Page 35 of Seeing Grayscale

“Your dream, I guess. The one every kid has. You already know mine.”

“Oh,” he whispers. He goes to chew on his thumb but drops his hand at the last minute. “I didn’t have one.”

“No?”

“No.” The word is firm and effectively stops our conversation for the rest of the five-minute drive.

Perry’s clinic is private, so the building is smaller and blends with the surrounding businesses. I pull into the off-street parking lot around the back. Relieved to find minimal cars back here, I drag a hand through my hair and blow out a breath.

This is it. I got him this far.

We will determine what comes after once we know how bad his leg is. A secret part of me hopes it's beyond a fracture, something that will need a lengthy recovery.

I’ve broken a few bones in my life, and I know that agony well. The fact Gray can put weight on his leg at all tells me it’s either a hairline fracture or he’s got one hell of a pain tolerance. Somehow, I know it’s the former. I don’t get that lucky.

Fuck, since when do Ihopefor someone to be hurt badly?

The answer is clear to me, even if it makes me scowl.

I want him close by so I can keep my eye on him. So I can…

“I don’t want to do this,” Gray blurts. The buckle is in place, and he’s shaking.

“It’s just an X-ray,” I say, trying to ease his nerves, but he shakes his head.

“Not that.This.Whatever you’re trying to do. After I get hooked up with the doctor, I want you to take me back home.”

I blink at him, shocked. “You can’t be serious,” is what comes out, but I know he is.

Frosty blues glare at me. “Don’t think I can’t see it happening or recognize the way you weasel deeper shit into conversation. You are trying toknowme, dude. You don’t. You won’t. Andwhatever bullshit you’re thinking of saying to me after this ain’t going to convince me to stay with you. I’m not your toy to play with. Got it?”

“So you want me to send you back out on the street with a broken leg?” I almost add on,and a torn-up asshole.I know what that cream is for.

The decent man inside of me is the only reason I don’t throw that in his face.

You will get infected if you aren’t careful and keep up with your hygiene.

“That’s exactly what I want. It was broken before you found me.”

I want to argue, to demand that he listen to reason. But the stubborn clench of his jaw and the hard edge of his eyes tell me I won’t make any headway with him. He’s made up his mind. “Can we discuss this later? Your appointment is in ten minutes,” I glance at my watch.

“No,” he deadpans, then unbuckles his seatbelt. “If you don’t take me back, I’ll fucking walk.”

SEVENTEEN

Thetruthofitis, if I stay any longer, I’ll crack.

It’ll be easy, even.

Last night, I fell asleep without worrying who was next to me. This morning, I was excited to get a hot breakfast—even if it came from a drive-thru. Seeing the city for the first time left me in a state of awe, speechless and mesmerized by the grandeur of it all. This foreign landscape and the man beside me are quickly becoming all I look forward to.

I’mhopingagain, which ultimately leads to disappointment and heartbreak.

So, no, I’m not willing to change my mind.

And yes, I am being a fucking dick about it.

“Fine,” Hunter says and gets out of the car. I start to open my door, but he’s there before I can push it all the way. “If that’s what you want,” he says combatively.

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