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“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Dan stilled, then covered Gary’s hand with his own. “For what?”
“I ignored you this evening. Once Nina started talking about Cory, I got sucked into the rabbit hole. And when I pulled myself up out of it, you weren’t there.”
Dan rolled over to face him, seeking his face in the inky blackness. “Now you listen to me. You havenothingto apologize for, okay?”
“But—”
“But nothing. Cory was important to you, and Nina helps you connect with memories of him.”
“Now you’re just being kind. We accepted an invitation to dinner, not a night of me getting so lost in a conversation that I forgot all about you.”
Dan snuggled up to him. “Okay, if I’m being honest? Then yes, at first I did feel like a fifth wheel, but then David and I talked, and he made me realize something.”
“What?”
Dan smiled in the darkness, his hand on Gary’s neck. “My life is so much happier because I have you now.” Then he rolled onto his back, bringing Gary with him to lie on top of him, Dan’s legs wrapped around Gary’s waist. “But right now? I need you.”
“You’ve got me,” Gary replied in a hoarse whisper.
Their lips met in a gentle kiss, but Dan knew from both experience and the heat building inside him, that their kisses wouldn’t stay gentle for long.
DAN SATupright in bed, shivering.
Tell me that was just a dream.
The apartment was quiet until a startled noise slipped out of the darkness. There was movement, and suddenly warm light flooded the room. Gary peered at him, his eyes heavy with sleep.
“You okay? What’s wrong?”
Dan tried to breathe evenly. “A bad dream.” Then he realized the details were still sharp, and that usually meant…. “Or maybe not.”
“Can you tell me what it was about?”
Dan shuddered out a breath. “My mom. I-I dreamed she was in pain.”
Gary stroked his back. “It probably wasn’t a vision.”
Dan grabbed his phone from the nightstand and stared at the screen as if willing it to burst into life.
“It’s late, sweetheart.”
Dan glanced at him. Despite his pounding heart and the perspiration that covered his chest and forehead, he managed a smile. “Have I ever told you how much I love it when you call me that? And yeah, I know it’s late, but—”
“But you want to be sure.” Gary leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Call them. I’ll go make us some chamomile tea.”
“Thank you.” He waited until Gary had left the room and closed the door after him before hitting Speed Dial.
His dad answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
Dan’s heart plummeted.I knew it.Somethingwaswrong.
“Dad? This might sound funny, but… is Mom okay?”
There was silence for a moment, and that was all it took for Dan’s imagination to go into overdrive.
“How did you…? Stupid question. Still gives me chills when you do stuff like this.”
