Page 94 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

An unreasonable anger went through Luke. “God, Gray, did you stay at that motel just so I wouldn’t know you were sick again?”

Gray stiffened against him and tried to pull away but Luke refused to release him. Luke took several deep breaths to try to stem his anger and then said, “Don’t hospitals require someone to be with you when you’re undergoing chemo?”

“I convinced the staff I had someone waiting for me.”

“What about your friends? Your family?”

Gray just shook his head.

“No one knows?”

Gray struggled free from his grip and climbed to his feet. Luke stood and tried to grab Gray’s arm to steady him but Gray shook him off and leaned against the sink. Gray stared at himself in the mirror for another long moment before he yanked open a drawer. He pulled out a black box of some kind and Luke flinched when he saw what was inside. It took several seconds for Gray to work the clippers free of the foam housing they were encased in and then he was plugging the cord into the outlet. The sound of the clippers was harsh.

“Gray,” Luke said softly as he reached for the clippers.

But Gray sucked in a quick breath and then ran the clippers right down the middle of his head. His shorn hair fell away silently and Gray stopped to stare at the result. Tears began to flow down his cheeks as he tried to shave another strip of hair away but he was too overcome to hold the clippers without shaking so Luke took them away and unplugged them. He lowered his mouth to Gray’s ear and whispered, “Let me do it, okay?”

Gray managed a nod and allowed Luke to lead him from the bathroom. He got Gray settled in a kitchen chair and found a nearby outlet. Gray flinched as soon as he turned the clippers on but he never once took his eyes off the grove of trees that he was staring at through the window. Luke draped a dish towel over Gray’s shoulders and made quick work of shaving the rest of Gray’s head before brushing the stray clumps of hair to the floor. He sat down in the chair next to Gray who finally turned to look at him.

“How does it look?”

Luke couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to run his hand over the small amount of stubble that remained. He wanted to tell Gray he still looked just as hot but figured that might just be too much for Gray to deal with right now so he settled for “really good” instead.

Gray lifted his hand to run his fingers over his head and hesitated the instant he felt his scalp.

“You’ll get used to it,” Luke said. “And think about how much money you’ll save on that expensive shampoo of yours,” he added.

A smile flitted across Gray’s lips and Luke felt a spark of hope for the first time since he’d watched Gray’s hair appear between his fingers.

“I’m really tired,” Gray murmured. “I’m going to go lie down for a bit.”

“Can you try to drink some more water?” Luke asked. “You’re really dehydrated, Gray. It’s part of the reason you’re feeling so run down.”

Gray looked at the water and then shook his head. “Can’t,” he whispered. “The metal…”

“I can take you to the hospital…they can give you IV fluids-”

“No,” Gray said sharply. “No hospitals. Can’t risk being recognized,” he murmured before he seemed to realize what he’d said. “I’m fine,” he insisted stubbornly as he stood.

Luke followed him back to the bedroom and wasn’t surprised when Gray went to look at himself in the mirror. His expression remained blank as he studied his reflection and then he was pushing himself away from the sink and stumbling towards his bed. Luke steadied him as he pulled back the covers and within seconds of Gray’s head hitting the pillow, he was out.

Luke dropped down to sit on the edge of the bed and studied Gray’s features. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to run his hand over Gray’s drawn face. Helplessness went through him as he placed his fingers against Gray’s throat. The too fast beat had Luke reaching for Gray’s phone.

* * *

The cool air was welcoming against Luke’s skin as he entered the small building. He was glad to see the waiting room was empty but the electronic doorbell that had announced his presence once he’d opened the door must have been heard in the back because he heard someone shout that they’d be right there. An old cat was sitting on top of the reception counter and as it meowed at him expectantly, Luke went over and began petting it. The cat’s soft fur and purring helped ease some of the anxiety he was having about not being armed. His gun was under the front seat of Gray’s truck and even though he felt naked without it, he knew the vet’s police officer boyfriend wouldn’t have missed Luke being armed since it was too hot out to be wearing any kind of jacket that would have concealed the weapon.

Footsteps grew closer and the cat quickly ditched him to run down to the opposite end of the counter. The man who appeared instantly began stroking the cat. “Hi, can I help you?” he asked, his wide smile bright and welcoming. Luke guessed the man to be in his late thirties with an average build and brown hair with just a hint of silver in it.

“Are you Dr. Winters?”

“I am,” the man said as he picked up the cat and snuggled her against his chest. “Call me Dane.”

“I don’t have an appointment or anything,” Luke said awkwardly. “I got your name from Gray’s phone and Googled your address.”

The man went on alert at the mention of Gray’s name and then his eyes narrowed slightly, probably because he was wondering what the hell Luke was doing going through Gray’s phone. “Is Gray okay?”

Luke didn’t miss the suspicion in the man’s voice or the way the cat pulled free of his hold and jumped back on the counter to seek out Luke’s hand.

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