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

“Can I ask something?” He’d waited twenty-eight breaths.


“What about a fourth thing? Companionship? People?”


“Ah. Well, yeah. I have people. My parents have forgiven me for the shit that went down, when maybe they shouldn’t have. My siblings keep their distance, and I definitely haven’t forgiven myself. Maybe I never will. Things are cordial when we all end up in the same room. The last funeral we all attended wasn’t mine, and, um, they seemed happy about that while still aware it could have been. It never feels like it did once. It doesn’t feel like it should, I guess.”


I shrugged. “I don’t have a choice. ‘Cause, like, even if you don’t burn the bridge down, there’s damage, damage you can’t see, but you definitely tread lightly, and there’s always anxiety, right? I can’t blame them. I don’t. I have a lot to prove. Every day I have to prove it.”


Chapter 49