maintenance. All the tenseness and stiff reactions had bothered Ryan. He needed someone who could cuddle. Maybe he was screwed up, like Ryan had said. When Lexie had hugged him, he froze. All he could think of was getting the hell out of there. But when Dayton had clung to him, he wanted those touches. Hell, he wanted more. Because he liked Dayton? He’d thought he liked Ryan.
Dayton limped back to the chair Lexie had vacated. “She’s pretty.”
“Huh?” He practically jumped out of his skin. “What?”
“Your girl. She’s pretty.” Dayton settled beside him. “Things must’ve ended well if she’s still talking to you.”
“You’ve got it all wrong.” He turned to face Dayton. “Lexie and I weren’t...like that.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” Dayton crooked one eyebrow. “I’ve seen friendly exes, and that was friendly.”
“She’s not my ex.”
“Oh?”
“She’s a friend.” Sort of. “But we’ve never dated.”
“Right. She just strolled over here to chat because she’s sweet.” Dayton rolled his eyes.
“She did, but why are you getting so envious?”
“Jealous? Ha.” Dayton folded his hands on his taut belly and rested his foot on the coffee table. “The last thing I am is being attacked by the green-eyed monster.”
“Dayton Sharpe?” A nurse made her way over to them. “Are you Dayton Sharpe?”
“Yes, I am.” Dayton left the chair. He said nothing as he limped through the doorway to the examination rooms.
Nicholas rested his head in his hands and willed his lunch to stay down. Things seemed so promising with Dayton, and now because of a misunderstanding, he’d have to start all over. Damn his luck.
Chapter Two
Dayton groaned and tried not to growl during his examination. Part of him wanted to know what was wrong with him, and the rest wanted to wring Nicholas’s neck. He couldn’t blame the guy for having a girlfriend, even if she was a former one and he wasn’t hiding it well. He was cute. He deserved a person in his life.
But the jealousy Dayton had tried so hard to ignore wasn’t going away. He’d thought the blossom of something could be starting between him and Nicholas.
“Well, it’s not broken.” The quick clinic doctor rolled over to the counter and wrote in his chart. “You’ve sprained it and bruised your knee when you hit that gravel. I want you to rest, ice the knee, use compression bands like I’ve already fitted you with, and elevate it. Don’t try to do too much. I’m recommending ibuprofen. The dosage is here on your chart and will be in your print out.” She paused. “You’re banged up—which you already knew—but you’re also keyed up. I have to ask about how you managed to get hurt. Was your boyfriend involved in this?”
“I don’t have one.”
“If you’re in a situation where you can’t talk, but there’s something going on, this is a safe place. I’m mandated to report this to the police,” she said. “Be honest.”
“I was out running, and someone tried to take me out. I don’t have a boyfriend, and the guy I came with isn’t the one who did this. He simply brought me here.” Dayton crossed his arms. “If I were being abused, I’d tell you.” He wasn’t above coming clean concerning abusive relationships. He’d never been truly abused, but he didn’t want to be, either.
“Mr. Sharpe...” The doctor nodded. “Very well. Then you have a ride home? You shouldn’t be driving with that knee for at least two weeks.”
Two weeks? Damn it. He fumbled. At least it was summertime, and the academic year hadn’t started. He could miss one or two of his lone class. “Yeah, Nicholas can drive me home.” But what about work? What about getting to swim class or anything else? If he was supposed to elevate, he couldn’t do that on the bus. “I have a swim class. I need the credit toward my degree. Am I still permitted to attend class? It’s too late to drop, and I can’t afford the financial hit.”
“I’ll have an excuse ready for you before you leave, but I’d prefer you take it easy. This kind of injury can take up to six weeks to heal properly.” She added something to his chart. “Give me fifteen minutes to have the nurses add your information to the computer system, then you’ll be free to go. You can return to the waiting room, if you’d like.”
“Thanks.” He picked up the crutch she’d given him earlier and hobbled his way out of the exam room. Nicholas waited in the larger space. This time, he sat alone. Dayton wanted to snap at him, but why? Because he’d been right? Because he’d known Dayton was jealous of a woman he didn’t know? No. He wanted Nicholas to be gay. It wasn’t right or fair.
“Hi.” Nicholas hopped out of his seat. “Well? What’s the word?”
“I’ll live,” Dayton snapped. He settled on the chair and propped his foot on the coffee table again, but this time with a magazine under his heel. “I’m waiting for the paperwork and an excuse for my swim class.”
“Ouch.” Nicholas perched beside him. “I’ll get you home, and you’ll be good as new in no time.”
“Try six weeks.” He’d work like hell to be better before then, but he knew how healing worked. If the doctor said six weeks, she meant it.
“Well, then good as new in six weeks.” Nicholas smiled. “It won’t be so bad, and it’ll be over before you know it.”
He groaned. Nicholas was trying to be nice, and he appreciated it, but damn it, someone had to address the big issue. “So she’s not your girlfriend.”
“No, she’s not. We work together at one of the papers, but she mixed me up with someone else. I’m not at the offices much. I come in, give them my story, get paid, and get out. I used to be on staff in the building, but it got too boring.” Nicholas shrugged. “I’m not interested in her, so you have nothing to worry about. She might like you.”
“I’m gay.” He glared at Nicholas. “I don’t want her.”
“Oh.” The corner of Nicholas’s mouth kinked. “Good to know.”
Nicholas wasn’t making this any easier.
“Okay, so here’s the thing. I’m gay, too. I’m horrible at dating, I like being alone, and I’m kind of set in my ways. My last boyfriend called me terrible names and claimed I wasn’t boyfriend material,” Nicholas said. “So if that bothers you, just say so. I’ve been insulted plenty of times. I can handle it.”
Dayton opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, the nurse arrived with his paperwork. She smiled. “Here you go. The dosage for the ibuprofen is listed along with the rest of the doctor’s instructions. Be careful heading home and ensure you rest that knee. Have a good rest of the afternoon.”
“I will.” He allowed Nicholas to help him out to the car. He said nothing as Nicholas drove home. He wanted to speak, but every time he thought of something, he changed his mind. The embarrassment of being hurt hadn’t faded. He wasn’t sure if he’d made the incident with the truck up in his mind or simply lost his balance. The whole situation seemed surreal. Why would someone want to run him over? Better yet, who would want to?
Then there was Nicholas. They’d been neighbors since Christmas and barely spoke. Now Nicholas was his savior. Coincidence? Nicholas claimed he’d heard Dayton scream. Dayton barely remembered what had happened. Had he screamed? Shouted? Kept quiet? The hell if he knew.
Nicholas parked and rounded the hood. He opened the door for Dayton. “Well, it’s just sprained, so that’s not the end of the world.” He assisted Dayton down the sidewalk and to his apartment. “If you need anything, knock on the wall. I’ll come running.”
Knock on the wall. This wasn’t the Stone Age. “Come inside with me, and we’ll exchange numbers.”
Nicholas frowned but followed him in. “It’s okay, really.”
“Phone.” Dayton sagged onto the couch and elevated his knee. He needed ice, but he’d get that in a bit. He held out his hand. “Now.”
“Dayton, I’m just on the other side of that wall.” Nicholas offered up the device.
“Right and I’m a physical education major who knows how to wrap and rewrap a sprain, but I’d rather know I can text you if I’m in a real jam.” He added his information to Nicholas’s contact list. “Here’s mine.” He shoved his phone into Nicholas’s hands. “And don’t bullshit me. No fake numbers. I’m planning on texting later, and I’d like to know I’ve got the right info.”
“Yes, sir.” Nicholas tapped the screen. “I don’t expect you to need me.”
What a strange man. One minute he seemed to be coming on to him, and the next minute, Nicholas seemed afraid of him. “I know, but what if I want to text you?” Jesus. He was running just as hot and cold as Nicholas. “I might want to tell my hero I appreciate his help.”
“You just did.” Nicholas blushed. “I didn’t help you so I could get your digits. Promise.” The crimson on his cheeks deepened. “I’m making a mess of this, so I’ll stop talking now.”
“You are, but it’s kind of cute.” Dayton laughed. With other guys, he would’ve questioned their motives. The more he got to know Nicholas—which still wasn’t much—the more he liked him and realized the genuine-ness within him. “Text me.”
Nicholas’s eyes widened. “Sure.” He fumbled with his phone.
A message appeared on Dayton’s screen.
Hi. Nic
Huh. Nicholas struck him as a fancy name kind of guy. Not as a simple Nic. He met Nicholas’s gaze. “Can I call you Nic?”
“You can call me,” Nicholas said.
“I meant, can I refer to you as Nic?” He grinned as Nicholas’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Your text. You signed it Nic.” Did he have Nicholas as nervous as he felt? Why did that please him? “Should I call you Nicholas or use Nic?”
Nicholas’s lips parted. He said nothing right away and blinked. “Uh—yeah.”
“Which?” He grinned. “How about you have a seat while you’re thinking?” He gestured to the couch. “Please?”
“I—Dayton.” Nicholas didn’t move.
“I’m Dayton, yes, but I doubt your middle name is, too.” He laughed. “Relax. I won’t eat you, and I can’t chase you.”
“I know.”
“Then sit.”
“Yeah.” Nicholas sank onto the lawn chair. “I don’t like when anyone calls me Nic, but you can.”
“If it bothers you...”
“It’s fine,” Nicholas said. “I don’t like people much, and I let even fewer get close to me.”
“I understand.” He limped off the couch long enough to retrieve an ice pack from his freezer. “I keep these on hand for after torture runs.” He managed to sit again and elevated his ankle on a pillow. The ice chilled and hurt just a little. “Better. So... I see you coming and going regularly. We don’t talk much, but I gathered you’re a writer. For the paper, correct? You must deal with people for that.” Like the girl from the quick care. A fresh peal of jealousy hit. Damn it. She wasn’t a threat. When Nicholas didn’t smile, Dayton bit back a groan. “You don’t have to be nervous. We’re two guys hanging out.”
Nicholas scrubbed both hands over his face.
“What’s wrong?” The truth would be nice. “You’re tense and I don’t understand. I thought we could be friends.”
“You’re going to kick me out of your apartment.” Nicholas stayed on his perch. “I didn’t want us to meet this way.”
“Slow down.” He forced himself to remain calm. For all he knew Nicholas meant no harm. “I’m listening.” But the second he mentioned helping him into the ditch, Dayton would lose his shit.
The crinkles around Nicholas’s eyes deepened, and lines marred his forehead. “I wanted to run into you or something but not find you in a ditch.”
“You didn’t put me in the ditch, right?” Dayton asked. He didn’t think so but had to ask.
“No.”
“You didn’t happen to see who did, did you?”
“No.”
Then the whole thing had to be one crazy fucked-up ball of who knows what. Why would Nicholas have someone run him over anyway? All he had to do was speak to him. They’d fallen into conversation easily. Part of him wanted to keep questioning Nicholas, but the rest of him trusted his neighbor. Besides, Nicholas was cute. Just being handsome wasn’t enough reason to trust a guy, but a good one to keep him around.
“I should go.” Nicholas stood. “I need to feed my cat.”
“Cat?” He’d said he was gay, but maybe he was bi? “Girl or feline?”
“My feline, Mark Twain.” This time Nicholas half smiled. “I love Twain’s work. It’s dated and has issues, but I still think it’s fantastic. Plus, I’ve always wanted to talk to Twain, so this is the way I can.”
His eyes lit up when he spoke about writing and authors. This was Dayton’s in. “Makes sense.” He tapped his phone on the arm of the sofa. “I’ll have to hit you up for some authors to try. I’m not much of a reader, but I’m game for a lot.” He grinned. “Thanks for the ride and the help. You saved my ass.”
“Well, your knee anyway.” Nicholas waved and hurried to the door. “See you. Knock if you need me.”
“I’ll text,” Dayton called. He snorted. Nicholas struck him as a tad peculiar but in a sweetly sad sort of way. He adjusted his foot on the pillow. The ice had begun to melt and soaked his shorts leg as well as the couch cushion. He should shower and stretch out on his bed.
The doorbell dinged, drawing his attention away from his injury. “What the hell?” He struggled to get up. His constant position switching wasn’t what the doctor had in mind, no doubt. “Just a second.” He stumbled to the door and opened it. Aydin and Brandon stood on the porch. “Hi.”
“Hey, what happened?” Aydin asked. He strode into the apartment first. “I saw you and Nicholas blaze out of here like something was on fire.” He paused. “What happened to you? D, you’re the fittest person I know.”
“How’d you screw up a limb?” Brandon touched Dayton’s arm. “Sit.”
The tingles like with Nicholas weren’t there. He allowed his friend to help him back onto the couch and put his leg up. “I went for a run and fell. Nothing exciting.”
“How’d you fall?” Aydin sat in the chair Nicholas had vacated not long ago.
“Just an accident.” Dayton repositioned the ice pack on his knee. Aydin didn’t appear as comfy in his home—not the way Nicholas had. Was he losing his mind or expecting something that wasn’t possible with Nicholas? He kind of wished Nicholas had stuck around.
“How’d—did you drive yourself to the ER?” Brandon asked. “Do you need to go? Or was that where we saw you go with Nicholas?”
“Nic took me to the quick care.” He groaned. His knee ached, but he hated being grilled. “I should get cleaned up. I probably look terrible.” God. He’d used Nicholas’s nickname. They weren’t super close, but he’d already started to fall under Nicholas’s spell.
“Want a fresh ice pack?” Brandon stood. “I’ll get you one.”
“No. I’m good for now.”
“Wait,” Aydin said. “Nicholas took you? The guy next door? The quiet one who says almost nothing but writes for, like, three magazines and a newspaper?”
“Yeah.” Dayton sighed. “What do you think of Nicholas? Be honest. You don’t sound like you like him all that much.”
“I think your knee is purple still and I’d go to the ER if I were you,” Aydin said.
“You avoided the question.” Brandon elbowed his boyfriend. “Come on.”
“I’ve only spoken to him a couple times,” Aydin said. “He seems nice.” He shrugged. “Better than Lesley.”
“I agree.” Brandon sank onto the arm of the sofa by Dayton’s sock-clad foot. “I know Nicholas. He’s a writer and used to hang out at the studio building. I think he was writing a feature about one of the fiber arts girls. He’s nice, sweet, and probably a good guy.” He paused. “He worked for the Pride paper for a while. Might still. I don’t know if he’s with anyone. We’ve chatted, but he struck me as really shy.”
Dayton nodded. “So you don’t think he’s skeevy?”
“No.” Brandon frowned. “He drove you? I’m impressed he came out of his shell long enough to help.”
“For a reporter, he’s very quiet.” Aydin crossed his ankles. “Maybe he’s more outgoing when he’s doing an interview.”
“Could be,” Dayton said.
“So how’d this happen?” Aydin gestured to Dayton’s knee. “An accident?”
“I was running—just started out—and a truck swerved. I zagged to get out of the way and took a spill into the ditch. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought the person behind the wheel was trying to hit me.” He suppressed a shiver. “Anyway, I was just over on the running path and maybe five hundred yards from the complex. Nic heard me scream and came running. Without him, I’d have had to crawl home.”
“I’m glad he helped.” Aydin leaned back in his seat. “Do you need anything?”
“No.” Dayton sighed. “I’m glad you came over though. I appreciate your caring.”
“I’ll bet Nicholas would come running if you called,” Brandon said. “He certainly seems to be helpful.”
“You don’t think he’s been too helpful?” Dayton asked. “I mean, fuck. He knew the exact moment I needed him. What if he orchestrated the incident?”
“Whoa.” Aydin put both hands up. “I’m good at being suspicious. Comes with dealing with the public too much. But I don’t think so.”
“But the coincidence...”
“You said you know it was a truck, but you can’t tell who might have swerved. How could he hit you and get back so fast to make it look like he’s just being concerned?” Aydin asked. “Besides, you’ve seen his car. He drives that old VW Rabbit. You’d destroy it before it’d hurt you.”
