“I hope so,” Sydney agreed.
Derrick frowned. “There’s gonna be bullies at the new school, too. Especially if Connor makes a big deal about being gay.”
“He’s not going to make it a big deal,” Wynn said, “Because it’s not.”
Reilly smiled at him, then looked at Sydney. “We’re going to speak with him about that. There are things he can do, ways he can handle situations, that he doesn’t know about yet. But he will.”
She nodded.
“Damn right he will.” Wynn was fine with the new school. Syd and Derrick had arranged their own visit, but Reilly had gone with him to check the place out. As an educator, his partner knew what to look for, and thought the school seemed like an exceptional place. Their students scored very high on standardized tests, which didn’t mean much to Wynn but Reilly was enthused about it. All Wynn really knew was that having Connor safe was more important than the extra few minutes’ drive.
He turned to Syd. “Thanks for allowing Con to spend the month with us. We’re looking forward to it.”
Derrick leaned against the doorframe to the living room. “It’s only fair, since we’ll be whisking him away to Cape Cod for the month of July.”
Wynn forced himself to be nice. “I’m sure that’ll be wonderful.”
Sydney made a face. “I think Con is more excited about your dog than the Cape. He says you have a Golden Retriever?”
Reilly smiled. “Gus. He loves Con already. They’ll keep each other out of trouble.”
“We’re a little concerned about these new living arrangements,” Derrick commented.
“In what respect?” Wynn wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“We all know Connor has been experimenting with his sexuality. Things he sees at home could really make an impression on him.”
Wynn struggled to hold his temper. “Whose home? Yours?”
“No.” Derrick sipped his drink.
“Tell me something,” Wynn said. “Do you and my ex-wife have sex in front of my son?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Then why in the fuck do you think that I would? I’m gay, I’m not a pedophile. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m a decorated detective in the KCPD. Which means I must be smarter than I look.”
Sydney stepped in. “I’m sure that’s not what he meant, Wynn.”
“Of course it’s not.” Derrick shook his head. “It’s not the sex, I guess, but maybe the
type
of sex.”
Wynn hooted. “Oh, hold on there, pal! Don’t
even
start making distinctions about the type of sex. Because unless Syd’s proclivities have changed, I gotta tell you, she never minded a rear door invasion.”
“Wynn!” Sydney’s face reddened. “I don’t think we need to discuss this any further. We trust you to be a responsible parent. I believe Derrick was simply saying that it’ll be different for you, having Con in the house full-time.”
“Right.” Derrick tossed back the last of his drink.
A duffel bag dropped the floor from the second story, followed by another.
Connor leaned over the railing and grinned. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Reilly. One more, then I’ll be ready.” He disappeared again.
Wynn hoisted one bag and handed the other to Reilly. “We’ll take these on out, and wait for him there.” He glanced at Derrick. “Don’t worry, we won’t have sex in the car while we’re waiting.”
Sydney’s expression looked tired. “I think we’re all okay now, Wynn. Can we end this pissing match, please?”
“I didn’t start it, but I’m certainly prepared to finish it.”
She moved closer to Derrick and nudged his arm.
Derrick shrugged. “It’s cool.” Glancing at the bags, he obviously tried to change the subject. “Three bags. Geez. He travels like a girl.”
Wynn opened the door and led Reilly out. “We’ll see you, Syd.” He popped the hatch to his Explorer and they loaded the duffels in the back.
Sydney stepped out and closed the door behind her. “Thank you, Wynn, for everything. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that Connor is safe when he’s with you. And he’s very much loved, no matter what his choices are. I’ve never doubted that.”
“You’ll never have to.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Enjoy some time to yourself. You deserve it.”
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then went back inside, closing the door behind her.
Wynn raised his eyebrows at Reilly. “Women. Go figure.”
Reilly shook his head. “The thing
I
know for sure is that it’ll take us the whole damn month to undo all the damage that A-hole has done to the poor kid. ‘Travels like a girl.’ What a shithead.”
Grinning, Wynn sat on the back of the car and pulled Reilly between his knees. He looked at the house furtively then pressed a kiss to his man’s lips. “Maybe we
should
have sex while we’re waiting.”
Reilly grinned back and cast his own glance at the house. He returned the kiss and added a touch of tongue. When they finally parted to breathe, he ran a hand through Wynn’s hair. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And don’t worry about Con. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. I think we can handle the deprogramming.”
His lover kissed him once more. “Baby, together, I think we can handle anything.”
Coming Soon from Pride Publishing:
Marked Men: Acceptable Behavior
Jenna Byrnes
Released 29
th
December 2015
Excerpt
Chapter One
“Ouch, that hurts!” The child jerked his arm away and looked up with an irritated expression on his face.
Doctor Travis Nelson released his grip on the boy and ruffled the youngster’s hair. “Sorry, champ. Looks like you have a broken arm.” He turned to the child’s mother. “The X-ray shows it’s a slight fracture, but it’ll heal better in a cast. I’m going to have the nurse call over to the orthopedics office and see when they can work you in. We’ll give you the films to hand carry. Hang tight here for a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” The relieved woman smiled at him gratefully, then batted her eyelashes. “I really appreciate it. The other moms on the playground were right. You’re the best.” She crinkled her nose.
“Don’t mention it.” He opened the door and motioned for his nurse to follow him out. Travis looked at the boy one more time. “Sit tight here for a bit, Jason. Nurse Izzie will be back with some instructions for your mom, and we’ll see if she can’t find a toy for you.”
“Thank you.” The child offered a small smile in return.
Travis pulled the door closed behind his nurse, Isabelle.
Izzie made a note on the paper chart then grinned up at him. “Four out of five moms on the playground recommend Dr. Travis to heal their child’s boo-boos.”
He blinked at her, a serious expression on his face. “Only four out of five? What happened to the fifth one?”
“She’s gay.” Izzie shrugged. “Can’t win ’em all.”
He laughed. “Yeah, well, maybe if we put the word out that I am, too, I wouldn’t feel like I had to take you along for protection every room I went into.”
“Nah.” She shook her head. “We might lose too much business. Let the moms keep their fantasies. It’s our job security.”
“Whatever. Get Jason an appointment with the ortho guys, will you, please? Copies of the X-rays for his mom to take along. And a toy.”
Izzie scanned her notes. “Ortho, X-rays, toy. Check. Janel’s in room two with your next patient.”
“Check.” He smiled at her and went to the next exam room, pausing to wash his hands just before he entered. He grabbed the chart and examined it quickly. Levi Madison was a six-year-old male with fever, ear drainage and loss of appetite.
Ear infection
. The nurse had pegged it. He just needed to confirm the diagnosis.
He opened the door and went in. A thin boy with curly blond hair sat on the exam table. “Hi, Levi. I’m Dr. Travis. I hear you’re not feeling well today.”
The boy shook his head.
“Well, we’re going to have a look and see if we can’t get you fixed right up.” He turned to the chairs next to the table and was surprised to see a man rather than a woman accompanying the child.
And what a man! He sported the same curly blond hair as the child, just long enough to cover his ears and collar. His eyes were clear blue, and there was a small tuft of hair below his bottom lip.
A soul patch
. Travis tried not to focus on the lips, but they were as pink and perfect as any he’d ever seen.
When he rose, Travis could see that the guy was an incredible specimen. About the same height as Travis, this guy’s physique displayed firm muscles in his arms and flat abs covered by a thin T-shirt. He wore tight, faded jeans that were ripped in several places. Travis thought—he
thought
—that he could see the outline of a large cock running down the inside of one thigh through denims. He could have drooled, but he had enough professionalism to control himself. “Mr. Madison? I’m Dr. Travis Nelson.”
“Sam Madison,” he confirmed and extended his hand.
Travis grasped it and shook. The hunk’s grip was warm and strong, not clammy or weak.
Of course it is
. What else would he have expected from a man that fine?
Focus, Doc.
He cleared his throat. “So, how long has Levi been running a fever?”
“A couple of days, I guess. His mom didn’t say for sure. But it’s not getting any better, and now he doesn’t have an appetite. He says his throat isn’t sore.”
Travis nodded.
His mom didn’t say for sure. Does that mean Dad doesn’t live with Mom?
His mind wandered, conjuring up scenarios. They all led to the same conclusion. If Sam had a child and the mom was still in the picture, he was more than likely not gay.
Too bad.
He sighed
. Ah, well.
Doctors need fantasies, too.
He pulled an otoscope from his pocket and turned to Levi. “Let’s have a look in those ears.” He inspected both ears and found them inflamed with drainage. Travis listened to the boy’s breathing, checked his mouth and assessed the vital signs on the chart. “Well, this doesn’t look too bad.” He glanced in the ears one last time and spoke to the nurse. “Otitis media.”
“Yes, Doctor.” Janel made her notes in the chart. “You want Amoxicillin?”
He turned back to the father. “Any antibiotic allergies?”
The handsome man looked confused for a moment. He looked at Levi. “You’re not allergic to any medicines, are you?”
Levi shook his head.
Sam glanced at Travis and shrugged. “I guess not.”
Travis hesitated, uncertain about taking the word of the child.
If I had a kid, I sure as hell would know if he had a drug allergy.
“You’re not sure? Has he had many ear infections?”
“I don’t think so.” Sam looked at Levi again. “Do you get sick like this often?”
“No,” Levi answered.
Hmm.
Travis wondered if Sam was a ‘weekend dad’. They saw that pretty often on Fridays. He turned to the boy. “Have you taken antibiotics before? The kind I’m considering is pink, and you take it by mouth three times a day.”
“The pink stuff.” Levi nodded. “Tastes like bubblegum.”
“That’s right, the pink stuff.” Travis gazed back at Sam. “If you don’t know his history, I’d feel better if we had access to records from his last pediatrician.”
Sam appeared uncomfortable. “Honestly, Doc, I don’t think he’s ever had one before. His mom’s always just taken him to the free clinic or the County Health Department for shots. I know he’s had those—he had to be up to date when he started school.”
“True.” Travis felt a little better knowing at least that much. He couldn’t help but ask, “Does he have insurance?”
The father shook his head.
“Okay, well, listen. I’m going to write you a prescription for Amoxicillin. Take it to any pharmacy. This stuff is cheap, like, four bucks. It has to be refrigerated, and he has to have it three times a day. If you can get it filled this afternoon, give him two doses today, and start again in the morning, three times a day. Continue until it’s gone. Don’t stop once he’s feeling better. Can you do that?”
Sam set his jaw. “I’m pretty sure I can master the concept of three times a day, yeah.”
The jab hit Travis where it was intended, and he smiled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. Some parents—most, in fact—don’t get how important this is. They never get around to finishing all the medicine once the child is up and running around again.” He scribbled instructions onto his prescription pad, tore the top sheet off, and handed it to Sam.
Accepting the paper, Sam smiled back. “No offense taken. I’m definitely not like most parents. But this little guy means the world to me, so I’ll make sure he gets the pink stuff three times a day until it’s gone. I promise you that.”
Travis nodded. “Good enough. Nurse Janel, here, is going to give you some information on treating the symptoms of otitis media. Some tips and tricks to making the patient feel better. And then she’s going to find a toy for Levi.” He leaned down to the boy. “You’ve got to promise to take your medicine like a trooper and do what your parents ask you to do, so you can get all better. Can you do that?”
Levi nodded.
“Good man.” Travis rose and faced Sam. “He should feel better in a day or two. If he’s not himself in a week, call the office and we’ll see him again.”
“Thank you, Dr. Travis.” Sam’s voice had an amused tone.