Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Tate

Tennessee was back in Mount Hope. I’d spent fifteen years wondering what had happened to my best friend, and now that he was here beside me, I was practically giddy. Who cared that we were in an ER waiting room? It was Tennessee , and somehow, I’d known from the instant he’d walked in. He didn’t look much like his twelve-year-old self, what with a fuzzy beard and long hair in a neat ponytail and all, but he had the same straw-colored hair and pale-blue eyes with a sharp nose. Same tall, skinny build. My mom would be beside herself, wanting to feed Tennessee up the same as before. I wanted to hear everything he’d been up to, starting with how he injured his arm. It was more than a little funny that we had similar injuries on the same exact day, no less.

Tennessee took his sweet time answering my question. But I remembered his long pauses from the past and was patient without rushing to fill the silence.

“It was a terrible blind date,” he said softly. Too softly. My overprotective hackles went up, and I leaned forward.

“Did someone hurt you?” I demanded. I had plenty of friends on the police force for our small town…but forget an official investigation. I’d handle this one myself. I hadn’t been able to protect Tennessee when we were younger. I hadn’t known how bad things had been for him, a fact that made my chest ache worse than my sore arm. We might not know each other as adults yet, but no way would I let anyone harm him now.

“Chill. Nothing like an attack or something.” Tennessee groaned before shifting in his chair, clearly embarrassed. “This artificial intelligence app promised to find me a soulmate. And I stupidly believed it could.”

“ Oh. ” My eyes widened. I had a hunch, and honestly, if I hadn’t been so gobsmacked to see Tennessee here in Mount Hope again, I might have guessed sooner. “The CUPID algorithm?”

“You’ve heard of it?” Tennessee studied me closely. Very closely. With anyone else, I might call it a once-over, but Tennessee was too earnest to be truly checking me out.

“Of course.” I held his gaze. I had zero qualms about coming out to him, even if he hadn’t given me a clear clue first. “The queer community around here is small but mighty, and the Heart2Heart app keeps me connected with everyone and my Portland friends too.”

“Ah.” Tennessee swallowed hard and licked his lips. Like his eyes and hair, his lips were pale, a soft carnation pink, and I couldn’t help wondering if they turned darker after kissing. “I…uh…um…”

I chuckled. “Apparently lots we both didn’t know back in the day.”

“Indeed.” He coughed, cheeks turning almost the same shade as his lips. “Anyway, the algorithm promised to find me a soulmate by Valentine’s Day. And CUPID arranged a blind date for me, which turned out to be skating downtown by the carousel. I should have known it was doomed.”

“That doesn’t sound too heinous of a date location.” Downtown Mount Hope by the riverfront had several historic attractions, including a large old carousel that had been well-maintained for decades. In the winter months of recent years, the park that surrounded the carousel offered ice skating and a pop-up hot chocolate food truck. “I can think of way worse ideas.”

“For people with any sort of coordination, sure.” Tennessee slumped in his chair. “But somehow, I managed to face plant mere seconds after stepping on the ice.”

“Oops.” I tried not to laugh, but Tennessee had always had a reputation for being the clumsier one. Across from our seats, the wannabe grill master had been called back to an examination cubicle, but the waiting area stayed bustling. In the distance, sirens sounded. Usually, the sound would make me eager to be on shift and part of the action, but surprisingly, I was right where I wanted to be at the moment. “Hey, where’s the date now? Your soulmate?”

If CUPID had picked him for Tennessee, the dude had to be impressive. I’d heard of several happy matches started by CUPID. However, Tennessee made a sour face, nose wrinkling and lips pursing. His mouth wasn’t particularly full, but his upper lip formed a perfect little bow. I hadn’t noticed Tennessee’s appeal when we were preteens, but then I’d been a bit of a late bloomer when it came to hormones and figuring out what made my motor rev.

“Some soulmate he turned out to be.” Tennessee all but spat the words. “Gunter is definitely not my ideal match. He dropped me at the ER and split.”

“Gunter? Gunter who owns the CrossFit-clone gym downtown? CUPID gave you him ?” I shook my head. The algorithm had to be malfunctioning. “He’s a jerk.”

“To be fair, I hardly gave him reason to stick around.”

“Basic decency should have been reason enough,” I said firmly. The queer scene in the Gorge was small, and I’d seen Gunter in action plenty. Not that I was the pretty-boy type Gunter went for, but I preferred to steer clear of his mountainous ego. “And I remember you being pretty fun to be around. We got up to some great adventures.”

“We did.” Tennessee offered me a small sentimental smile that made my heart swell. “I’m not nearly as daring these days though.”

“That’s a shame, but maybe you simply haven’t had a good reason.” My tone had tipped into flirty territory, so I tempered it with a friendly grin. “I remember you climbing trees and jumping off high dives.”

“Maybe I haven’t had a you pushing me to take risks.” His smile wasn’t at all flirty, but it was warmer. He was gradually becoming more comfortable, and I’d take that over any amount of banter. I nodded encouragingly as he continued, “Tell me your injury story is worse?”

“More boring. It was the annual Lonely Hearts Day at the ski slopes, and a bunch of us hit it up to snowboard.” Nearby Mount Hood had been a popular winter sports destination for generations, and this time of year, I was a regular on my days off. “I was showing off?—”

“Still Tate, I see.” Tennessee’s laugh was close to a giggle, which was adorable.

“Yep.” I stuck out my tongue to see if I could get another laugh. “Anyway, I misjudged my trick and took a header while trying to avoid a pack of newbies who shouldn’t have been on the larger hill.”

“I sympathize. With both you and the newbies.” Yep. There it was. Another chuckle. His laughter managed to erase the last decade and a half and made me remember how much I loved being silly and joking around with him.

“Yeah, well, usually I’m made of rubber. But I guess I’m getting old or something.” I looked down at my arm. I knew how to fall, knew not to stick my hand out, and what had I done? Stuck my hand out as I fell and likely horked my wrist as a result. “Pretty sure it’s a clean break at least, but it doesn’t feel like a normal sprain. And fuck me—sorry. Language.”

“Cursing doesn’t bother me.” Tennessee’s prim and proper appearance in a white button-down shirt, dark pants, and wool coat made me doubt his words.

“Ah. Good to know.” I examined my swelling. Yep. I’d messed something up good. “If my wrist is broken, I’m looking at weeks of light duty, which sucks.” I had sick leave, but likely, my boss, Heather, would be able to find tasks for me around the station. Maybe if I was lucky, she’d let me drive, but usually, we needed our drivers able to lift in an emergency. “I’d rather be out there working, especially since we’ve been shorthanded lately.”

“That does suck. Luckily, I’ll be able to work regardless, although typing will be a challenge. And everything else involving my dominant hand.” Tennessee gave a dejected sigh. “At least you’re left-handed.”

“You remembered.” I brightened at the revelation. Around us, more patients had filtered in while others had been called back. Some of those had arrived after us, but I was enjoying talking with Tennessee far too much to be impatient.

“Of course.” Tennessee gave another of those soft, small smiles. “Maybe mine is just a sprain. No idea how I’m going to tie my shoes, let alone pop the top on Clifford’s cat food if they put me in a cast.”

“Clifford?” I laughed because, naturally, Tennessee had a ridiculously named cat. He’d always been an animal person like me, and his parents’ rural trailer home had included any number of barn cats. I’d often helped Tennessee in his efforts to care for them when no one else seemed to bother.

“Clifford is a big orange-red cat who thinks he’s a golden retriever.” Tennessee’s tone turned fond. “He plays fetch and loves going for walks on his harness.”

“That’s too perfect. I’ve got a dog?—”

“Can’t imagine you without one. What did you rescue this time?”

“A dainty little terrier named Mouse, who’s afraid of everything and rather aloof, but we’re working on it. I joke she’d make a decent cat, actually. She’s probably asleep on the back of my couch right now.”

“Aww.” Tennessee’s gaze caught mine, and the direct eye contact gave me pause. I liked him like this, warmer and looser, less anxious than he’d been at first. And the warmth and caring in his baby-blue eyes made me wonder what else I could do to earn his affection.

“Johnson?” A nurse I vaguely recognized called me from near the double doors leading to the back with the examination cubicles. “Let’s get your vitals and get you off to radiology.”

“Quick. Give me your number.” I flicked my phone open to my contacts screen.

“My number?” Tennessee’s eyes went wide like I’d asked his underwear preference.

“Yeah. For after we’re both done. I’ll give you a ride and help you with the cat food. And anything else.” If I was going to be out of commission as an EMT for a while, I’d have plenty of time on my hands, and there was nowhere I’d rather spend it than getting to know Tennessee all over again.