3

Before Otto could correct her, she was off, climbing into the front seat as the ambulance door slammed shut. The pup at his side let out a low whine as it drove away. Oddly enough, he knew exactly how the little guy felt.

Shaking his head, he pulled out his phone, calling his buddy, Gage Tackett. “Hey, man. You mind picking me up by the 9? Near Croton Point. Bring Derek. And a change of clothes.”

“Hi to you too and…what the fuck?” Gage snorted. “What kind of kinky shit you get into out there?”

“The playing-the-hero type. Fished a guy out of the river. Got an abandoned dog, his car, and my bike.” Otto tightened his grip on the phone as it slipped in his numb fingers. “Also, I’m fucking freezing.”

“Jesus, Otto.” Gage’s tone hardened. “How about you start with that? We’ll be right there.”

“Thanks.” Otto rolled his eyes as the call ended. His breath misted in the cold air, but he wasn’t doing too bad. Last thing he wanted was Gage worrying. The guy had his own service dog for PTSD—not that he’d call Matty that unless there was a chance they’d be separated while out in public.

They all had their pride, and Otto wasn’t much better. Weather got bad, his bum knee stiffened up, but he wouldn’t ask for help until he was fucking desperate. Sometimes, not even then.

He’d gotten better at that though. Hell, few years back he wouldn’t have made the call at all.

Or been so fucking grateful to see the two men he considered his closest friends pull up.

Not surprisingly, Derek Paulson, Gage’s husband, barely acknowledged Otto before crouching down to inspect the dog. Derek wasn’t a people person. The veterinarian had chosen his profession because, to him, animals made a lot more sense.

Gage was the one exception.

Looking at him now, Otto could see why. The guy didn’t pull any punches. His expression spoke volumes.

Jaw hard, Gage approached him, holding out a pile of dry clothes. “Get in the backseat and out of those wet clothes before you catch hypothermia. Seriously, dude, you’re gonna kill yourself on that bike one of these days.”

“Yes, Daddy.” Otto snickered as Gage whispered a prayer and Derek shot them an amused look. He couldn’t help ribbing his buddy a little bit, but it was fucking cool to have someone care so much.

Changing in the confines of the backseat of Derek’s black Mazda 6, Otto considered Gage’s words. Yeah, taking his bike out the first day all the snow was off the ground might not have been the brightest idea. Still, if he hadn’t been on his bike, ready to hike around one of his favorite childhood haunting spots, he wouldn’t have been there to save Rip.

Things happen for a reason.

He wasn’t sure he believed that, but he wouldn’t complain about getting a little cold to save a man’s life. He’d been through a lot worse and accomplished nothing. Maybe, for once, he’d wake up from a dream and he’d see life. See Rip’s face as he’d drawn that first breath proving he wasn’t going to die.

“Hey, you all right?” Derek rested his arm on the hood of the car, leaning in as Otto pulled on the borrowed hoodie. “I brought the hitch for the motorcycle. Gage planned to drive it back for you, but since neither of you has fully functioning brains, I vetoed his decision.”

The hitch? Oh hell no. He frowned at Derek and shook his head. “I can take care of my own bike.”

“I’m aware.” Derek had a strange smile on his lips. “Figured you’d either want to stick with the pup or check on his master. Was he cute?”

Otto rolled his eyes. “One, when you gonna get the hint that I like being single? And two, Buster’s not his dog. Rip was trying to help him after he was abandoned.”

“Ah… So I guess he won’t care what happens to the dog now.”

“Of course he’ll care. He’s a good man.” Otto didn’t much care for Derek’s smug look. Damn married people, always wanting to share the ball ‘n chain plague. “Besides, if he don’t want the dog, I’m keeping him.”

“Doesn’t.”

“I don’t know if he do or not, Prof.” Otto smirked a little as Derek’s lips thinned. The professor might have improved Gage’s grammar, but Otto wasn’t interested in becoming his next project. After almost a year, he should know better.

Leading the dog, fitted with a new collar and leash they must have brought along, Gage stepped between them. He let the pup jump up on Otto’s lap and grinned. “You didn’t answer my man’s question, asshole. Was your dude-in-distress cute?”

“Fuck me.” Dropping his head onto the seat, and forearm over his face, Otto sighed. He ran his free hand over the dog’s smooth fur. “Yeah, all right? He’s a good looking man. Totally not my type, all dressed nice with his beard neatly trimmed. And he’s wiry, no bulk on him. Just tight muscles under clothes that probably came from The Gap.”

Gage cleared his throat to get Otto’s attention, then stared down at him, arms folded over his chest. “How is that not your type? You’re a fucking stud.”

“And you’re married, so stop hitting on me.” Otto snickered at Gage’s face-palm. “I spent ten minutes with the guy, rubbing his back after he puked up half the river. I’m glad he’s alive, but I’m not about to go all Florence Nightingale on him.”

“Actually, Florence Nightingale never—”

“Don’t care.” Otto raked his fingers through his hair, not in the mood for one of Derek’s history lessons. Especially not that one. He did want to see Rip again, but just to make sure the guy was okay. Man like that probably had plenty of friends and family, but he’d be alone until they were contacted. “Can you drop me off at the hospital? Without giving me a hard time about it?”

Both men sobered immediately, exchanging a look Otto couldn’t read.

Then Gage nodded. “I’ll drive Rip’s car—we can park it there so he’ll have it when he’s ready to leave—then I’ll catch a ride with Derek. Bring Buster home and give him a proper checkup.”

“He’s only a little damp—I’m assuming from where you and Rip touched him—but I’ll make sure there're no prior injuries.” Derek gently tugged Buster’s leash to get him out of the way so Otto could get out of the car. “I’ll text you if I find anything, but for now you can tell your friend he looks quite healthy. With how friendly he is, he wouldn’t have done well out here on his own. You both saved his life.”

Rubbing his knuckles lightly over Buster’s head, Otto smiled. Shit could have ended much differently, but he’d focus on the positive. The pup was in good hands and he was about to make sure Rip was as well.

“He’ll be happy to hear that.” Not that Otto knew him well enough to say, but he had a feeling it would cheer the guy up. “Might even make him forget about having to miss a few days of class.”

Gage’s eyes widened. Derek frowned.

And Otto chuckled. “What? I thought you were both ready for me to settle down.”

“Dude, tell me he’s over eighteen?” Gage’s brow furrowed. “Why didn’t you tell us he was a student? We wouldn’t have—”

“He’s a teacher, man. Relax.”

Derek sighed as he set up the doggy seatbelt for the pup. “That might be even worse.”