Ross knew that something was up the moment that he got into Tom’s apartment. “Hey,” he said, setting down the takeout. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m that obvious, huh?” Tom asked. He was lying on the couch with his leg propped up. It had been a severe fracture, so his leg had to be in the cast for longer than usual. Only a couple more weeks until it had to be off, though, and Ross was definitely counting down the days.

Ross walked over to him, sitting down by Tom’s foot. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t put you on the witness stand right now,” he said.

“Hey, I’m the paralegal, I get to make law jokes,” Tom replied with mock offense. “You stick to the doctor jokes.”

“Well then doctor, doctor, gimme the news,” Ross replied, quoting the song lyrics.

Tom flipped him off. “You think you’re so funny.”

“I think I’m adorable,” Ross replied. He patted Tom’s good ankle. “But come on. You’ve got this look on your face like you’re gearing up to tell me something, like someone died.”

Tom shook his head. “Nothing that dire. It’s just … I had a visit. From your ex.”

Ross’s stomach turned over. “Jeremy came after you? Are you okay? Did he threaten you or anything?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Tom replied. “He implied that if I didn’t break up with you, that he’d tell your hospital board about us. And I know that we don’t have any reason to be in trouble, but it’ll still be a cause for concern, and then they’ll look into things and maybe suspend you while they do, and—”

Ross had to admit that he was scared of the same thing, but he wasn’t going to let Tom see that. Not when Tom was so clearly working himself up about it all by himself. He got up and shifted so that he was sitting on the coffee table, then took Tom’s hands in his.

“Hey, there’s no need to panic. Jeremy’s trying to get us to do that. He used to do that to me all the time; he’d insinuate things, and make me think that there were going to be bad consequences for not behaving exactly the way that he wanted me to.

“I know it sounds crazy to think about, me letting someone arrogant like that rule my life, but I didn’t realize that there were better options out there.

“But we don’t have to be victims to him unless we let ourselves be.” Ross squeezed Tom’s hands gently. “We haven’t done anything wrong. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“He could get you temporarily suspended.”

“If they believe him for the time being, and it’s only temporary.”

“He’s a tabloid reporter. This is what they do. They create stories out of nothing, and then they get everyone to believe those false stories, and it takes forever for the truth to get out. I don’t want that for you.”

“He’s just upset because I’m happy, and he can’t stand that idea. He told me when we broke up that I’d come crawling back to him, and that I’d see how good he was for me, and that hasn’t happened. Instead I’m happier, I have friends again, and I have an adorable, hot as fuck, smart as fuck guy that I’m dating.”

Tom blushed, which only proved the adorable part of that statement. Ross smiled at him. “I’m happy. And he just can’t handle it. That’s all it is.”

“But what if you really do get in some trouble?”

Ross sighed. “I’m scared about that, yeah. I know a couple of people who’ve had to transfer or even gotten fired because of gossip about them.

“He came to visit me as well; I don’t know if it was before or after he went to see you. And yeah, it intimidated me a little. It scared me a bit. Especially just having him there in my office, just having to deal with him again. Forget anything else that he said or implied, that was enough to really ruin my day.”

Tom reached out and cupped Ross’s face, rubbing his thumb lightly over Ross’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s on him and what an asshole he was. And is.” Ross sighed, and Tom’s hand moved to his shoulder, squeezing gently.

Ross put his hand over Tom’s. He liked this casual touch. Jeremy had never just touched him like that—touch was always given as some sort of reward and could be withheld at any time.

But Tom just liked to touch him. And so he did it, all the time, without any conditions attached.

“I hate to play into his hands,” Tom said quietly, “but I think it would be best if we broke up. Honestly. I mean … it’s not like we were dating for months, right?”

He sounded like he was trying to convince himself as well as Ross. “If it’ll keep your career safe—I’d rather we played it safe, you know? That’s what we always tell our clients.”

“But there are also times to take risks,” Ross pointed out. “When you’re a doctor, when you’re in the ER and you’ve got the patient in front of you, sometimes you have to go against the safe option and take a risk in order to save that person’s life.”

“A bit dramatic, seeing as I don’t think either of us is going to have our lives in danger over this,” Tom said with a small, wry smile, “but I know what you’re getting at. I just … I don’t know if I’m worth that risk.

“I’m one person. That you just met. This is your career that could take a blow. You’ve worked on it your whole life.”

“And it won’t be undone by one person in one day,” Ross replied. “The board knows me. They know I’m professional, and that I’m good at what I do.

“They’ve never had any complaints about me before. I have a good track record. I let them drag me to all kinds of charity events, and I pander to the donors for them.

“They can’t pretend all of that hasn’t happened, or that I’ve been anything but a model employee. And that’ll all be hugely in my favor. Jeremy’s not exactly winning the Pulitzer for his work, either. I’m willing to bet on us.”

Tom’s eyes were wet. He grabbed Ross by the shirt front, yanking him in and kissing him. Ross nearly fell on Tom’s leg and had to adjust, laughing into Tom’s mouth as he kissed him.

Was he scared? Yes, a little, still. He couldn’t deny that.

But he wasn’t going to let Jeremy dictate his life anymore. And he certainly wasn’t going to let fear get in his way.

“How about we put on a movie, and we eat this takeout, because it smells good and I’m starving,” he said, kissing the corner of Tom’s mouth. “And then we’ll forget about this stupid issue, and Jeremy, until he actually decides to make good on his ridiculous threats, okay?”

Tom nodded. “There’ll be some making out on the couch in there as well, right?”

Ross chuckled as he let Tom kiss a path down his neck. “Hmm, yeah, I think that could be arranged. Since you asked so nicely. I’ll try to find room in my schedule.”

Tom laughed, pulling away and letting Ross go and grab the food while he queued up the movie.

It was going to be alright, Ross told himself. Everything was going to work out.