Kindle Alexander - Up In Arms (22 page)

Relief flooded her as she stuck her head out the door to see Josh talking to Natalie with her back to the door. Taking her Jimmy Choos off, Laurie dropped them in her bag and ducked out of the restroom as silently as possible. Based on the clipboard, Trevor would be in the exam area they had just left. She turned the corner, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one followed. Then she turned back to the front, stopping abruptly before walking silently backward out of the hall she turned on. Two men were coming from a clinic exam room. Both were gorgeous, both smiling, and the blond couldn’t keep his hands to himself. They looked in love, so in love they never noticed her in the hall. The one in the chair was the same Trevor West as the picture sent to her indicated. The other must be Reed, although he looked different yet again with the short, stylish, disarrayed hair cut in fashion right now.

Laurie pulled the camera from her purse and anchored the purse over her shoulder, tossing the bag against her back. She didn’t want to be ejected from the facility and leave the purse behind. Regardless of it being fake, it still cost a pretty penny. While her heart slammed in her chest, Laurie flipped the lens open and pushed the record button at the top of the camera. She quietly took the step around the corner, positioning the camera for the best angle.

For the first time in a long time, Laurie felt wrong for what she was about to do. Just watching these two for the short time she stood there, she could see they were clearly in love. And it looked real and true, an all-consuming kind of love. Regardless of the circumstance which brought them here, happiness radiated from the couple. Neither of them seemed to be able to stop touching one another, and both smiled at the other the entire time they spoke. Neither paid any attention to where they were, or to who might be around. They were just happy. By doing what she planned to do, Laurie knew these two men’s lives would be changing dramatically. For some unknown reason, this felt so very wrong after everything Trevor had gone through over the last week.

After a couple seconds of taping, Laurie captured Reed squatting down to kiss Trevor lightly on the lips. Her hands shook from the momentary remorse she felt, but Laurie forced herself to become the professional. She must steady herself, look into the lens, and make sure the angle hit the two just right.

“Well now, wasn’t that encouraging, babe? You could be up and walking in a few days. I had no idea things moved so quickly,” Reed said, bending down again to kiss Trevor. Laurie smiled, catching it all on tape. She could feel her old self creeping back in.

“It’s surprising. I didn’t know I could be on a leg in a couple of days. Thank you for this, Reed. I have to get my arm back in shape quickly, though. I need it to help support myself and find my balance.” Reed lifted a finger to Trevor’s moving lips, cutting him off as he spoke. All the while Laurie stayed perfectly still, catching it all on tape.

“Babe, please stop saying thank you. I love you. I want you to have the best care possible.” With two kisses and a declaration of appreciation and love, Laurie decided she captured enough on tape. Her time was limited. Soon, someone would spot her. She needed to get the questions in with her voice on tape. At this point, the most important part for her was to keep this story as hers at all cost. Damn, she wished she could get in the shot! Where was fucking Josh when she needed him?

“Mr. Kensington, Sgt. West!” Laurie took several steps forward out of the shadows, filming the whole time. “I’m Laurie Bernard of Truth or Tales. Can you tell us how you are involved with Sgt. West?” Both men turned toward her, startled. Laurie could see they never expected this. They erroneously thought they were secure here, and they never counted on the greedy little Natalie or the super stealth Laurie Bernard on the case. Laurie continued on, walking forward, zooming the camera just on their two faces. Having been kicked out of some of the very best places, Laurie knew she only had a matter of minutes to engage these two to get any footage additional.

“Excuse me, are you suppose to be in here?” Reed asked, lifting from his squatting position, turning fully to her. In the movement, Reed pushed Trevor away from the camera, making her only able to capture the back of his head from this angle. Reed’s deep green eyes turned icy when they focused on her. She fully understood how he was such an accomplished attorney. His eyes spoke volumes, telling her she needed to hand over the camera and apologize for her lapse of judgment. With extreme effort, Laurie forced herself not to do the bidding his eyes were calling for her to do.

“How’s Sgt. West’s care since leaving Germany? And how long have you two been together?”
Reed stepped in front of Trevor, completely now, blocking him from her view, anger flashing across his extraordinarily handsome face. “I believe you have quite enough. You need to leave.” Reed stood as an unmovable force, blocking her way to any additional footage of Trevor. Laurie could feel the heat rising to her face. Her heart began to pound, but she kept going, not letting him budge her. It took all her effort not to cower. For a moment, she realized only deep love protected so blindly. There was no way she would get another shot of Trevor West with Reed Kensington around.
“Sgt. West, how long have you been out of the closet? Was it hard being a gay man in the military?”
Those deep green icy eyes became shards of glass, shooting daggers directly into her. Reed lifted his hand to her camera, aggressively stalking toward her. His body completely blocked her from Trevor. Dr. Carlton came around the corner with two physical therapist’s flanking each side. All three came rushing to them. Reed never stopped moving toward Laurie, getting all in her personal space, forcing her to lift the camera to take in his six foot three inch frame. Laurie had no choice but to step back or be run over.
“This is private property and you’re forbidden to film here, but I’m sure you know this. What would it take to relieve you of this camera? I’m willing to pay a substantial amount for this camera right now, but only right now,” Reed demanded, walking her backward several feet around the corner from Trevor while he reached up to turn the camera off. To her own utter amazement, she never stopped throwing out questions.
“Did these injuries really occur by the insurgents or is there more to the story? Does it have anything to do with being a gay man in the military?” Hospital security barreled down the hall toward her, obviously called by the medical staff. She knew time just ran out. Rushing her last question before they got to her, Laurie needed to get a reaction from Reed. Otherwise, this could all back-fire on her by making Reed and Trevor look victimized by her and her station.
“Mr. Kensington, you can set the record straight. I’m offering you an exclusive interview. You can stop the rumors before they start.”
Reed gave her the smallest sneer. He took a couple of steps back, watching security take hold of the situation and begin to remove her in their normal, not too friendly way. Then Reed did something Laurie absolutely hated; he dismissed her without a backward glance. Laurie held the camera, walking backward as they dragged her through the facility, but her focus stayed on Reed Kensington. He just stayed too irritatingly smooth and too together. She couldn’t break him, no matter how many questions she flung in his direction and it just pissed her off that he gave her nothing to work with for her report. The highest ratings came from people flipping out on camera, making her look better or even justified for interrupting the privacy of their lives. Now, if she didn’t think of something quick, she would just look like an ambulance chaser, trying to hurt a beloved veteran.
Laurie stumbled back, but stayed on her feet as she was shoved from the front doors of the hospital. Righting her shirt, she tucked it back in before shoving the hair from her face. Laurie decided then she would dig up all the dirt she could find on Reed Kensington. Between her and Reed, if one of them needed to look bad, it wasn’t going to be her. And then she would see how smooth he stayed after it all aired. Reed was too good looking and too shrewd to not have a past. Somewhere there must be some damning information to help turn this around. Hell, if not, she would just make it up. Her whole angle of this story could be Truth or Tales protecting Trevor West, the beloved hero of the United States Military, against the international playboy!
With a sly grin forming, Laurie felt herself getting back into journalist mode, out of the sappy bleeding heart she felt like in the center just a few minutes before. Dropping the camera back in her purse, she put her Jimmy Choos back on as Josh stumbled out the door and fell on his ass at her feet. She kicked him out of her way, stalking to the car while digging her phone out, sending a text to her research team to pull everything possible on Reed Kensington. Laurie had only a couple of hours to pull this together and get on air.
“Did you get it?” Josh grunted, rolling from her before pulling to his feet.
“Got it. Now come on! We don’t have much time,” Laurie began to jog to the car oblivious of Josh’s limp, or the blood pouring from the cut on his head.

Trevor sat in the exam room, staring off at nothing more than the blue floral print wall paper in a room becoming smaller by the minute. A male physical therapist, who looked more like a bouncer from a seedy biker bar than a medical professional, stood on guard by the thick oversized mahogany door. There were no words exchanged between the two of them. After a few minutes, Reed came barreling through the door, proud at the aggression he was greeted with. This physical therapist guarded his man, which could never be a bad thing.

Trevor gave a slight movement with his hand on the wheel, turning the chair toward Reed. The look Trevor gave caused his heart to sink, and the bouncer/therapist excused himself, quickly leaving the room. Reed gave a small smile at the hurried exit of the therapist, watching the door close solidly behind him. Being an attorney, Reed appreciated the ability of one to speak so clearly with just his eyes. He turned back to Trevor, who sat there with his face void of emotion, his eyes hollow, his jaw clenched tight. Right then, Reed could see every bit of ground he made was lost at the hands of an overzealous, two bit reporter trying to make a name for herself. Reed’s heart slammed hard against his chest, hard enough to have him absently rub his palm against the thin material of his shirt, rubbing the ache in the center of his chest.

“Did she leave?” Trevor asked, his face remaining uninterested. ““Yes. Are you okay, baby?” Reed slowly, carefully walked to Trevor. His mind told him not to make any sudden moves, and he bent at the knee in front of the wheelchair, meeting Trevor at eye level.
“How did she find me?” Trevor kept his voice even, his stare still distant, but he did meet Reed’s gaze. Reed reached forward to run a hand up and down his thigh, willing his touch to bring Trevor emotionally back to him.
“At this point, I’m not sure, but I promise I will find out where this leak originated. They will be dealt with. Babe, talk to me. What’re you thinking? Please don’t close back up. We agreed this morning, we’re a team,” Reed pleaded. Leaning in, Reed traced a finger down Trevor’s cheek, but Trevor moved his head out from under the touch.
“It doesn’t really matter now. At this point, what do you think will happen?” Trevor pushed his chair back with a small shove on the wheels from both hands. Trevor’s carefully placed walls were all back up in protection mode to keep him from any more hurt. By design, it also pushed Reed completely away.
“I think the local hero will have his day of fame and then it will subside,” Reed said watching Trevor closely. He stayed bent at the knee, balancing on his heels while Trevor pushed back another few inches.
“What about the homosexual deal?”
“I honestly don’t know, Trevor. It’ll be talked about, I’m sure, but possibly no one will care. We’re in a new age now. Many states are allowing us to marry. It’s not such a big deal anymore.” Reed knew what he said wasn’t completely true, probably more just wishful thinking. The people of this country would care. The United States always cared about such things. His gut told him the undying media coverage on the raid would be set to frenzy, talking about the ins and outs of a gay man in the military. It would never be ‘our hero’s a gay man’, no never that, but something far more ugly, making it far more sinister as Laurie proved with some of her questions. Slowly rising to his feet, Reed took several steps away from Trevor, putting more distance between them. His heart ached when Trevor moved away from him, and he didn’t want to watch it happen again, so he gave him the space he needed.
“They’ll care,” Trevor said, finally averting his eyes. He looked down in his lap. The tick in his clenched jaw became more pronounced by the second. Trevor gripped his fist around the wheel, and Reed was surprised the strong man didn’t bend the rim or pop the tire.
“Perhaps you’re right. Only time will tell. What will this mean regarding your safety, Trevor? Will anyone from the raid come for vengeance? We should get you security.” Reed pushed his thoughts forward, trying to think of all effects of the publicity about to bombard the man he loved.
“I don’t really know. It makes sense, I guess. Except she didn’t care about any of that, or the harm it may cause. All that mattered was that I’m gay. A gay man in the military. Shit, Reed, this is so gonna suck.” Emotion finally showed on Trevor’s face. Hurt tore through his heart at the desperation pouring from Trevor’s eyes.
“We can’t worry about that, handsome. I love you. I’m ready to shout it to the world. I’m good with being out. I have never tried to hide it. I want you to feel the same way. What others think of you shouldn’t matter.” Reed spoke while moving back across the small room to Trevor. He ran a hand up his neck, and took the other hand and hooked a finger, lifting Trevor’s strongly chiseled chin up to meet his gaze. He needed to look at his handsome Trevor as he said his next words. “Babe, nothing has changed for us, and it won’t change. We will be right here together, dealing with all this together. I love you, Trevor. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay by your side.”
Trevor gripped Reed’s hand. It felt very much like the life preserver cast out to a drowning man. They stared at one another. Reed felt like he may have his Trevor back, but Dr. Carlton chose then to come through the exam room door, interrupting his crucial moment. Trevor jerked, looking back at the door, fear covering his features. Trevor shoved his chair back out of Reed’s reach, hitting the small sofa sitting against the wall.
“Everything good in here?” the doctor asked, looking first at Trevor, then at Reed.
“Yes, sir,” Trevor answered immediately, not looking over at Reed who sighed heavily while dropping his hands in his pockets.
“Good. We’re calling in Public Relations now. They’ll contact the Marine corp. The site director’s on his way down. I must apologize. I don’t know how this happened. We never give out our patient’s private information.”
“We weren’t expecting this. I knew it’d been a week, and Trevor was still at the top of the news feeds, but I thought it would fade with a little more time. The leak must have come from within this hospital. Very few people, as a matter of fact only two, know we’re here.” Reed turned, giving Trevor his space, and took the few steps to face the doctor directly.
“Mr. Kensington, we just don’t ever have these problems. I assure you, every procedure will be reviewed, and this won’t ever happen again. This facility will take a hit for this mistake. It’s critically important to find the root of this situation.” The doctor stood by the door, staying somber, focused on Reed.
“I’m ready to get moving. The sooner I’m back on my feet, the better it’ll all be,” Trevor said, awkwardly wheeling past Reed. When Reed tried to help, he got a very clear, very decisive, “I got this.” Trevor struggled to push the heavy door open. After a couple of good whacks against the frame and several strong choice words, Trevor made it out to the physical therapy room. From there, Trevor forced one of the therapists standing, discussing the large breech in security to begin the rehab on his arm. Trevor never took no for an answer, or looked back at Reed for the entire rest of the afternoon. Anytime Trevor was approached regarding the incident with the reporter, he clammed up. He shut down completely and worked his body harder, almost as if he was punishing himself.
By the time they left, Trevor had put in several hours of therapy. He looked exhausted, irritable, and overstressed, both physically and mentally. Several times through the afternoon, the therapist working with Trevor commented on his drive and perseverance. Trevor did not respond to the praise, just kept moving his body, rebuilding what he’d lost. He ignored everything around him, including Reed. By the end of the day, Trevor talked the center into deeming his upper body strong enough for crutches, making his mobility a much easier thing to accomplish on his own. Neither spoke as they loaded into the SUV. During the long, painfully slow drive home, Reed stayed silent, tired of being ignored when he spoke.
“I’ve been thinking while I worked out this afternoon. I think I should move into the guest room. Give you your space back until I can get a place. I can’t see how it’s gonna be anything but a nightmare coming toward us. I think we need to put some space between us until things die down. Especially if any one of the insurgents decide to come after me. I don’t want you to be a factor. Besides maybe moving to a hotel or someplace else will help in making things die down quicker for us.” Trevor said it all while staring out the front window. Reed knew without question he would have rather had the silence than this. He didn’t reply right away, just kept his eyes on the road, pulling onto the highway leading to his home.
“I don’t want space between us, Trevor. We’ve done nothing wrong. Babe, remember this morning? Remember our confessions to one another? I’ll remember each one for the rest of my life and I meant what I said. I love you, forever. I don’t want you to leave me. From where I’m standing, the worst case scenario from this media situation isn’t as bad as you deciding to leave me.” Reed spoke from his heart, but kept his eyes forward for fear the tears he felt might actually fall if he looked over at his handsome Trevor and saw anything resembling distain or resolve.
Trevor never acknowledged he heard Reed. An uncomfortable silence filled the SUV for the rest of the drive home. Pulling into the driveway, Reed quickly parked the truck and jumped out, but Trevor wouldn’t allow him to help move from the front seat or walk up the porch. Trevor did all the work with the help of his crutches. Reed knew Trevor’s arms must be sore and aching, ready to fall off from the exertion of the day, but Trevor never complained nor did he stop.
They just shut the front door when the doorbell rang. Reed turned to answer it while Trevor continued on. Looking over his shoulder, Reed was encouraged that Trevor was working his way in the direction of his bedroom while he went back to answer the door. He opened the large oak door wide, expecting to see a neighborhood child, but instead a news crew stuck a camera in his face and began pummeling him with questions. At the same moment, the home phone began to ring and his driveway filled with news van after news van, reporters all barreling from their side door. Reed pushed the reporters back, slamming the door in their faces. He quickly turned the lock, keeping them out. The pounding on the door and the ringing of his doorbell did not stop, nor did the phone stop ringing.
By the time Reed got the doorbell dismantled, all the windows locked and curtains drawn, the police were involved, controlling the at least fifty different news agencies in his front yard. They roped off his porch and assisted him in moving his SUV back to the garage, so they would have secure transportation in and out of the house. Reed’s father sent over several private armed security guards, who stood at the front and back doors of the home, making sure no one was able to break inside. As of now, Reed’s personal cell phone was still secure, and the only means of communication he had with his family.
About an hour and a half after the crews first arrived to his home, Reed finally made his way back to his bedroom to check on Trevor. Amoment of panic hit Reed. Trevor had gathered the few belongings he came with and left his room. The new items Reed bought for Trevor were folded nicely on the end of the bed. The extended moment of panic gripped his heart for fear Trevor may have left his house, but he stopped that line of thinking. Even if Trevor wanted to leave, there was no way he would make it a foot out the door without being attacked by the eager, aggressive, bloodthirsty group of reporters.
Forcing himself to calm, Reed walked through the house, eating up the distance between his bedroom and the front guest room he prepared for Trevor’s arrival. A few steps from the door, he heard the sounds of the television. Deep relief flooded through him. Slowly, Reed came to a stop in the open doorway, looking at the gorgeous man sitting on the guest bed with his eyes trained on the television. Reed never crossed the imaginary line of the threshold, but stayed standing in the middle of the doorframe. There was no possible way Trevor could miss Reed standing there, but he never acknowledged him as he sat on top of the bedspread in the sweatpants he arrived in from Germany. For the briefest moment, Reed wondered what Trevor would have chosen to wear had he known Reed purchased those sweats for him before leaving Germany.
“This is where you would prefer to sleep tonight, Trevor?” Tension laced his words regardless of how casual Reed tried to be. Trevor did little more than nod his head, keeping his gaze on the television. “All right, whatever makes you most comfortable. I’ve planned on dinner being brought in, but that may be a little impossible at this point. I’ll reheat the enchiladas my mom made for you. I’ll bring you some in a bit.”
“I’m fine. I’m not hungry. I’m learning you’re a wealthy man, Reed. I assumed you made some money, but I had no idea how much. They’re reporting you’re worth somewhere around sixteen million dollars. Is that true?” Trevor asked, finally lifting his eyes from the television, turning an accusing glare his way.
“My financial worth means very little to me at this moment. I’m more concerned about your welfare, and you being in this bedroom. Didn’t our morning set anything right between us?”
“So it’s true then. I hoped it was a lie like so many of the things they’re spreading about me. You’ve been with a lot of men over the last ten years. The one just interviewed believed he was the love of your life. They interviewed him in France. His English wasn’t so good, but they captured enough to know you two spent years in love until you up and left him when he finally agreed to marry you. Several others have also been interviewed. Funny how they all felt you loved them and that they were special to you. I guess I understand all the condoms in this night stand. You’ve dated some really pretty men. As a matter of fact, all of them are beautiful. They fit you very well. None look anything like me.” Every word came out in a strong, unmistakable accusation. Trevor didn’t wait for an answer, just moved his eyes back to the TV.
“Trevor, I’ve only ever loved you. I’ve only ever said ‘I love you’ to you. I told you I never dated anyone more than once. Those are lies, and you know they’re lies. The reporters are lying about you, what makes you think they wouldn’t lie about me too? We need to focus on what’s important, handsome. We need to get your medicine down you, let you eat, and get off to sleep. You had a big day. All this will die down. Until then, we must focus on the important thing, and that’s your health.”
Trevor didn’t acknowledge anything he said. Reed stood there several long minutes, just staring at Trevor, who purposely ignored him. The look of deep hurt radiated from Trevor. Reed didn’t know how to stop it. Frustrated, Reed took a step inside the door, crossing that imaginary line, determined to get Trevor to listen to him. His cell rang and Rylie’s name came across the screen. Pivoting on his heels, he abruptly left the room to take the call.
“Little brother, tell me this hasn’t reached you. Where are you?” Reed tried to hide the strain of the last few hours from his voice, and concentrate on making sure his brother stayed safe.
“I’m just getting back in town. Elise’s picking me up from the airport. She’s filling me in. You okay?”
Reed could hear the background noise of the airport as he walked through the house, stopping in his living room. He leaned back against the wall, dropping his head back on the faux finished painting with a small thump. He closed his eyes. “Not so good, but not for the reasons you may be guessing. I haven’t heard any of the reports, but Trevor’s pretty torn up about it. Looks as if he’s been watching it all evening while believing every bit of it,” Reed said openly, and honestly to his brother, his heart breaking in half as he spoke.