Page 76 of Hurt

“It’s Elijah,” Jamie said without preamble. “He’s been hurt. We thought it was nothing, but…it’s a lot worse than we thought.”

“What?” Noah jumped up and immediately reached for his sneakers. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. Doc Herrera is with him now. Something about internal bleeding…Noah, I don’t know what I’ll do if I…” His voice cracked.

“Okay, I’m coming. Tell that dumbass not to die!” He slid the phone into his pocket and hopped on one foot to the door, sliding on his sneaker.

Racing down the metal staircase, he jumped the last two stairs. Landing hard, he skated through the gravel and wrenched the bar door open. Shoes squeaking, he sprinted into the back room.

Three sets of eyes looked up at him as he burst into the room.

Elijah was sitting on the futon with Molly plucking small pieces of glass out of his forearm. Holding a shallow bucket under his elbow, she was alternating her plucking with irrigating it with sterile water.

Jamie was leaning against the back wall, a shit-eating grin on his face as he waved his cellphone at Noah.

“Elijah! Are you…?” Noah asked breathlessly.

He blinked up at him. “I’m fine. It’s just a burn and some glass.”

Noah looked from him to his Jamie, then back to Molly. “He’s…okay?”

She snorted. “Do you guys get paid to be this dramatic all the time?” Rolling her eyes, she finished cleaning his wound and spread a soft white cream on it before wrapping it in gauze and taping it up.

Without another word, she left the room.

“You are the most…do you get off on being the most irritating creature in the world?” Noah snapped.

Jamie stuck his tongue out. “I’m like a mosquito, except when you smack me, I keep on sucking.”

“Let’s test that,” Noah swore, lunching at Jamie.

With a squeal, he ducked out of reach, and the two chased each other around the room.

Finally, Jamie hopped up on the futon and cowered behind his partner. “Save me!”

“No,” Elijah said, having connected the dots. “Why did you do that?”

Jamie kissed the top of Elijah’s head with a loud smack. “Because I’m the world’s greatest wingman.”

With that, he took off, fleeing out the door before Noah could catch him.

“You fucker! When I catch you, I’m going to rip off your lips and glue them to your ass so you can kiss it!” Noah swore at the closed door.

Elijah laughed and shook his head. “I would apologize for him, but…” He shrugged.

Noah scowled and plopped down next to him.

“Does it hurt?” he asked as he looked at the clean white bandage.

Elijah flexed his hand. “Not too bad. I’ve had worse.”

With a raised eyebrow, Noah shook his head. “You’re too cool for me.”

There was a choking noise coming from Elijah, and Noah stood quickly. “Do you want me to get you some water?”

He waved his hand. “No, no. It’s fine. You just surprised me.”

Noah laughed and sat back down, splaying his legs out until his thigh brushed against Elijah’s dirty pant leg.