Not that any of this was bad. Hell, he’d been more painfully injured playing flag football with friends, but Royce had called an ambulance the second he’d seen Noah go down and the paramedics started throwing around “concussion” as they checked him out, requiring a trip to the hospital.
But Noah knew this wasn’t just about him breaking protocol from his training.
“Rowe…”
Unfortunately, any comforting words he could offer were cut off by the curtain being pulled back to reveal Dr. Ashton Frost, or Snow, as his friends called him, standing there in a set of dark blue scrubs. The surgeon looked over Noah quickly before turning his narrowed gaze onto Rowe.
“Don’t even fucking say it!” Rowe snapped, pointing a finger at Snow. “I can hear Lucas laughing already.”
“He wouldn’t laugh at you,” Noah said.
Snow snickered. “Like hell he wouldn’t. Do you know how many times he’s come to the ER because Andrei was injured on the job and Rowe said that he needed to stop worrying so much? He’s definitely giving you shit about this.”
“He wouldn’t if you didn’t tell him.” Rowe barely got the sentence out before his cell phone started to chime. Rowe didn’t even reach for it. He just glared at Snow. “You already snitched.”
“Of course I called him. He worries.”
“Hell,” he sighed, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He started for the opening in the curtain and then stopped, pointing at Noah. “Stay. We’re not done.” And then he disappeared to the other side of the curtain.
Noah let out a sigh of relief before he glanced at Snow, who watched him with narrowed eyes.
“Your chart says you’re good,” Snow said carefully.
“It’s not lying. I’m good. Stupid, but good.”
Snow grunted. “Don’t be stupid. He needs you intact.”
“I know. I’ll be careful and smarter.” And he meant it. Rowe had already lost Mel, and he was taking a big chance with his heart by dating Noah. The least Noah could do was not take unnecessary risks.
Grabbing the curtain, Snow started to leave the little area when Noah stopped him. “Hey! Wait!” Noah said in a harsh whisper. “I wanna ask you something.” Snow turned back, letting the curtain fall into place again. Noah hesitated, licking his lips. He didn’t know Snow all that well. He’d spent more time talking with Andrei and Ian, but neither had been available recently. And well…Rowe was pretty tight with Snow. The surgeon would know.
“I was wondering…when Rowe and Mel were together, was Christmas a big deal for them?”
“What do you mean?”
Noah shrugged and rubbed his hands on his dirty pants. “Lots of decoration and parties and the whole nine yards. Was it a big deal?”
Snow looked down, his hands opening and closing into fists at his sides for a second as if he were incredibly uncomfortable. “Yeah…it was. Mel loved to decorate for Christmas. They always went to the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo to see the display and threw a big party for employees. Lots of fun.”
Where did that leave him?
Noah had never really had a big Christmas celebration. He hadn’t decorated a Christmas tree since he was a kid. Starting a life in Cincinnati had left Noah hoping that maybe he could enjoy some of those family traditions like Christmas parties and trees and gift giving again. But would it all hurt Rowe, reminding him of what he’d lost?
“What do you think I should do? Should I forget it? Pretend it’s just another day?”
“What do you want?”
“I’d love to have all the craziness. Big tree. Lights on the house. Stockings. Gifts. A party where we eat and get wasted. You know, the traditional stuff.” Noah sighed and pushed his hair out of his face, remembering to use his left hand this time. “But I don’t want to hurt Rowe. Maybe it’s best we try to forget everything.”
Snow surprised him by clapping a strong hand on his shoulder and squeezing. “It’s his first Christmas without her. He’s going to hurt no matter what we do. Maybe try something a little nontraditional for Christmas. It won’t remind him of Mel and could give him a little happiness this month.”
Noah nodded, grateful for Snow’s insight.
“Do you have my number?” Snow demanded unexpectedly.
Noah shook his head, then smiled when Snow gestured for him to hand over his phone. Noah did and he watched as Snow quickly keyed in not only his number but Jude’s and Lucas’s as well. He already had Ian’s and Andrei’s numbers.
“Call me or any of us if you need something,” Snow said as he handed back Noah’s phone. “Even if it has nothing to do with Rowe. You’re family now.”
“But—”
“Rowe is going to have a rough time this holiday, but you’re not in this alone. Call any of us at any time.”
Noah wrapped both hands around his phone, clutching it tightly. “Thanks.” He was surprised at the relief that coursed through him at those words. The approaching Christmas holiday had him scared shitless. He was worried about Rowe, worried that he wouldn’t be enough for his lover. Knowing that Snow and the others had his back went a long way toward creating some breathing space for him.