Author: Andrew Grey
Series: Standalone
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Press
Release Date: Nov 2015
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
For years, Clay Potter’s been friends and workout partners
with Ronnie. Though Clay is attracted, he’s never come on to Ronnie because,
let’s face it, Ronnie only dates women.
When Clay’s father suffers a heart attack, Ronnie, having
recently lost his dad, springs into action, driving Clay to the hospital over a
hundred miles away. To stay close to Clay’s father, the men share a hotel room
near the hospital, but after an emotional day, one thing leads to another, and
straight-as-an-arrow Ronnie make a proposal that knocks Clay’s socks off! Just
a little something to take the edge off.
Clayton responds in a way he’s never considered. After an
amazing night together, Clay expects Ronnie to ignore what happened between
them and go back to his old life. Ronnie surprises him and seems interested in
additional exploration. Though they’re friends, Clay suddenly finds it hard to
accept the new Ronnie. Maybe they both have a thing or two to learn.
I changed in the locker room while Ronnie talked to
everyone. His big personality was back, and it was good to see. After filling
my water bottle, I went up to the mezzanine to the treadmills. I got on one,
dropped my phone into one of the cup holders, then started the machine and
began my workout. I had a good view of the workout floor, so I watched as the
others went through their routines, talking constantly as they did. A few times
I saw Ronnie glance up, making the occasional rude gesture and then grinning
like a naughty child. I was about to give him one back when my phone rang. I
picked it up and answered it.
“Is this Clayton Potter?” I heard a strange voice ask.
“Yes, it is,” I answered, figuring this was some sort of
telemarketing call. I made a mental note to check the do-not-call lists.
“I’m Dr. Greenway down at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Your
father listed you as next of kin. He was brought in earlier today. I’m afraid
he’s had as many as three strokes in the past few hours.”
Hearing the word stroke, I forgot what I was doing or where
I was. The machine kept working even as I stopped, and it pushed me off the
back. I stumbled and managed to keep from crashing to the floor but ended up in
a heap nonetheless as my legs gave out.
“Mr. Potter, are you all right?”
“I don’t know” was the only answer I could form. My head
buzzed and my ears rang, hands and legs tingling. “How is he now?”
“Howard is stable at the moment, but he’s slipped into a
coma. Part of it is the body’s way of protecting itself. We need to run some
more tests to determine the cause of the strokes, and then we may need to
perform surgery to try to correct the blockage in his neck. Is it possible for
you to get here? We will need permission to perform the surgery. I can do
emergency surgery without it, but I would prefer we time this as best we can.”
“Yes. I’ll see about leaving as soon as I can.” I stared at
the phone, sitting on the floor while other people began gathering around me. I
scanned the faces, people I didn’t know all asking questions that didn’t seem
to register. Then Ronnie pushed his way in, and I took a deep breath as the fog
over my mind lifted somewhat.
“What happened?”
“It’s my dad,” I told him. Those words galvanized Ronnie
into action. He helped me to my feet and grabbed my things from the machine
before turning it off.
“What happened to him?” Ronnie asked.
“Stroke,” I answered. “Got to get to Johns Hopkins.”
Ronnie stared into my eyes. “You can’t drive. Not like
this.” Even as he said the words, he was already leading me down the steps and
toward the locker room. “Change your clothes.” He left me in front of my
locker, and I stared at it, forcing my hands to work. I pulled off my gym
clothes and got back into the regular ones. By the time I was done, Ronnie was
dressed.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“My dad was at Hopkins,” Ronnie told me, and then he
snatched up my bag and took me by the arm. My head was clearing, and the
feeling was returning in my arms and legs, but I still felt shaky on my feet.
He half propelled me toward the door, stopped at the desk briefly, and then we
continued outside.
“My car is over there,” I said, but Ronnie guided me to his
and somehow managed to get both gym bags in the tiny trunk of the Lamborghini.
“I’m taking you down.” He unlocked the car and lifted the
door upward. It felt like I was still almost on the ground once I got in.
Ronnie pushed the door down to close it and came around to the driver’s side.
As soon as he got in, he started the engine, which roared to life, and within
minutes we were out of the lot and entering the freeway.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said, a little belatedly,
though I was pleased he thought enough of me to take this much care. Ronnie and
I were friends, but he was a very busy man whose time was extremely valuable.
“Of course I do.” Ronnie reached over and patted my leg a
few times, then returned his hand to the wheel. “When my dad was in the
hospital, you came in all the time, talked to him and Mom.” Ronnie’s voice
faltered for a few seconds. “She told me how you used to sit with her and just
listen while she spouted all kinds of crap. Her words. She said she needed
someone to talk with, and you were there.” Ronnie continued driving as I stared
out the window. I’d made the drive from Harrisburg to Baltimore more times than
I could count. It had been just my dad and me for a long time.
