Page 102 of The Liar's Reckoning

I can see why he’d want company. If I leave in the next fewminutes, I’ll have about an hour to see him before my first client at the gym.

Me

I’m on my way.

I’ll let him worry about the details.

Graham findsme in the emergency department waiting room. He’s dressed in jeans and a green henley. His eyes are red-rimmed and vivid, the shirt making them truly sparkle like emeralds. I wish I could say he looks like shit, but the truth is, I don’t think I’ve ever found him so beautiful.

Everyone’s looking at him—at usas I fight my urge to put my arms around him. He looks like he’s doing the same.

“What’s going on?” I ask him quietly.

“She’s sleeping,” he says. “She asked to be knocked out once they took the baby away.”

“Oh my God,” I say, his words hitting me like a brick.

“He was perfect,” Graham says, voice rough and stoic.

My chest fills again, all that tightness returning. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

“Yeah.” He turns, and I follow him. We take the crowded elevator to what I assume is the maternity floor, but when the doors open, and he steps out, he says, “I paid for a room up here for when she wakes up. They want to watch her overnight, and they need her out of the labor room. Anyway…” He opens the door to an empty, private hospital room. It’s small with a square window, a white bed, and a sofa that looks like it pulls out into a sort of futon for a visitor to sleep on. I walk in, and he shuts the door.

Before I’ve even fully turned to face him, he’s in my arms, andmy mouth is on his neck. He grips me tight and sobs hard. I hold him to me and let him get whatever needs out—out.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, over and over again. “I’m so sorry.”

“There was nothing I could do.”

“I know, baby.”

“It happened so fast.”

“It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” What a stupid fucking thing to say, but he only holds me closer.

“She keeps asking what she did wrong.”

“Neither one of you did anything wrong.”

“Then why did this happen? Is this punishment?”

“No. Of course not.”

“I think it is. I think I didn’t deserve him and this is what I get.”

This is whatIwas most afraid of. “I don’t believe that.” It’s all I can say. I’ve never been altogether clear on Graham’s relationship with God or the church, but I can definitely see how some sliver of him believes he deserves to be punished for being gay. No one who likes a cock cage as much as he does is a stranger to shame.

I shouldn’t be thinking about that.

He pulls away, wiping his face on his sleeve. He hooks one hand in my waistband like he’s afraid I might run. I wrap a hand around his wrist to remind him I’m here and not going anywhere until he tells me to. I rub my thumb along his exposed skin. He takes several deep breaths until he’s got himself back under control. “Thank you for coming,” he says in what’s not much more than a whisper.

“No problem.” I’d do almost anything to change the circumstances, but it’s good to see him. Good to know we’re in the same town. I’m also terrified that this might be the last time I ever see him like this. In private with both our guards down.

He slides his hand into mine and meets my eyes. “I don’t know what to do now.”

“You’ll take care of each other,” I tell him, trying to sound optimistic.

“What about you?” he asks.

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