Page 62 of Rescued

He trails off, looking sheepish. I can’t help but smile. “You’ve never…what, babe?” I tease, and I’m genuinely curious.

He glares at me, and I almost laugh. “Smart ass. I meant I’ve never had a…partner…not in Shasta, not anywhere. I always kept my personal life private, so no one in town ever saw me with a man. Easier, probably, for them to pretend I’m not gay, although that isn’t why I did it.”

I tilt my head, studying him. “Why did you do it?”

He lets out a frustrated growl, the tips of his ears turning red. “Because I just…there wasn’t anyone… Goddamn it, Mika,” he snaps, his words spilling out in a rush. “There wasn’t anyone I wanted, okay? If I got too, uhm, desperate for something other than my hand, well, that’s where the adoption trips came in handy, understand? But…” His voice softens, and he glances at me, his green eyes burning with something that makes me emotional. “But those one-night hook-ups just made me feel worse in the morning. You’re the first, the only man I would want by my side. And to stand beside.”

Goddamn it, this man.I lean closer, running my tongue over the curve of his cheek, to his ear, tracing its shape. The way he trembles under my touch sends a bolt of heat straight to my core. “I know exactly what you mean,” I whisper, letting my lips brush against his skin, “and I love you, too.”

His breath hitches, and I can feel the shift in him, the raw emotion he’s trying to process. Gabe isn’t one to gush, but I don’t need flowery words to know how he feels. His love is there, in every glance, every touch, every moment he stands with me.

I settle back into my seat, trying to focus on the road ahead. The truck hums along, but my thoughts are still tangled with his words, his emotions, the bond between us that feels unbreakable. Even with everything happening, Todd lying hurt back home, the tension of not knowing who’s behind it all—I feel anchored by Gabe. By us.

And so we drive, the miles stretching out before us, the weight of what waits at home heavy in the air.

Mika

The trip home is grueling, but Gabe’s determination turns the long haul into something close to a race. By the time we hit Shasta’s town limits around nine in the morning, I feel every mile rattling in my bones. Gabe doesn’t let up, driving straight to the little hospital that serves Shasta and the surrounding area. The sight of Adam standing out front punches me square in the chest.

Adam looks like hell. His hair’s a wreck, his eyes are sunken with dark shadows beneath them, and his mouth is drawn down, making the pale lines around it stand out starkly. The dried blood staining his clothes finishes the picture, and I have to swallow hard against the lump forming in my throat.

“Goddamn, Mika,” Gabe mutters, and I can hear the shock in his voice as he reaches across the seat to grab my hand. I squeeze his fingers, grounding us both before we step out of the truck. Gabe doesn’t hesitate to approach Adam, and I follow, my gut twisting at the sight of the man.

When Gabe reaches him, Adam looks startled for a moment before Gabe pulls him into a hug. The move surprises me, too, but only briefly. Gabe has a heart so big it’s sometimes hard to comprehend, and if someone he cares about is hurting, he’s going to do something about it. My jealousy flares briefly—ridiculous, considering the circumstances—but I shove it down, knowing Gabe would never cross any line.

Adam holds on to him like he’s about to shatter, a ragged sob escaping as he buries his face in Gabe’s shoulder. Watching them, I feel useless. My hand comes up almost on its own, settling on Adam’s shoulder in what I hope is a comforting gesture. I’m not sure it helps, but it’s all I can manage right now.

“How’s Todd?” Gabe’s voice is steady but soft as he pulls back from the hug. He studies Adam with sharp eyes. “You, uh, look like hell, Doc.”

Adam’s lips twitch in what might have been an attempt at a smile if he weren’t so wrecked. “Still unconscious,” he says, his voice hoarse. “But the MRI didn’t show any brain hemorrhaging. That’s…something, at least.” He runs a hand over his face, smearing dirt and dried blood. “He’s damned lucky he didn’t end up with a punctured lung and a crushed skull.”

There’s a haunted look in Adam’s eyes that has me wondering just how bad things were when he found Todd. It’s clear this isn’t just medical detachment—something deeper has gotten under Adam’s skin. Something personal, and I wonder what happened between them during the few days we’ve been gone.

Gabe looks down grimly, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Good. That’s good. You staying with him?”

Adam’s head jerks up like he’s surprised by the question, but then he nods. “Yeah. I couldn’t just…” He trails off, looking down at his hands, his shoulders slumping. “As for me looking like shit, I stayed up here and stayed awake so I could keep an eye on Todd. His parents stopped by, and I, uh, well, they seemed suspicious. Of me. Being here.” He shrugs. “It doesn’t matter, not to me, but I know it matters to Todd.”

Gabe steps closer again, his voice firm. “That’s exactly where you should be. And thanks, Adam. For looking out for him. For being here.”

Adam exhales a shaky breath, and for the first time since we arrived, his eyes meet mine. I don’t miss the plea there, unspoken but clear. Whatever went down, it’s carved into him, and I wonder how much of this mess he’s blaming on himself.

“What happened with his folks, Adam?” I ask, my voice low but thick with concern. I already know it can’t be good. Gabe’s mentioned before how Todd’s parents are abusive, judgmental, self-righteous zealots.

Adam starts to turn, like he’s heading back into the hospital, but then he stops. He pivots on his heel, facing us again, his expression a mix of frustration and confusion. “What happened? Hell, I don’t even know for sure. They took one look at me, and Todd’s mom wentoff—ranting about hell and damnation.” He throws his hands up like he’s trying to physically shake off the memory. “I don’t get it. Why the hell would she assume anything just fromlookingat me?”

I glance at Gabe, raising an eyebrow.“I guess he has no idea how clearly the emotions he’s feeling are written all over his face.”

Gabe snorts softly, nodding in agreement. Yeah, Adam’s about as subtle as a neon sign when it comes to his feelings for Todd.

Adam sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face before continuing.

“And she didn’t stop there.Oh no.She went on this whole tirade about you, Gabe. Apparently being gay is contagious, and Toddcaughtit from you.” He shakes his head, lips curling into a grimace. “She ranted about your grandparents, summers, ‘dirty little boys’. The whole fire-and-brimstone package.”

I can’t help it—I snicker. It slips out before I can stop it, and Gabe’s elbow jabs me in the ribs, sharp enough to make me grunt.Yeah, I deserved that one.

Adam watches us with a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, like he’s grateful for the tension breaking, even if just for a second.

“I don’t understand how people can be so cruel, especially family. All Todd wanted was for them to love him.”

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