Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Just as Tate began to relax, Liam started coughing. The frequency of the full-body cough attacks had decreased in the past few hours, but the loud, hacking sound still made Tate wince with sympathy. Each episode left Liam exhausted and his chest and throat aching.
“Here, Luxe,” he said as he grabbed a small basin and held it under his boyfriend’s chin so Liam could spit the crud out as it came up. He rubbed soothing circles on Liam’s back as the coughing continued.
When he finally settled, Tate removed the basin and grabbed a cup of icy water, bringing the straw to Liam’s lips.
“Thanks,” his man whispered after guzzling half the cup in two swallows. Then he faced the lingering officer. “Sorry,” he rasped.
She lifted a hand. “Not necessary. I’ll go so you two can get some rest, you especially, Mr. Brady… Liam,” she added when Liam arched an eyebrow. “We’ll be in touch as soon as we have some information for you.” She held up a business card before setting it on the rolling table beside the bed. “This is my card in case you think of anything else we should know. Take care.”
“Thank you,” Liam said.
Tate didn’t echo the sentiment. Carmichael might have their back, but he wasn’t convinced she could sway the department to give their case the serious attention it deserved.
As soon as she left, Liam turned his head and studied Tate. “You’re tense,” he said, frowning.
“I’m…” He was too many things to list. “Angry.”
“Me too.” Liam scooted to the far side of the small bed. “Lay with me.”
For the first time since Randy’s frantic phone call hours ago, Tate laughed. “We’re two grown-ass men, Luxe. I ain’t gonna fit in there with you.”
Smiling, Liam waggled his eyebrows. “That’s the whole point. I want to be close to you.”
Tate didn’t meet his grin with one of his own. “I don’t wanna hurt you.”
The pout he could never resist pooched out Liam’s lips. “You won’t. Please, baby.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Manipulative little shit.” He climbed into the bed with Liam. As expected, they squished in like sardines in a packed can. The bed rail dug into his back, and the head was up at an angle that would have his spine complaining for days, but the second Liam snuggled close and rested his head on Tate’s chest, all protests evaporated.
“See? Isn’t this better?”
“A million times better.” He’d never complain about being this close to Liam.
It was the first time they’d been alone in hours, and it was exactly what Tate needed.
Until he heard a sniff.
“Luxe?” he asked, frowning down at Liam.
“Ignore me,” Liam said with a watery chuckle. “Just feeling sorry for myself.”
“Pretty sure that’s allowed right now.” He dropped a kiss on Liam’s head. A smokey scent clung to the strands, a potent reminder of what almost happened. He’d help Liam wash it out as soon as they got home. The nurses had cleaned him as best they could, but he’d need a very long shower.
“Wanna talk about it?”
Liam didn’t answer for a few moments. He stayed quiet except for the faint wheeze each time he inhaled. The doctor promised that it was temporary and since Liam was young, healthy, and fit, he’d recover without any long-term lung problems.
“It’s just… I failed.”
Tate tipped Liam’s chin up. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Those honey-colored eyes were full of sadness. “I came here, to Swan, to prove something to myself and this town. I came to prove small towns could change. That places where it wasn’t safe for a gay kid to be proud, or a male dancer to perform on stage at the fair, or two men to love each other in the open didn’t have to be stuck in the past. My dance studio was supposed to be a haven for kids like me and couples like us. Instead of that happening, I erected a huge target for people like Ducky to take shots at. I failed.”
Never in his life had someone come to him for advice. He wasn’t the one to impart sage wisdom to anyone because he’d never even left the state of Oklahoma. But he knew what it was like to hate himself, and he refused to let Liam travel that path.
“If I know you, Luxe, and I like to think I do by now, I know damn well that you aren’t going to shut your doors forever. You’ll rebuild your studio and have it back up and running as soon as humanly possible.”
“Well, sure, but—”
“Nu-huh,” he said, smooshing Liam’s lips between his fingers. His boyfriend scowled, and Tate chuckled. “My turn to talk. You only fail if you let Ducky run you out of town. Rebuilding will show every kid like you and every kid like me whose hiding who they are, that pieces of shit like Ducky do not get to win. No matter what gets thrown at you, you are strong enough to succeed. Sure, you might have some cracks and bruises, and you might be held together with duct tape and chewing gum, but you’re there and not going anywhere.”