Chapter Twelve

“YOU’RE NOTeating enough.” Mrs. Lieu frowned at him.

Dylan forced himself to lift a forkful of the fluffy omelet stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, and feta. It had been three days since they’d extracted his bone marrow, and he felt fine, just tired.

Mrs. Lieu placed a slice of homemade bread slathered with butter and honey in front of him. “It’s a big day today. Your body needs fuel.”

Thanks to Mrs. Lieu, he’d been on a steady diet of iron-rich foods since his surgery. He’d hoped to be back in the pool by now. He missed the feeling of the water on his skin, but he didn’t have the energy yet. As much as he appreciated all the care and concern, he was feeling a bit stifled. It didn’t help that he’d been avoiding Ryan since their conversation the other day. He felt like a coward. Avoiding Ryan wasn’t going to delay his return home. There was no reason to stay. His feelings were still all over the map. Ryan always made the time to seek him out, usually finding him curled up under a cozy blanket in a chair by the window in his room, where the soft sunlight filtered through the window and he could watch the boaters on the lake. The other rooms were too big and stark to feel comfortable in. Often Ryan would ask him about the book he was reading and if he needed anything, always looking at him with concern and wanting to know how he felt.

It was the caring look in his eyes that made Dylan’s heart beat faster. He knew it was wrong, and there was no way he’d ever… do what, try to kiss him? That’s what had colored his dreams the last few nights.

“Dylan, are you sure you’re okay with doing this?”

He jerked his head up, realizing he’d been on the verge of slipping back into that dream state sitting at the kitchen island.

He shoved one more large bite of omelet into his mouth, followed by a chunk of toast, chased it with a gulp of tea, and jumped up from his seat. “Ryan will be here soon. I should grab my things.” Dylan came around the island and dropped a kiss on the crease along Mrs. Lieu’s brow. “Thank you for breakfast and for taking care of me. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

She shooed him away with an affectionate pat on the arm and a frown that showed she didn’t agree. Thank goodness she didn’t catch him having to stop midway up the stairs to blink away the black spots that suddenly danced across his vision. He’d already packed a few books for Leo and a change of clothes for himself when he got up that morning. He grabbed his backpack. Ryan was waiting for him when he appeared at the top of the stairs, looking up at him with a wide smile and excitement in his eyes.

“Are you ready?” he asked as Dylan came down the stairs.

Before he could answer, the room tilted, and he pitched forward, missing the last step. Ryan’s arms wrapped around him, saving him from falling to the floor.

“Are you okay?” His warm breath tickled Dylan’s ear.

Dylan looked into Ryan’s blue eyes, searching his face. “I’m fine,” he said, straightening up, but Ryan kept his grip on him. One of Ryan’s hands moved from his shoulder to Dylan’s waist, creating a sudden surge of awareness in him.

He turned away before Ryan could see anything that would have him sending Dylan on the first flight back to LA, thinking he was trying to hit on him.

“We should get going,” Dylan mumbled, pushing past him.

“Dylan, wait.” Ryan chased after him.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing.”

Dylan kept moving. He had to get some distance and his body under control. It must be because he was still recovering. That was it. All his defenses were down. His body’s response wasn’t because he was attracted to Ryan; his body was out of sync right now. A few more days of healing and he’d be fine. It didn’t matter; he would be back in LA in less than a week.

AFTER SOmany weeks of tests, doctor’s appointments, and then his procedure, Zero Day was finally here. After all the preparation and worry, it came down to watching Dylan’s bone marrow flow from an IV bag down through a tube into the small port in Leo’s hand.

It was silly to think there would be some magical transformation, like the fairy godmother waving her wand in Cinderella. And yet he and Ryan hovered over Leo, watching the slow drip from the IV bag.

Please let it work. He couldn’t face what would happen if he lost the only family member who loved him.

They’d been taking turns reading the books Dylan brought to Leo. Now Ryan was stretched out on the bed, propped up against the elevated back with his arm around Leo, who slept tucked up against his side. Dylan got up from where he’d been sitting next to the bed and gently tucked a blanket around Leo’s shoulders.

“Thank you,” Ryan whispered, looking up at him. The look of gratitude in his eyes seemed to be for more than just making sure Leo was warm.

Dylan hovered over them. Ryan’s upturned face tempted Dylan to reach out and touch Ryan’s lips with his fingers… and with his mouth. He slowly straightened. “Can I get you anything else?” Dylan asked.

“Yes. You can take a rest.” Ryan tipped his head to the window seat with a pillow and blanket folded at one end, wide enough for someone to sleep on.

Dylan nodded and picked up his tablet before taking a seat on the bench and pulling the blanket over his lap. He tried to focus on the words in his book, but they soon blurred and his eyes closed.

This time it was Ryan tucking a blanket over his shoulders. Dylan yawned and sat up.

“Sorry, I was trying not to wake you.”

“That’s okay.” Dylan glanced over at the bed where Leo was curled up, still sleeping soundly. “How’s he doing?”

“Leo’s fine. Why don’t you and I get some dinner? Leo’s favorite nurse is here. He’s in good hands.”

Dylan stood up and swayed. “Still sleepy,” he mumbled when Ryan grabbed his elbow. “I’m okay.”

Dylan moved away from the lure of letting Ryan’s firm hands keep him from falling.

“Why don’t you want to let people take care of you?” Ryan asked softly.

“I could ask you the same question.”

The corner of Ryan’s mouth tipped up. “Who could have guessed we’d have so much in common?”

“There are a lot of things about you I didn’t expect.”

“Tell me about them over dinner,” Ryan said.

Dylan swallowed, trying to quell the butterflies in his stomach. This needed to stop happening. The worst thing that could happen would be to catch feelings for his sister’s husband. He had a hard time picturing Ryan and his sister together. They didn’t seem like they had anything in common, but then again, he hadn’t seen his sister for a long time.

“Sorry I can’t take you somewhere with a little more ambiance,” Ryan said, entering one of the smaller hospital cafés. “I promise I’ll make it up to you and take you somewhere nice next time.”

Next time. That wasn’t going to happen, but Dylan couldn’t help the image that formed in his mind of sitting across from Ryan at a candlelit table. Dylan stifled a groan. What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he stop thinking about Ryan as someone he wanted to wake up naked in bed with? There were too many reasons he shouldn’t, but they weren’t enough to keep him from saying, “That would be nice.”

They ordered a couple of sandwiches and found a small table in the corner.

“So what are the other things you didn’t expect about me?” Ryan asked.

“Honestly. I thought you’d be more of a snob. You’re….” He paused, trying to find the right words to explain the disconnect. “You know the expression don’t judge a book by its cover?” Ryan nodded. “You don’t match your surroundings.”

Ryan wrinkled his forehead. “I’m going to need you to elaborate.”

“You live in this enormous fancy house. But you’re not fancy. You’re a millionaire, but you don’t act like one. You married my sister, but you don’t seem religious or conservative. I can’t figure you out.”

Ryan laughed with a snort. “Neither can I.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said lately. I don’t feel like I fit in my own life. I’ve never really felt comfortable in my skin.”

“I know what that feels like.”

Ryan nodded.

“Have you ever thought about moving?”

“I have. Stephanie and my parents think it’s too soon after Lindsay’s passing to move Leo. It’s the only home he’s ever had.”

“You’re close to your sister and your parents, aren’t you?”

Ryan shrugged. “Yes and no. We were really close as kids, but I don’t have much in common with the rest of my family. I’m more of an introvert. That’s why it works well to let Stephanie work face-to-face with Blackstone clients. When she suggested taking over sales and communications, I was happy to focus on the tech, which is what I really love to do anyway.”

Dylan chewed a bite of his sandwich, listening thoughtfully. Why wasn’t he surprised it was Ryan’s sister’s idea and that he went along with it?

They finished their sandwiches and started back toward Leo’s room.

“But would you if you wanted to?” Dylan asked.

“Would I what?”

“Live in a different place.”

Ryan’s face twisted. “In a heartbeat. I hate that house.”

“Then why did you buy it?”

“It’s what Lindsay wanted.” Ryan shrugged. “She and Stephanie and my parents all thought we should have a place where we could entertain clients.”

“So it didn’t matter what you wanted?”

“It was easier to make everyone else happy.”

Dylan shook his head. “I’m glad that worked for you. I couldn’t go along with what would have made everyone else happy.”

Ryan scowled. “That was a line no one should be asked to cross.”

“No, but it happens. And you can’t say what you’d be willing to do in order to hold on to the only life you’ve ever known.” Dylan hesitated for a second before reaching out and squeezing Ryan’s hand. “I hope you get to live in a place that you love someday.”

When Ryan looked down at their joined hands, Dylan pulled out of his grasp, shoving his hands in his pockets. A nurse coming out of Leo’s room ended their conversation.

“He just woke up,” she said.

“Noelle, this is Leo’s uncle, Dylan McKenzie. Dylan, this is Noelle Wright.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet you. Leo’s a big fan of his uncle Dylan,” she said, shaking his hand.

“I’m guessing you’re the nurse Leo’s been telling me about.”

“The one and only.” She chuckled. “I’m going to order him some dinner, and I’ll check back in a while.”

“Thanks, Noelle.” Ryan gave her a warm smile. “The staff here is wonderful,” he said to Dylan as she walked away, “but Noelle charmed Leo from the first day. She told me it’s a mixed thing.”

Dylan nodded. “It’s a funny phenomenon, but people who are mixed race—we recognize a kindred spirit or something. One time I was sitting at the airport waiting for a flight, and this little boy came over and climbed into my lap. He couldn’t have been more than three. His mom was White and his dad Black. They chased after him, apologizing and embarrassed. Their little boy looked up at me and put his hand on my cheek, and we smiled at each other while I explained kids like us recognize each other.”

“That’s really sweet. But I think that little boy recognized a kind soul when he saw one.”

Dylan felt his face heat from Ryan’s compliment. “Anyway my point is, I bet if you asked, Noelle would tell you the same thing.”

“That she recognized a kind soul when she met you?” Ryan said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Was Ryan flirting with him? No, that was wishful thinking, and he had no business making wishes that weren’t going to come true.

“Come on, let’s see if Leo wants to watch a movie.” Dylan turned his back on Ryan’s enticing smile and opened the door to Leo’s room.