Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

It had been a frustrating morning, one he’d spent mostly on hold with the airlines. The rain that kept pouring from the sky only served to heighten his already foul mood. The problem wasn’t Florida—it was impossible to get a flight out of New York.

“Please, I’m a doctor and need to get back to my office.” He cringed hearing himself say it, but he did have skin-cancer surgeries scheduled.

“I’m sorry, Doctor, but the only flight I can get you on is the 10:28 p.m. tomorrow night to Miami.”

“I’ll take it,” he answered in a hurry, afraid if he hesitated, the seat would disappear.

“Okay, I have you all booked in a confirmed seat. I’d get to the airport earlier than usual because all the delays will make it super crowded.”

“Thanks.” He ended the call and found Nico sitting on the bed, staring at him with an odd look. “What?”

“Nothing. I know it’s a pain in the ass for you, but not gonna lie, I like having you for an extra day.”

Ford sat next to him and tipped up his chin to softly kiss his mouth. “I know. And I do love being here with you. It’s just that with everything up in the air at the office, being absent even one day may be too long. I’m afraid of Lenny coming in and pulling some shit.”

A range of emotions played over Nico’s face. “I know. I hate that you’re going through this.”

“At least I’m here with you, and not stuck in some hotel room alone.”

“Yeah, about that.” Nico made a face. “At some point I’m gonna have to go home. I can’t wear the same clothes three days in a row.”

Ford quirked a smile. “I like you in nothing at all, but I get it.” He peered at the window. “Do you think we can get a car?”

Nico snorted. “Surge pricing will cost you a fortune. No way am I gonna let you waste your money.”

“You’re sweet. I guess we’ll make a run for the train, then. And if we get wet, I’ll have to borrow your clothes, if that’s okay.”

“You think I’m gonna be mad about your sexy ass in my clothes? I may never wash them again.” Nico winked, and Ford’s heart filled with so much joy, he couldn’t stop smiling. “That was the first thing I noticed about you when you took that tour.” Nico reached around and patted his butt. “A work of art.”

Ford’s cheeks burned. “Silly. You’re the one. The perfect combination of sexy and sensual and sweet. You’re beautiful.”

With breakfast finished and umbrellas in hand, they made a run for the subway station. Ford was surprised to find the train half-empty, and mentioned it to Nico, who shrugged.

“It’s Sunday, and the weather sucks, so people are staying home.”

“Makes sense. It’s good you have the trains. In Florida we get these kinds of torrential downpours all summer long, but we have to drive.”

“Yeah, that would suck. A lotta people in the city don’t even bother with getting their driver’s license, since they’re never gonna own a car.”

It was such a different world, and yet Ford found himself enjoying all of it. The crowded streets filled with people dressed in wildly contrasting styles. The quiet of the Brooklyn streets at night, compared to the frenetic hustle of the city. The small mom-and-pop stores and restaurants in Nico’s neighborhood, where people looked out for each other.

They reached Nico’s apartment and kicked off their wet sneakers and socks. Ford sat on the couch and watched as Nico turned on the lights. “You know what? I think I finally understand.”

“What?”

“Why you love it here in the city. If I lived here, I’m not sure I’d want to move either.”

Nico stretched out on the couch and put his head in Ford’s lap. He couldn’t resist running his fingers through those dark, silky waves. “It’s not perfect. We got a shitload of problems to deal with, our taxes are ridiculous, there’s too much crime, and the rent is too damn high.” He quirked a smile. “But I still love it. Everyone who means anything to me is here.” He glanced up. “Except you.”

“I’m here now.” Ford leaned down and met his kiss halfway. Nico’s lips were gentle and sweet in contrast to the furious rain and wind pummeling the windows. Ford forgot about the shit storm waiting for him at the office and contemplated a lazy day spent snuggled in bed with Nico.

Nico’s phone rang, and he groaned. “It’s my mother.”

Ford laughed. “Great timing.”

“Hey, Ma. What is it?”

Ford could hear her voice through the phone.

“Are you downstairs? I thought I heard noises.”

Nico rolled his eyes.

“Ma, you got Superman hearing or what? How can you hear anything with all this rain out there?”

“Never mind that. Did Ford get off okay? The weather’s really bad.”

Nico met his eyes, and Ford clamped a hand over his mouth to keep the hysterical laughter inside.

I got off okay, all right. Twice last night and once this morning.

“Actually, he’s right here with me. His flight got canceled, so he’s stayin’ until tomorrow.”

“Ain’t that nice. Tell you what. I got a nice soup on the stove. Why don’tcha come upstairs and have some?”

“Ma. We’re—”

“Joanne, we’d love to,” he called out, and Nico’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Hi, honey. Don’t you listen to my son. You need some good home cookin’. The soup’ll be ready in about half an hour. You two come up here then.”

Before Nico could answer her, she ended the call, and Nico rolled up to sitting and shot him a dark look. “Why’d you agree? We’ll be stuck up there all afternoon.”

Ford reached for Nico’s jeans. “Half an hour is plenty of time for what I want to do to you.”

**

The rest of his day and evening were spent in the circle of Nico’s family, and Ford gathered all their warmth to carry with him when he left. As a child, he’d seen the other kids at school getting picked up by their mothers or fathers and given hugs. Parents would show up for school plays, science fairs, and spelling bees, but never his mother, who informed him through the ever-present cigarette smoke that she didn’t have time to waste on crap like that. As her next of kin, he’d received notification of her death while he and Lenny were on vacation in the Virgin Islands. He had her cremated and her ashes spread over the ocean, as he remembered she’d once said she loved the beach.

“You okay, honey?” Joanne patted his hand. “You look sad.” A knowing expression lit her eyes. “Aw, I get it. You gotta leave tomorrow. Don’t worry, you’ll be back in no time for the holidays.”

Let her believe what she wanted. He had no wish to expose long-buried grief, and he breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t dig deeper. “I know. I can’t wait.”

Nico gazed at him with thoughtful eyes but said nothing. Later that night, they returned to his hotel after Nico worked a very slow shift at the restaurant. Knowing he was leaving and wouldn’t return for a month made him desperate for Nico, and the moment they entered the room, he kissed him. But for the first time, Nico put him off.

“Hold up.”

Ford blinked. “What’s wrong?”

Nico crossed his arms. “You tell me. At dinner you were in your head. Even my mother noticed.”

“It was nothing.” He reached for Nico to kiss him. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was wasting their last night talking about his mommy issues.

But Nico was willing to take that chance because he refused Ford yet again.

“Bullshit. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Pain washed over him. “Your mother mentioned the holidays and family…I should’ve cared more when my mother died, but it meant nothing to me. When I was little, my mother would dump me with the lady in the trailer next to us—who was a better mother to me than she was—and go do her thing at the strip club.”

Nico paled. “Ford, what’re you talking about?”

Perhaps he’d always remained that same scared kid who’d tucked away his true feelings for fear of getting hurt. But Nico wasn’t Lenny, with that smile that danced on the edge of cruelty. Nico understood him. Loved him. He shouldn’t fear telling him.

“When I was ten, she’d leave me alone, cursing that she shouldn’t have to pay to have someone watch me, and I learned to do things on my own, including the holidays. I’d put up tinsel and whatever stuff I could find at the dollar store. I even bought a little fake tree with the money I earned from helping people around the trailer park with their errands.”

Nico took his hand and held it tight.

“She didn’t like that I’d told people I’d done it all myself, and smacked me, saying it made her look bad, like she wasn’t being a good mother.” Nico’s face reflected his horror at Ford’s story, but now that he’d begun to speak, he couldn’t stop the bleeding. Old scars never fully healed.

“When I told her she wasn’t, she ripped apart whatever I’d done and dumped the tree in the garbage.” He fixed his gaze on the geometric pattern of the carpeting under his feet. “That year I spent Christmas in the emergency room. She said I fell down the stairs.”

“Oh my God,” Nico breathed and hugged him. “I’m so damn sorry.”

“I’m okay now. But I’ve never told anyone.”

“Not even your ex?”

Nico’s surprise stopped him. “Especially not him. I wanted to push all the ugliness of my childhood out of my mind. Lenny knew I was poor but nothing else.” He grimaced. Reliving those days had him cringing, but it allowed him to see the equal and loving relationship he had with Nico.

“I can’t imagine you anything but strong and confident.” Nico played with his fingers.

“In my work, yes.” His lips twitched. “My personal life is another story. I was in love, or so I thought, and did whatever he wanted, too afraid to upend a seemingly perfect life. I let him control everything in our relationship—our practice, our social life…our sex life.” His cheeks warmed. “Give Lenny a smooth path, and he’s a great guy. But any obstacle, no matter how small, sets him off.” He shuddered, remembering the rants when he’d perceive some injustice against him.

“He’s a piece of shit,” Nico pronounced, and Ford kissed the strong set of his jaw.

“Sitting there with your family and all your friends, I wished I had a mother because I never did, really. And I’m so damn sad about it.”

“Baby…” Nico kissed his wet eyelashes and face and held him as the tears flowed freely for the first time. “I love you. My family is yours. Tutte bene. It’ll be fine. You’re with us now. Ti amore. Sei il mio cuore, sei l’amina mia.”

“Have I mentioned how sexy you are when you speak Italian? I don’t even know what you’re saying, but it makes me hard. I definitely leveled up in boyfriends.”

“It means I love you. You’re my heart and my love.”

Ford rested his cheek to Nico’s. Those love words finally smoothed the broken edges of his soul. Nico’s kisses, soft lips, and seeking tongue gave him peace. “I love you, Nico. So damn much.” He cupped Nico’s face. “And while we’re baring our souls tonight, I know you might not want to hear this, but I think you should try to see your father.”

Nico’s eyes grew as stormy as the sky outside. “I don’t want to talk about that. Not on our last night together.”

“Nico. I’m not on death row. I’ll be back in a month. But life is too fucking short, and he should know what an amazing son he has.”

Nico sank to the bed. “What if he doesn’t want to know me? He can say go fuck yourself, I don’t give a damn about you.”

“Then you have your answer. And I can help you with that—I’m an expert on knowing what it feels like to have a parent treating their child like shit.” He ran his nose down Nico’s cheek, inhaling his scent along with the smell of fear. “It’ll be okay. Because no matter what, you’ll still have me. Us. That’s never going to change.”

Nico met his eyes, so anxious, lost, and vulnerable. “I’m scared.”

Ford hugged him. “I know. But that’s when it’s worth fighting for. I know you can do it.”

Nico buried his face in his neck. “I-I will. I’ll do it this week.”

“Good.”

They held each other, their love more powerful than the raging storm outside.

**

The following morning dawned bright, with the sky a freshly washed shade of blue. Ford decided it would be nice to thank Sandler in person for taking care of Frank, and so he pulled the business card from his wallet and placed the call.

“Ford, how are you? How’s sunny Florida?”

Ford smiled. “The same. I’m in town and wondered if you had time for me to stop for a visit.”

“How about lunch? I can order us some sandwiches.”

“Sounds good. What time?”

“Is one good? That’s my usual time.”

Ford could hear Nico waking up in the bedroom and was anxious to join him. “I’ll be there.”

“See you then.”

He pounced on Nico and kissed him. “I’m going to see Frank’s doctor at one.”

“What time is it now?” Nico asked, his voice still rough with sleep. Between his messy dark waves spread over the bright-white pillowcase and the morning stubble shading his face, Nico was a wet dream come to life, and Ford grasped his shaft. He was still open from earlier and sank down on him, hungry to be filled.

“It’s get-inside-me o’clock.”

Nico groaned and rolled him underneath to thrust hard and fast. “Mission accomplished.”

Ford rose to meet Nico, wishing they could stay like this forever. He came with a harsh cry, and Nico followed a second later, filling him with warm come. Nico latched on to his neck, sucking. “That’s for when you’re not with me, so you remember who you belong with.”

“I couldn’t forget. And the best thing is, I know I’ll never have to.”

**

At one in the afternoon, he walked into Sandler’s office and stopped at the doorway in admiration. From the outside it looked like an older apartment building, nice enough, with a doorman, but nothing special. Indoors however, it was understated elegance. Soft, muted tones of lemon and sage green for the furniture, and gray carpeting. Quiet classical music played in the background.

The receptionist greeted him. “Dr. St. Claire? Dr. Sandler’s expecting you. Follow me, please.”

She led him to a small room with a long table. Sandler stood at the window, and a smile broke out over his face when he saw Ford. They shook hands, and Sandler held on to his arm.

“Ford, how are you? I can’t tell you how it made my day to get your call. Sit, please.”

They’d had a few calls after he’d referred Frank, so he was aware Frank was responding to treatment and was well on his way to recovery.

“It’s good to see you again too.”

“I have curried chicken salad, turkey, and tuna. I’m banned from roast beef.”

Ford’s lips twitched. “Not a problem. I’m fine with any of these.”

They ate for a while. Ford set his half of the sandwich aside. “Your space is beautiful. Very different from mine in Florida.”

“Thanks. I’ll tell my wife, as she’s the decorator of the family.” Sandler fiddled with his cup. “How’s the office doing? Things still okay with your partner?”

A bit of an odd question, but Ford could answer it without giving away too much. He liked and respected Sandler but would never reveal Lenny’s stupidity.

“Actually, we’re dissolving the practice. It should be finished by the end of the year. Things weren’t going as well as I’d hoped, so we’re calling it quits.”

Sandler’s gray brows flew up. “That’s so interesting.”

“Not really. It should be pretty simple. We each have our own patient lists. We’ll split everything according to our partnership, then go on our separate ways.” The pain in his stomach tightened like a knot, and his appetite vanished. Awaiting his return was an angry Lenny and all the problems he’d created. Ford couldn’t stick his head in the sand and ignore his world imploding around him, but for one more day he’d pretend to be Scarlett O’Hara and think about it tomorrow.

“From where I sit, it’s not so simple, son. I’m sorry you had to get mixed up with him. Have you found a new place?”

“Not yet,” Ford admitted.

“And yet you’re up here. Visiting that young man I saw you with at the dinner?” Sandler’s lips curved in a grin. “Still seeing each other?”

Ford lifted his chin. “Yes. Yes we are.”

“Good for you. And him. I wish you luck. You’re a good man, Ford. What you did for Frank, I’m not sure anyone else I know would’ve bothered.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Let me ask you this. Have you thought about maybe relocating here? If the two of you are serious, maybe you want to think about it.”

Ford sighed. “First of all, I’d have to get licensed. It would mean a competitive market I don’t know much about, with no patients initially. I’d be starting over from scratch, and at my age, that’s not easy.”

Sandler laughed. “Your age looks pretty good from where I’m sitting.” He peered at him over his glasses. “Let me tell you what I have in mind.”