Flare (17 page)

Hugo wanted to keep his drag a secret because he didn’t see himself doing it for much longer. “I’m already an old drag queen. Why go into all those gender-fuck explanations with kids when in two years it won’t even be an issue?” Kevin respected that desire, which was why he sent Rowan on a few errands with the kids as Hugo transformed into Miss Cherrie Pop!. Just as Rowan texted to say she was on her way home, Hugo was getting into his car looking much more like a woman than a man.

“Have fun,” Kevin said as he closed in on the car so he could get a kiss. When he leaned down, Hugo stopped him.

“No. I don’t want to mess up my lips, and you’ll look like you ate cherry pie. I’ll make sure to kiss you awake if you’re asleep when I get home. Promise,” he said with a wink, waving his hand through his open window.

Kevin pointed at him as he put his orange Mini Cooper in reverse and shouted, “I’m holding you to that.” He blew Hugo a kiss before heading back into the house for a quiet evening at home.

Pathetic.

Kevin and the kids settled into the living room with a bowl of popcorn and a few DVDs to watch. Rowan took the rest of the evening off, heading downstairs to have a little time to herself. After the second movie was done, Kevin looked over and saw both kids had crashed. He suspected as much of Finn, but even Brooke was zonked to the world. He carried them to bed and was just pouring himself a glass of wine when Rowan showed her face again.

“Did you have some good downtime?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah. I organized all my photos from the Boundary Waters trip and ordered a photo book online.”

“I’m glad you had a good time.”

“It’s lovely there. It was like—”

Kevin’s phone rang, so he held up a finger. “Excuse me.” He looked down and saw Gilbert’s number before he answered. “Hi, Gilbert. Let me guess, he needs a ride because he drank a little too much?” Kevin asked as he set aside his own glass of wine.

“No. No booze. I wish it were. He got in a car accident. He’s in the ER at Abbott Northwestern.”

Kevin’s stomach dropped. “Is he okay? I’m… I’m on my way. You’re there?”

“I’m in the waiting room.”

“I’ll be there as fast as I can.” Kevin hung up and spluttered at Rowan. “Hugo was in a car accident. Watch the kids? They’re in bed.”

“Sure. Sure. Just go, Kevin.”

Kevin ran to the car, but then realized he’d forgotten his keys. Rowan got to him before he even had a chance to turn around, handing him his keys and his wallet. “Drive safely. You don’t need to get smashed up too.”

Kevin nodded and climbed in his car. He punched the steering wheel when the garage door didn’t open fast enough. Of course the horn honked. Rowan was startled, pulling a hand to her mouth while she waved with the other.

Is he okay? Gilbert didn’t say. Shit. Why didn’t he say?

Kevin tried to shake away his fears as he drove through the curvy streets of his neighborhood toward the highway so he could get to the hospital in the shortest amount of time possible. It seemed to be taking forever and car after car got in his way. Couldn’t they tell he was on his way to the fucking hospital?

Somehow he made it and easily found a parking spot. He ran toward the entrance and made his way to the front desk, where he asked where he could find Hugo Thorson. The lady behind the desk seemed to be taking forever, which just made Kevin antsier.

“Kevin.” It was Gilbert, walking up from behind him.

“Is he okay?”

“Yeah. He’s stable. Hit his head pretty hard.”

“I need to see him,” he said to Gilbert before turning back to the receptionist. “I need to see him.”

“And you are?”

“His partner. Kevin Magnus.”

“Okay, I’ll let the doctor know you’re here,” she said as she jotted down his name. “It should just be a few minutes. If you’ll take a seat.”

Kevin stepped back from the counter but sitting was about the last thing he could consider. He paced instead.

“Tell me what happened?” he asked Gilbert.

“I was behind him on the on ramp. We were clipping along and had just merged into the center lane when this car in front of him lost control. There was no way to stop or swerve unless he wanted to take out cars on either side. I was able to brake just in time. He was bleeding pretty bad, so I pulled the padding from my bra and used it to try to stop it.”

Only then did Kevin realize Gilbert was in partial drag. It hadn’t even registered.

“He was sorta in and out, and I rode with him in the ambulance, and I heard the paramedic say something about a concussion. And he puked. It happened so fast. I have no idea how I remembered to bring my cell phone with me. I must’ve picked it up when I drove my car to the shoulder. Frank. He should be here by now. I hope he got the car,” he rambled. “Summer too. I should call them again.”

“Kevin Magnus,” a short woman in bland scrubs said.

“Yes?”

“Follow me.”

Kevin’s mind was spinning from Gilbert’s description as he trailed behind the lady.

“Here we go,” the woman said cheerily as she opened a curtain. Hugo was there with his eyes closed. A large white bandage on his forehead was soaked with a slash of deep crimson in the center.

“Hugo?” Kevin dared. Hugo’s eyes cracked, and Kevin was flooded in relief and terror at the same time. His vision was blurred by tears. “Oh my God. Are you okay? Are you going to be okay?” He approached the head of the bed but was terrified he’d do further damage to Hugo if he touched him.

Why didn’t I kiss him good-bye? That’s why this happened, because I didn’t kiss him before he left.

Hugo reached for Kevin’s hand and squeezed. “I’m okay. Don’t cry. I’m just a little banged up. Better than my car.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll fix it.”

Kevin allowed his gaze to run up and down Hugo’s body, assessing him for any more damage. He was in a hospital gown, and someone had done a quick job of trying to remove his makeup so they could clean his wound, but there were still remnants of blush and smeared mascara and lipstick. Kevin squeezed Hugo’s fingers and looked down at them. They were perfectly painted yet, as if nothing bad had happened, aside from a scrape across his knuckles.

“The car in front of me just…. I hope they’re okay. There was nothing I could do.”

“Shhh. Just rest. Rest, Hugo.”

“Sit with me,” Hugo said as he scooted over a few inches, giving Kevin enough room to plant a butt cheek on the bed. “Just don’t jostle me too much. I finally stopped throwing up.”

“I was so scared,” Kevin admitted as he gingerly sat.

“The doctor says it’s a concussion. I’m good. I’m going to be fine.”

“That’s brain damage, you realize. Right?”

“Yeah, but they did a CT scan and there’s no bleeding.”

Just then the curtain was pulled back and a tall woman wearing scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck walked in. “You seem more alert, Mr. Thorson.”

“Yeah,” Hugo answered in a relaxed way. Almost too relaxed. “This is Kevin, my boyfriend.”

“Good to meet you, Kevin. I’m Dr. Washington. Hugo, are you feeling any better?”

“No. It’s about the same, but I stopped puking.”

“You’re keeping him overnight for observation, right?” Kevin asked.

She looked toward Hugo, who gave her a quick nod before saying, “He’s my partner. He needs to know everything.”

Dr. Washington smiled at Hugo and then looked back toward Kevin. “Yes. I think it would be prudent to keep an eye on him.”

“Okay. Uhm…. What can I do to help?”

“He’s going to need to take it easy for a week or two. He mentioned traveling to LA for a movie?”

“Yeah, he’s an actor.”

“That explains the makeup as well as the bra we had to cut off,” she said with a wink. Hugo chuckled, and it was a great sound to Kevin’s ears. “We’ll get you situated in a room as soon as we can. Take it easy. If you start to experience any new symptoms, push the Nurse Call button. Worsening dizziness or vomiting, ringing in the ears, slurred speech. Any of that. And I’ll make sure you get another ice pack for the bump too.”

By the time Hugo was moved up to his hospital room, Summer had arrived. Kevin made sure it was a private room, assuring the powers that be that he’d pay for the extra cost if Hugo’s insurance didn’t. Summer had the wherewithal to bring something to remove Hugo’s makeup and an extra change of clothes for when he went home. “Thank you” was all Kevin seemed to be able to say. It was coming out in a running loop as Summer and Gilbert helped Hugo readjust. Kevin felt helpless. He felt disconnected and lost as he watched Summer sit beside Hugo and pull out a damp cloth from her little pillow pack of makeup wipes. She gently cleaned away all of his makeup, taking great care around the cut on his forehead. The entire time, she talked to Hugo in soothing tones.

“I talked to your mom,” Summer said. Kevin felt like shit for not even thinking to call Ruby. “She was just about done with her shift, so I’m sure she’ll be over soon. She knows you’re okay.”

Kevin slipped out of the room and walked down the hallway to a small waiting area. He sat down on one of the horribly uncomfortable chairs and dropped his head in his hands.
How could I be so useless? I just stood there unable to think or ask questions that should’ve been asked. I did nothing useful. I didn’t even call Hugo’s mom.

He gasped out a sob, and tears fell, wetting his jeans and making the fabric darken.

“Hey,” a gentle, familiar voice said. It was Ruby.

Kevin looked up at her with watery eyes, and she quickly drew him into a hug.

“He’s okay. He’s going to be okay,” she tried to soothe.

Something seemed to break inside Kevin, and months or maybe even years’ worth of fears came bubbling to the surface. She hadn’t even seen her son yet, and here she was comforting Kevin. He clung to Ruby and sobbed into her shoulder, pulling in greedy breaths so he could just keep crying. Ruby stroked his hair and rocked him back and forth, shushing him and telling him, “He’s safe. You’re safe. It’s over now.”

“I don’t want to lose him. The kids can’t lose someone else they love.”

“Oh, Kevin, neither can you,” Ruby said. “You’ve had so much heartbreak, and I know that can make you gun-shy when things like this happen.” She sat back and looked at Kevin, pushing his hair off his forehead. “I remember panicking like this after Jim died. It gets easier, but your wounds are still so fresh.”

Suddenly Kevin didn’t feel quite as foolish. Ruby understood his reaction and how many fears Hugo’s accident had dredged up.

“Now come on,” Ruby encouraged as she stood and held out her hand. “Let’s go see him.”

This time when Kevin entered the room, he sat at Hugo’s side and held him, kissing Hugo without hesitation and feeling knit back together as Hugo wrapped him in his arms. “I was so scared,” Kevin whispered. “I can’t lose you.”

Hugo didn’t say a thing. He just stroked the hair that curled around Kevin’s collar, pressing more and more kisses into his skin.

When Hugo was released from the hospital, Kevin doted on him at home so much that Hugo yelled at him. “I just need some space so I can rest. Go to work. I’ll be fine.”

Kevin went to the office and told himself Rowan was around if Hugo needed her. The next day it was easier to go to work and the next even easier. By the end of the week, Kevin’s anxiety had settled too.

F
INALLY
IT
was game night. It seemed to take forever, but Hugo was home long enough and on the right night so he could meet some more of Kevin’s friends. They met at Andrew and Sarah’s house this time around, and their backyard was filled with about every water toy and sprinkler imaginable. Brooke and Finn dashed to the backyard, throwing off their T-shirts and shorts to expose the swimsuits they’d been told to wear. They were all trying to squeeze out every last drop of summer weather the gorgeous late-September offered.

Kevin did the formal introductions and watched as Hugo turned on the charm. He could tell Hugo was nervous, but no one else would suspect it because Hugo came off as confident and warm, if a little more reserved than he’d normally be. When Mike and Dena arrived, Hugo looked relieved, and he greeted Mike with a huge smile on his face. Drinks were poured, Hugo deciding on lemonade so he could drive, and before long, they were all settled around Andrew and Sarah’s spacious living room playing Balderdash.

Hugo ended up being a master bluffer, and his outrageous made-up definitions brought tears to Sarah’s eyes again and again. As soon as Hugo won that game, Andrew brought out a platter of hors d’oeuvres and Sarah and Dena took a few trays of snacks out to the kids. Kevin dished up and made sure Finn didn’t need any help before he sat back down.

“Another glass of wine, Kevin?” Andrew asked.

“Sure. Why not?” He held his glass up as Andrew poured, looking around the room for Hugo, but he wasn’t there. He heard familiar laughter coming from the kitchen and figured Hugo and Mike had gotten talking. After a healthy sip of wine, Kevin sat back and listened to the chatter in the room. Apparently someone’s neighborhood had recently had a rash of small thefts.

“Her car was parked in the driveway,” a woman with long dark hair said. Kevin couldn’t recall her name, but he’d only met her that night and the wine was already hitting him. “Usually she pulls it into the garage, but for whatever reason she didn’t. Thankfully her driver’s side door was unlocked because all the other locked cars on the block that were parked outside had their windows broken. Electronics and cash were stolen.”

“Why not park in the garage?” Sarah asked. “I know we pay for a security system for a reason.” She shook her head and blinked slowly. “Maybe I’m being cruel, but that’s the risk you take when you leave your car out at night. Am I right?”

“True,” several people echoed around the room just as Hugo slipped back on the couch cushion beside Kevin. Hugo gave Kevin a funny look before taking a sip of his lemonade.

Kevin slipped his arm around Hugo’s waist and pulled him a little closer, stroking a thumb right where his waistband hit his side. Hugo melted into the touch and then scooted back. Kevin slipped his hand under Hugo’s shirt and pressed his palm into Hugo’s warm skin.