Page 143 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“You bet. We have vac-pac lamb chops from the Farmer’s Market in the freezer. I’ll get those out and thaw them in a water bath. You can grill the chops, I’ll roast potato wedges in the oven, and we’ll toss a salad. How does that sound?”
“Sounds perfect.” Wyl pulled Rod into an embrace. “I love you.”
Rod snaked his arms around Wyl’s waist. “I love you, too, baby. You are everything to me.”
Wyl mixed the martinis while Rod worked on supper. They enjoyed a relaxing meal with a perfect cabernet from the wine rack. As they cleaned up the dinner dishes, Rod said, “Let’s find a good movie and spend the evening snuggling on the reclining loveseat.”
“I can’t think of a more perfect evening. I love snuggling with my husband. I remember how wonderful it felt the first time I wrapped my arms around you. You smelled so good, and I got carried away.”
“Some guitar lesson that turned out to be,” Rod laughed. “We need to finish that lesson someday. Maybe this time we should do it in the nude.”
“That would save some time,” Wyl chuckled. “Of course, if you actually want to learn to play the guitar, we probably should do it wearing armor.”
“Tell you what,” Rod said. “You play the guitar, and I’ll play the piano, and we’ll have sex whenever we want.”
Wyl walked up behind Rod and wrapped his arms around Rod’s waist. “How about we do it nude?”
“It will be a short session,” Rod chuckled.
They finished cleaning up, and Rod poured the last of the cabernet into their glasses. “Ready for that movie?”
“After you.”
They watched two movies, but exhaustion overcame them by ten o’clock. They turned off the TV and wandered into the bedroom to prepare for bed. Rod’s face had tiredness written all over it, so Wyl curled up with him in his arms.
“I love you, Rod Sterling,” Wyl whispered.
“I love you too, Wyl Sterling.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Wyl woke at 2:00 a.m. and reached for Rod. His husband’s spot was cold and empty. He heard coughing and gagging from the bathroom and climbed out of bed to find Rod.
“Babe, are you alright?”
Rod sat naked on the floor, hugging the throne. “No.” His voice came out raspy and weak. “It’s been coming from both ends, and I can’t stop throwing up.”
Wyl wet a washcloth with cool water and wiped Rod’s brow.
Suddenly, Rod began shaking, then fell into a convulsion. Wyl held him as he grabbed the water closet phone and pressed pound-one for building security. “Call an ambulance, quick!” He yelled as the security guard in the lobby answered. “Rod is having convulsions and has passed out.” He hung up the phone and clung to his convulsing husband. Visions of his brother’s death flashed through his mind as he held Rod in his arms.
Ten minutes later, the ambulance attendants arrived. Wyl stepped away and threw on clothes while they stabilized Rod.
“How is he?” Wyl’s voice shook. They loaded Rod on a gurney.
“We don’t know. He may be dehydrated. We started an IV with saline as a precaution. The emergency doctors will determine exactly what happened.”
“I can ride along, right? We’re legal.” Wyl grew panicked at losing sight of the only man he loved.
“Yes. You can ride in the front passenger seat of the ambulance to the hospital. Be sure to bring your paperwork.”
Wyl knew he would need proof of Rod’s medical power of attorney. He carried miniature copies of all the documents he needed, including their marriage license, in his wallet. Wyl rode down the elevator with them and climbed into the ambulance's front seat for the trip to the hospital.
“Any preference for a hospital?” the ambulance driver asked.
“What is the best?” Wyl’s voice was still shaky and uncertain.
“UCSF Medical Center,” he said without hesitation.
