Page 141

Story: Men of Fort Dale

Oscar lapsed into silence, either out of anger or because he was mulling over Troy’s words. They remained silent as Troy finished the last stitches, checking over his work before turning to clean up.

“Who was he?” Oscar asked.

Troy closed his eyes. “Someone I had a weekend fling with.”

“A fling?”

“Would you prefer I say that I fucked him?”

“The whole weekend?”

Troy turned to face him. “Yes, the whole weekend. We met at the club, and I had the weekend off. I went back to his place that night and stayed till Sunday afternoon.”

“Recently?”

Troy ground his teeth. “Like a month ago. Why, what the fuck does it matter?”

“Do you do that often?”

Troy slammed the box of supplies shut. “Jesus, Oscar, why the fuck does it matter?”

“Because it matters.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

Oscar narrowed his eyes. “You’ve been sleeping around again.”

“Oh, fuck me,” Troy growled, yanking the box of supplies off the tray.

“You have.”

“I’m not doing this, Oscar. I won’t stand here and deal with an interrogation about what I do in my private life, okay? If you wanted to have a say in what I do or don’t do on my own time, maybe you shouldn’t have ended it and walked out my door.”

Oscar’s eyes widened, his lips thinning. “That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what’s it about?”

“You aren’t being safe.”

Troy snorted. “Like hell I’m not. I work in the medical field, Oscar. You think I don’t know in excruciating detail what happens to people who aren’t safe? I mean, c’mon, everything stays wrapped up, and I get myself tested regularly.”

Oscar ground his teeth. “That’s not what I meant. Look at what happened tonight! You could have fucking died if I hadn’t been there to step in, Troy.”

“I can’t predict when someone is going to lose their shit, Oscar. I’ve been doing this for long enough to have good instincts, but there will always be someone who doesn’t trip the radar. That’s the risk you take,” Troy said, waving a dismissive hand at him.

Oscar stood up, towering over Troy. “And that’s it? You just put your life at risk for a bit of sex?”

“You’re going to stand there, covered in scars, missing half your arm, and lecture me about risking my life?” Troy asked incredulously.

“It’s not the same thing! Not even close.”

“Just because I’m not huddled behind a dune somewhere risking my life against an armed enemy doesn’t mean it’s not my life to live however I want, just like it’s yours to live how you want. I don’t have to answer to you, Oscar. That stopped a long time ago. So, it’s the same damn thing, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

Oscar let out another growl, reaching to take hold of Troy before he could leave the room. Troy went rigid, staring at him, his heart hammering in his chest.

“You could havedied,Troy. Do you understand that?”

Troy began to pull away. “I do, and I’m thankful that you saved my ass. And in the future, I’ll be more cautious. Happy?”

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