Page 16 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)
Chapter Sixteen
Demetrius
T aking a deep breath, I scoped out the closest parking space.
Within a couple of minutes, I was at the machine entering my license plate number and tapping my credit card.
On impulse, I paid for twelve hours. If I didn’t use it, that was okay.
Basically, the money would go to the hospital anyway, which was good for them.
I could afford the usurious amount required just to give my beloved minivan a spot.
When I entered the ER, I was prepared to go to the front desk, but Cody approached me.
“Jai said you’d be coming. He’s showing the paperwork to the administrator. Hopefully that will get him in with Chris.”
I nodded.
He pointed to a couple of empty chairs, and we moved to them.
“How is Chris?” I winced. “Sorry, none of my business.”
“I can tell you they were okay when the ambulance took them away. The epinephrine worked. But they needed to get checked out. ”
“Sure.”
Cody winced. “But the paramedics weren’t happy with nonbinary.”
“Yeah.”
“I only arrived a couple of minutes before you, and I’ve been trying to explain to anyone who would listen about Chris, but I wasn’t getting anywhere.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Well, Jai’s got medical authority, so that should help.” He gazed at me.
“He told me all this, and I promise you that I’ll never say anything. I’ve run up against resistance from the system before. Keegan being gay is tough enough—I can’t imagine how parents of trans and nonbinary kids cope.”
“The best they can in a structure not designed for them.” Cody rubbed his eyes.
“I do my best to help them navigate the system, but I’m not a medical professional.
Hell, my mentor, Kennedy, has been doing this a lot longer than I have, and she still struggles.
Oh hell.” He yanked out his phone. “Max Crawford is a psychiatrist who sees patients at the ranch. He might be able to help. I’ll text Kennedy. ”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Well past ten. I almost suggested he not bother Kennedy. Yeah, but if you could do something to help someone, you’d want to be asked. If you had the ability, you’d do it.
“Damn.” Cody stared at his screen. “Max is at a conference in Toronto. He has privileges with the hospital, but it’s almost two in the morning there. Kennedy asked if I want her to come.” He met my gaze. “I think we’re doing okay.”
“We are. Jai has the paperwork. Kennedy being here…would she be able to influence things?” I wracked my brain to try to remember Kennedy’s connection .
“Not likely. She’s a psychologist, like myself, no MD privileges. Only she’s been at this a lot longer than I have.” His phone pinged. “She’s offered…” He typed furiously. “Okay. I told her we had things under control.” He met my gaze.
“We do. If Jai needs help, he’ll ask. You’ve got Kennedy on speed dial.”
“Right.” He rubbed his eyes again. Then, as if for the first time, he really looked at me.
Yep. Here it comes.
“Nice of you to drive Jai here. At least I’m assuming—”
“I drove him here.”
“Ah.”
Might as well lay things on the line. “We had dinner. Turns out we knew each other back in Vancouver. Well, Jai didn’t remember right away, but I did. As friends, we went out to dinner.”
“Right.”
Like I told Jai…this kid’s pretty swift.
Wait, he’s twenty-six and a psychologist…so not a kid.
“We ate at Stavros’s and then wandered down First Avenue.”
“Lovely walk.”
“Yes. We went into The Owl’s Nest. Do you know Dickens and Spike?”
Cody arched an eyebrow—as if trying to decide whether to let me steer the conversation away from the personal or not. “I know Dickens and I’ve met Spike. He’s a good mechanic. If I ever get a motorcycle, he’ll be the one I see.”
“Are you planning to get a bike?”
“Nope. My mom would kill me before I even had a chance to be in an accident.” He shrugged. “You? ”
“I tried. I really did. I struggled to ride a bike as a kid, and the motorcycle was just as frustrating. My brain just isn’t wired that way.”
“Really? I’ll admit I’ve never heard that before.”
“Well, then I married Erlene and figured I needed to be safe. I bought a used minivan and have never looked back. Would I love to ride with the wind in my hair? Sure.”
Cody burst out laughing as I rubbed my nearly shorn head. “Good one.”
“I try.”
“I bet if you asked Spike, he’d take you out for a spin. He might even have one of those sidecar things.”
My eyes bugged.
Cody laughed again. “The look on your face—”
“Can you see me in a sidecar?”
“While holding Dickens’s cat Ari who would be wearing goggles? Absolutely. I’d pay good money to see that.”
I’d met the rather rotund cat, Aristotle. Quite a charmer, she was. I wasn’t really a cat person, but I’d found myself enchanted by her.
Jai heading our way caught my eye, and I rose.
As did Cody.
Jai offered a small smile. “They’re resting. The doctors want them to stay the night. Chris asked if I could stay as well, which I will.”
I nodded. “How about I run to Timmies and grab you a coffee? And maybe a dozen donuts for the staff?”
“Yeah, that would be a great idea.”
Cody gazed between the two of us. “I can come back in the morning to pick you and Chris up. Or do you want us to bring your SUV here? Demetrius and I would be happy to do it.”
I appreciated Cody’s understanding I just wanted to help.
“Would you mind? ”
“Not at all.” I smiled. “I’ll drive Cody now. He’ll drive your SUV here, and then he’ll be able to drive his car back to camp.”
“Or I can drive Demetrius. Do you have a preference for who drives your SUV?”
Jai met my gaze. “Would you mind doing it? Then Cody can get back to the camp sooner.”
“Of course.” I offered a smile. “I’ll do the Timmie’s run on the way back.”
“There’s a 24 hour one just down the road. I’ll show you.” Cody held my gaze. “I’ll be out front when you’re ready.” He nodded to Jai and then headed out.
We stood for a good thirty seconds just gazing at each other.
“I can’t…”
“I don’t expect you to.” I resisted the urge to take his hand. “You’ve got a lot going on. You’ve got my number. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you need a hug?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that I can do.” I pulled him into my arms, tucking his head under my chin. “You’ll be okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”
“You’re right. I spoke to Chris’s family. Chris assured them that they were fine, and they didn’t need family swooping down and taking over.”
“Ah.”
“Chris’s dad had to be talked down, but their mother made a sound and reasonable case why they wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway and since they were on vacation, why not stay? She said they’d come if Chris wanted them to. In the end, Chris didn’t.”
“Brave. ”
“Pragmatic. It would cost thousands to book new flights. The doctors have assured us that Chris is out of danger. It’s not their parents’ first round with an EpiPen event, so they know the drill. Chris will be back at camp before they could get here. And you need to go. Cody’s waiting.”
“You’re a good man, Jai.”
He pulled back to meet my gaze. “I do my best. I will be in touch—I promise.”
I let him go.
He headed back to Chris.
I headed into the dark night of the unknown.