Until now.
“You tell him the next time he comes around he needs to park that motorcycle of his in the parking lot,” she said. “Not on our walkway.”
Despite the surge of sadness, Alec smiled at her grumpy way of wishing Alec luck with Dylan.
“Thanks, Martha,” Alec said. “I appreciate it.”
“Yeah?” She looked embarrassed at being caught being nice. “You might not be so grateful after you see the names on that list,” she said, nodding at the clipboard. “The most disagreeable, noncompliant patients I could assemble.” She propped a hand on her hip. “I suspect you need a little challenge right now.”
“Thanks, Martha.” Alec let out a small huff of humor. “I think.”
Martha nodded brusquely at the side exit. “Tyler is waiting.”
Gripping his latte, Alec set down the clipboard and headed outside into the fading afternoon light, crossing the sidewalk and stepping up into the RV that had been converted into a rolling clinic. The front of the vehicle contained two chairs for drawing blood to send for labs, the middle devoted to a tiny exam room complete with a patient table. The back consisted of a makeshift pharmacy where the medications were kept.
Testing was crucial, but if patients identified as HIV positive lacked access to medications, then the system failed in its most vital role. Alec would always be proud of what he and Tyler had built here.
A clinic that could have prolonged Rick’s life.
Alec locked the sadness away and found Tyler in back squatting in front of an open cabinet, restocking their supply of brochures about safe sex. Alec had to smile. Even at the end of a long day, Tyler still looked impeccable, not a wrinkle to be found on his dress shirt, tie, or slacks.
“Hey.” Alec leaned against the narrow doorway. “You wanted to see me?”
Tyler acknowledged Alec with a nod. “Logan and I broke up,” he said before continuing with his task.
The coolly delivered words came as a shock. For a moment, Alec forgot to blink. He’d never even considered Tyler wanted to talk about himself.
“What happened?” Alec asked.
Tyler lined up the stacks of pamphlets with the same precision he applied to everything in his life. “His job,” he said. “Turns out being an award-winning documentary film producer requires a lot of travel. And while I’m all for being monogamous, if your partner’s gone most of the time, monogamy kind of sucks.”
Alec absorbed the news as he finished his coffee and tossed the cup in the trash.
“I’m sorry,” Alec said.
“Don’t worry.” Tyler paused to rest an arm on his thigh, and a hint of humor crept into his eyes. “I won’t call your mother and tell her I’m a free man again.”
Alec’s lips twisted wryly. “Thank you.”
Tyler’s gray gaze held Alec’s. Alec expected his ex to return to his task. Instead, after a brief pause, Tyler stood and faced him.
“We could try this again,” Tyler said, leaning a hip against the counter. “Try us again.”
The statement made an impressive landing, leaving Alec’s mind reeling. Stunned, Alec stared out the RV window as a car roared by on the street beyond, the sound fading as the vehicle disappeared over the hill.
And what if Tyler claimed he wanted me back, Dylan? What would you say?
I’d say you don’t belong with him.
“Think about it, Alec,” Tyler went on. “We make sense.”
In the days following their breakup, Alec would have given anything to hear those words.
In fact, if he hadn’t met Dylan, Alec would be jumping at the offer right now. And he and Tyler might have made a real go at the relationship this time, even worked out their differences and been completely content. But contently happy could never replace soul-deep joy.
Dylan had taught him the difference.
Alec had never loved Tyler. Not the way he loved Dylan. Alec had been so focused on the idea of permanency, of getting married, that he’d clung to the idea of the relationship more than the man himself.
“I don’t think…” Alec shifted his weight on his feet. “I don’t think it’s supposed to make sense.”
A faint crinkle appeared on Tyler’s brow.
“Dylan’s not really gay,” Alec said.
Tyler’s crinkle grew deeper. “You mean he faked that too?”
“Yes,” Alec said. “And no.” He rubbed his forehead, realizing he sounded crazy. “I mean, he was sleeping with me, but—”