Involved in separate accidents. Russel and Finn end up sharing a cubicle in the ER on a busy night. As the hours pass, separately and together, they face issues of life and death, human nature, addiction, perceived shortcomings, love, romance, and sexual arousal.<br><br>Both men are feeling flirty and friendly at first, until they end up in a heated argument about what feature in a man is more important, his face or his body. After some time alone to think, Russel is eager to apologize for losing his temper and to explain where he was coming from. Unfortunately, Finn never returns from surgery, leaving Russel both sorry and worried.<br><br>Is Russel’s chance to make amends really gone? What will happen if the two ever do come face to face again? Can Russel win Finn over or will the need to prove his point screw everything up again?

An Arm and a Leg

“Oh.” It was a reflex. Automatic. I hadn’t even realized I’d reached out to brush the sole of his foot with my fingertip. I did it one more time, though, on purpose, “Tickle, tickle,” before his bed rolled completely out of reach. “I’ll see you after.”


I did, too. For one thing, I wanted to know about his bar and the music he played there. Was it a hipster bar, a country-western bar, a sports bar? Did he take requests? Was it ambient music or singalong? Why hadn’t I asked? I also needed to show him Living Single, Friends, and especially Golden Girls.


I went up to surgery early that same afternoon. My last thought before going under and first thought upon waking from anesthesia was of Finn. He had never come back. I wondered. I worried.


“Hey. What happened to the other guy from last night? The guy with the broken arm?” I asked the recovery nurse. “Is he here?”


Chapter 17