“I guess I do. You could have just put me in a cell, let me rot there,” JD said quickly. “You didn’t have to believe me. But you did. You took me in. You trusted me. You saved my life. I can’t thank all of you enough.”

“Well, you can try,” Hagan commented. They all laughed.

“Next book you write.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” JD tapped his temple and smirked.

“And hey, when you get out of here you can take us to dinner,” Nick offered. “Drinks on you.”

“That’s the least I can do,” JD agreed. He was smiling, though there was a hint of sadness to it. “And . . . Nick. You and the Doc don’t work out . . .” He smiled almost shyly, pointing to himself. “My books claim I’m amazing in bed.”

Nick laughed. He patted JD’s arm again. “I wouldn’t hold my breath for that if I was you. I’m going to go before Kelly does something I’ll regret.”

Nick said good-bye to JD, told Hagan he’d see him in the morning, and then left to find his wayward boyfriend. Kelly had probably already recruited Alex, called Emma, signed them up for a trip to Siberia, and gotten on his phone to buy subzero gear.

Nick smiled at the thought, but the smile rapidly turned into a worried scowl, and he quickened his pace. The probability that Kelly was already through half those steps was extremely high.

Well, either way, Nick knew he’d be going along for the ride.