Page 110 of Doing Life

What? “And?”

“And you do it every day. Every day you go to work. You could die. You could get hurt. I was in a freak accident. Two different things.”

Sloan stared, absolutely gobsmacked, as they would say on British cop shows. “What?”

“I was out riding and a tornado blew up. This is East Texas. It happens.”

“Oh, fuck that. It still scared the bejesus out of me.”

“Yes. When the lightning hit and the horses threw us, I was too unconscious to be scared.”

“Lightning!” Sloan knew he was losing it, and that Lance didn’t deserve it, but he was— “Unconscious? What the hell, baby? You didn’t tell the medics that!”

“The lightning didn’t hit me. Brick said it hit right between me and Boone. That’s why our horses got separated.”

“I— I— I?—”

Lance got another towel and started on Maynard. “Are you having a stroke?”

“Yes! I think I am. This is some bullshit.”

“Hey.” Lance stopped, standing up to face him, if not look at him since he couldn’t. “I’m okay. So are you. You were onthe road for work. You know I had to be worried you’d get caught in it.”

“Yes, but?—”

“Nope.” Lance held up a hand. “No buts.”

“I— Can you stop drying the dogs so I can kiss you?”

“Fuck yes.” Up this close, he could see the lines in Lance’s face, and he got it, how scared Lance had to have been, and he dragged Lance into his arms, leaning down to slam their mouths together.

He held Lance to him, not letting go even when they had to heave for air and the dogs were whining. He needed to hold on.

Until Lance laughed. “My ass is frozen.”

“My feet are too. Shower? We’ll heat everything but the shakes up when we get out.”

“Okay. We need to put the shakes in the fridge and the rest where Frick and Frack can’t reach. They think they’re starving.”

“I’ll do that. Get the hot water going, fair?”

“Fair.” Lance turned, and his lover’s back was covered in bruises.

Fuck, that pissed him off. Still, Lance had managed, hadn’t he? He’d kept Boone alive. He’d gotten them all to shelter. It was a stunning feat for someone who hadn’t graduated from therapy yet.

Lance headed to the back hall, and he put the shakes away, then gave the dogs their dental bones. He’d feed them when they ate their supper, and they would all snuggle until the pups needed to go out.

He wandered to the bathroom, where steam was already billowing. “I think you’ve graduated, baby,” Sloan said.

“Pardon?” Lance turned to face him, the water pouring over the lean body.

He stepped into the spray with his lover. “Fromfunctioning blind Lance school. I mean, you might need more physio? But you’re pretty damn functional.”

Lance blinked at him, then whapped his butt. “Does that mean you’re done yelling, asshat?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, honey. I freaked out. It was an endless day for you, but it was a long one for me too and then I found out you were missing. I was as calm as I could be, but now?” He shook his head, running his hands gently over that bruised skin. “I love you.”

“I love you too. It was…I don’t want to wait around. Life keeps happening. I want to go home.”

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