You Can't Run by Hope Davis (best way to read books .txt) 📗

“Sounds like a plan. I was thinking about this trail up north a bit, it’s called Sand Creek National Greenway. It’s fairly flat and will be easy enough to manage with the wheelchair I think.” He stopped for a second to think. “There’s not a whole lot right by it, but we could stop at Snooze on our way north.”

“What’s Snooze?” It certainly sounded like a breakfast place, but she hadn’t heard of it before.

A Cheshire grin appeared on Kevin’s face. “What is Snooze? Only the best breakfast place on this side of the Mississippi. Man, you are in for a treat.”

It was almost four hours later and the four of them were walking on the small path on the north east side of Denver. Kevin was pushing Vance’s wheelchair while Elliot and Naya walked behind them.

Naya was glad she had suggested a walk, because after the delectable pancake flight she had just downed at Snooze, she could use it. But the pumpkin cream pancakes had been so worth how uncomfortably full she was feeling now.

They all walked together for a few hundred yards before Vance gave Naya a nod. She then began to walk slower and slower to create some distance while engaging Elliot in conversation.

“So, Elliot, why did you become an at home care nurse? Wait, is it okay that I call you a nurse? I just realized I don’t know if that term is gender neutral or not…”

Elliot laughed. “Yes, you can call me a nurse. They don’t have different terms for us.” He ran a hand through his hair, his mood changing. “Well, my sister had cystic fibrosis, and I spent most of my childhood caring for her. So, as an adult this came easily to me, so I just continued with what I was good at I guess.” He shrugged, watching as Vance and Kevin edged even further ahead.

“Don’t worry, Kevin has him.” Putting her hand on his arm to quell his nerves.

“I know. And I know I’ve only worked with him for a week, but Vance is great. I usually only have older patients. It’s so rare I get a patient that’s so easy and fun to hang out with. We mostly just play video games.”

Naya nodded. “I know. It doesn’t seem fair.”

Elliot shook his head. “And it never will.”

Vance and Kevin stopped up ahead, and Naya put her hand on Elliot’s shoulder again and came to a stop as well. “Let’s give them a minute, shall we?” She said as she turned to give them some privacy. Elliot followed her lead.

“So, how long have you lived in Denver?” He asked, probably finding it odd to stand there in silence with her.

“I came to help Vance a few weeks ago. But he always acted so strong I had no idea…I mean…when I got here…” Guilt rising up in her throat as she considered how she had basically gotten here and hired help.

“Hey, don’t worry about it. Sometimes getting extra help is all you can do. And I don’t think Vance would have wanted you to give up your career either.”

She nodded. “You’re right. This might be weird, and you don’t have to tell me, but how old are you Elliot?”

A small smile ghosted his lips. “I get that a lot actually. I’m twenty-six. But I know I look younger, and I was forced to grow up fast. I think I’ve been an adult since I was about seventeen.”

“Well, you’re good at what you do, Vance simply raves about you and Derek until the cows come home.”

“Thanks.” His cheeks dusting with pink from being put on the spot. “But really, that’s Vance. He makes my job easy.”

Naya glanced over her shoulder to see Vance getting out of his wheelchair and giving Kevin a brief hug. Anyone looking on might think it weird, seeing two guys hug, but if either cared, they didn’t show it. After another minute, Vance sat back down, and Kevin did a one-eighty with the chair. They quickly made their way to where Naya and Elliot were standing.

“Alright, shall we start making our way back?” Kevin asked. Though neither of them was as visibly emotional as Naya had been the previous night, she could tell the talk had affected them both.

Vance nodded and Naya began walking back up the path to the car.

Kevin seemed a bit on edge, whether from his talk with Vance, or because of Elliot, Naya couldn’t be sure. He was tense, his hands white knuckling the wheelchair.

“Anyone want lunch?” Naya asked with a smile on her face, knowing they had all just eaten loads of food at breakfast.

Vance grabbed his stomach, “If you try to put another bite in me, I will simply explode.”

“Says the person who ate like three bites of a pancake.” Elliot chimed in the banter light; he was clearly more comfortable with Vance than he was with Naya.

Naya noticed how Kevin said nothing at all and she fell back a step so she could put a hand on his arm. He relaxed slightly under her touch, but she could still tell he was tense. She would have to ask him what was going on when they were alone.

Elliot, Vance and Naya chatted comfortably as they walked along the nature path towards the car. Kevin did interject occasionally, but he didn’t volunteer anything of substance to the conversation, which wasn’t like him at all.

The conversation continued much of the same way during the drive to the house. As soon as they got Vance through the door, him and Elliot were off to the living room to play whatever video game they had been talking about in the car. Naya was starting to think that Vance used video games to keep his mind off of things, which if that was the case, she didn’t