One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

“Remember where it is?” She smiled and pointed. “Right down the hall to your right.”

Walking quickly down the dark passage, I stepped into the narrow bathroom and locked the door. Flipping the light switch, a loud vent whirred overhead. I took the top off the pain reliever, and Dammit! Only one left.

My lips tensed, and I opened the medicine cabinet. Nikki had to have something in here. Shoving aside contact lens solution, mouthwash, deodorant, eye cream, I found a brown bottle with a white top. Some old prescription, I guessed. I turned the small container to read the label, and everything went very quiet. Percocet.

Standing in that bathroom, I stared at what I held in my hand several long minutes.

Another turning point.

Another fork in the road.

At that moment, a cramp stabbed my stomach so hard, I barely got the toilet lid up in time to lose all the Scotch I’d just drunk. Nothing else was left. I pushed the lever to flush then turned back to the sink and rinsed my mouth.

Without a thought, I opened that bottle and popped two of the pills. Fuck it. Then I shoved the rest in my pocket and walked out. I didn’t even pause as I went through the kitchen.

“I’ve got to go.” It was a shitty thing to do, and I was doing it.

“Wait!” Nikki was understandably shocked. “Stuart—you haven’t eaten!”

“My stomach’s messed up.” I shoved my arm into my overcoat, then the next. “I’m sorry. Thanks for the effort.”

I was out the door, headed back to Derek’s condo without a backwards glance.

Chapter 2: Leaving

Nikki

The office clock ticked from ten fifty-nine to eleven, and he still wasn’t in.

No call, no email, nothing. I’d say it wasn’t like him, but after last night, I didn’t know what to think. Everything about his behavior was strange, from our meeting in the a

irport to his abrupt departure before dinner with no explanation, to this.

The airport thing I chalked up to my surprise appearance. I should’ve known that was a bad idea. Stuart never liked surprises—but I didn’t regret it. The memory of him walking toward me in that airport... He was still so sexy.

I thought of his hands, long and elegant as he held the tumbler. It was all I could do not to make a sound as his lips parted to reveal straight, white teeth. He was a shade darker than Patrick, but they both had those hazel eyes. Stuart’s always burned with his drive, his focus, but I caught a peek of something else in them last night. Something haunted.

Standing, I paced around my desk into Derek’s old office, where he should be. If he was suffering, I wanted to help him. I wanted to nurse him back to health. I’d hoped last night...

Exhaling a sigh, I thought about how different I’d hoped last night would be. I’d hoped it would end with me blissfully entwined with his muscular body. Maybe it wouldn’t have been as wildly passionate as our first time, but I’d take whatever version of Stuart he’d give me.

Fifteen more minutes. Maybe I should go to the condo and check on him. He’d been so serious about rejoining the firm. What had he said? He wanted to hold up his end of the agreement with Derek? It didn’t make sense for him not to show up or call... or email.

If it were Patrick playing hooky, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. He’d most likely waltz in the next day with one of his cases closed, but Stuart was different. He didn’t go missing without a word.

Chewing my lip, I wished one of the guys was still here to check on him. As it was, my dropping by would be a bridge too far. I’d already gone after him twice. Still, he’d said his stomach was bothering him. He could have a virus, and nobody would know. He could be too weak to pick up the phone. He could dehydrate...

Another ten minutes passed, and I decided I’d try getting lunch. If he didn’t come in tomorrow, and I didn’t hear from him, I’d call Derek. He could casually check in without making it sound like I’d tattled.

Where are you, Mister Knight?

* * *

Stuart

The pickup rumbled down the highway in the direction of Bayville. I needed to get away, but I had one errand to do before I left. Just in case I never came back.

After I left Nikki’s, I went back to Derek’s place and tore through a bender. When I opened my eyes again, two days had passed. I was sitting on the bedroom floor with an empty bottle of Belvedere, an empty prescription bottle, and the few mementos from after my dad died in service. As the oldest son and the only Marine to follow in his footsteps, Mom had given them to me.