Page 10 of Between Two Thorns

“Well, things happen.” The medic said, that thoughtful hand stroking back across his short beard.

Del looked up from under his bangs, but didn’t ask. Sam would answer if he wanted to. And it seemed he did.

“Amber moved out here, ‘bout a year ago, t’be closer to a clinical trial for Zeke.” Sam reached over, and Del watched every movement of his hand, brushing down the dark hair of his tanned arm.

Del thought he should be able to interpret. But people and their quirks always evaded his understanding.

“They alright?”

“Yeah…seems they’re doing just fine.” Sam sighed, and Del felt the sudden urge to reach out and put a hand over the man’s. Over the hand that was petting his arm and…what? Offer him some sort of comfort.

As if Del had any to offer.

Del, in one of the many character flaws that he had, brought his left thumb up to his mouth, already trying to nip at the cuticle—since his nail was already gone.

This time, he felt just a brush of fingertips against the palm of his hand. Making him drop the digit he was attempting to mutilate, and look up at the gently concerned brown eyes, willing him to stop. Like he always had when Del was young.

“Well, gotta get back to this job.” Sam patted the table, close to Del’s arm, too close and not close enough for the younger man’s liking. All at once. “Doesn’t pay, but it was the first thing I could get. Only been here a week.”

Sam stretched, and Del just glanced over when he did. The tight uniform shirt rode up along his stomach, showing a trail of dark hair below his belly button…that made Del feel an ugly blush creep up along the back of his neck.

A warmth some part of him had always felt for Sam, and should never feel for a man.

His uncle would kill him and spit on his unmarked grave.

“Maybe I’ll see ya around, Del?” Sam asked, his voice warm and his smile genuine when Del finally looked up and meet his fascinatingly deep eyes.

“Maybe.” Del said, non-committally. “If I’m around.” Because he wanted to give a flat and firm no.

The man who had seen him on the worst day of his life, helped him actually try to make something of himself, could never see how he’d sunk right back to rock bottom again. Sitting in a bar full of barely not-teenagers, with a pocket of something to sell for three times the price it would be in the city.

“You still remember my number?”

“Mm-hm.” Del shrugged. That was one of the few things he was good at.

“I’ll be around.” Sam promise him, with that firm, sure smile that nearly broke whatever heart Del still had left inside him.

Because, he would be. All the younger had to do…was ask.

And Del never would.

***

Del watched until Sam’s back had disappeared out the swinging door, roiling around in his thoughts like the spin cycle on a shit-old washing machine. The music the DJ was currently playing sounded about as good as the washer they had growing up—which had no top and an exposed spinning drum.

He knew his uncle sent him here because he was young and he looked like he might still pass as a college student, though he had a handful of years on them. Jaxson didn’t care that his nephew hated how loud it was and that the flashing lights gave him a headache. He had a supply, and he had to sell.

Del glanced towards the dance floor and then the door. He just needed an easy mark or two to dump the rest of this on, and he could get the hell out of here.

Maybe one would walk right through the door.

As his light green eyes were trained that way, the door did open. All he saw was a flash of red hair disappearing behind the broad shoulders of the bouncer man. who was about as threatening as a football coach running the study hall.

Del rolled his eyes, about to turn his attention somewhere else, when the girl stepped out from behind the bouncer.

One of the pink lights from the dance floor rolled over the little seating aread, illuminating her in a rosy glow.

She was beautiful.

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