Love Wins Read online

  “They’re going to build a memorial,” Paul said as he read. He looked up at Brad, his eyes wet with tears.

  “Yes. It’s going to include input from the families, mementos, and letters. They’re even going to take the flowers people have left and turn them into soil for the gardens. He didn’t win, Paul. We did.”

  Paul looked back at Brad’s article. When he turned to the last page, Brad knew he saw it then—a picture of him at Gavriel’s grave. Paul held the yellow rose, preparing to place it on the newly turned earth.

  “I asked them to use that one.” Brad took the magazine out of Paul’s hand, pulled him into his arms. “It’s a symbol of hope that, through it all, love wins.”

  And it did.

  DEJA BLACK had fantasies of men loving men, men who felt strongly, loved hard, and needed a hero. Then one great day she came across a book and discovered the world of m/m writing, encountered others who shared her obsession as much as she did, and found a world where she could not only be accepted for the lives and loves she envisioned, but she could create them too. So why not? Why not take the stories she would write and throw away as a teenager, grow them, dream them, and make them a reality where she could know her own characters, let them live their story, and make them real for someone else? And she did. Now, with the support of her hubby and some intense time management, she is learning to balance her family of two energetic children and a very needy shih tzu at home along with the many students she teaches each and every day with her passion of writing what she loves to read.

  Deja is always interested in connecting to new people who also share her love, so please feel free to contact her at:

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/deja.black.69

  Blog: dejablack77.blogspot.com

  Twitter: @DejaBlack69

  Changing Things

  By Nicole Dennis

  Despite his allergies, Ryan puts up with the two rescue cats his boyfriend, Seth, adores. But when an especially severe asthma attack sends Ryan to the hospital, Seth realizes something has to give—either his relationship with Ryan or his guardianship of Fili and Kili.

  Author’s Note: This short story takes place after the events in Treasure Trail.

  A LOUD, vicious sneeze woke him from a deep sleep. Seth Eldridge opened his eyes and shifted under the sheets. Another sneeze almost rocked the bed. With a sigh, Seth clicked the light on low and sat up. He stared down at the end of the bed.

  A fluffy Maine Coon brown tabby sat up in one corner. One back paw lifted and stretched while he licked away in a late bath session. He paused in the lickfest to lift his golden gaze and stare back at Seth. Not bothered by his presence, the cat returned to his bath.

  Another harsh sneeze came from his sleeping companion, his lover, Ryan Dermott. Seth rubbed Ryan’s back and glared at the cat.

  “Kili, you troublemaker. You know you’re not supposed to be in here. Especially during bath time,” Seth scolded the cat.

  There was another mew. Lower and deeper.

  “Fili,” Seth said and tried to find the second cat. “No. Why would you follow your brother in here?”

  Another mewl answered him, but Fili didn’t make a full appearance.

  Ryan was horribly allergic to all types of animal dander, with the full gamut of symptoms from red itchy eyes, stuffed sinuses, loud sneezing, breaking out in hives or rash, and asthma issues. While he did take a daily allergy medication and even tried shots, Ryan never got full relief—unless he lived somewhere else without pets.

  For some reason, Ryan continued to put himself through this discomfort because he loved Seth. Seth adored his two rescue cats. The huge Maine Coon was the troublemaker of the two, always trying to brush up against Ryan or take an evening bath in their bedroom. Seth swore to himself that he’d closed and blocked the door. Damn pesky feline.

  “Kili, go,” Seth said.

  Kili meowed and resumed his bath. He spread his fluffy toes to get all spots on the back leg.

  “Who’s on the bed?” Ryan muttered. His voice was thick with congestion.

  “Kili.”

  “Lickfest?”

  “Yup. I’m sorry he keeps doing this, babe. I’ll get him out. Fili is also in here. Somewhere. I think he’s hiding under the bed.”

  “Following his brother’s lead, as always.”

  “I’m sorry, Ryan. I’ll kick them out.” Seth moved to get up.

  Ryan rolled to his back, placed a hand on Seth’s hip to stop him. He sat up against the pillows and headboard. He shoved another pillow behind him. “Too late. Damage done.” He snagged several tissues from a nearby box and blew his nose.

  “Do you want me to get your pills and water?”

  Ryan sneezed three times and groaned. He glared at Kili, who returned the gaze in the quiet feline way. He reached out again, this time to pick up a nasal spray. He shot multiple sprays up each nostril. Then he held the tissue against his nose while the medicine worked.

  “Ry, I love you, but you can’t keep doing this to yourself. This is your health,” Seth said.

  Ryan sniffed a couple of times and then sneezed hard. “This isn’t the first time I’ve woken up like this. I’ll handle it.” He eyed the cat again.

  Kili flipped to the other side and repeated the bath process on his other back leg.

  Seth rolled his eyes and shook his head. “That’s my cat.” He moved a foot under the covers to nudge Kili’s furry butt.

  The cat meowed and twisted away from his foot. He flicked his tail, then an ear, and lowered the leg.

  “Leave, Kili, now.” Seth pushed harder against Kili’s butt.

  “He’s missing Chris. Ever since Chris moved in with Derick, both cats are missing his presence. Perhaps they don’t want to sleep in an empty room.” Ryan yawned and wiggled into a different position to accommodate his clogged sinuses.

  “Yeah, they’ve been acting a little weird since Chris left,” Seth said. He pushed against Kili again.

  This time Kili meowed louder, indignant at losing his spot. He rose to his paws and leapt off the bed with a loud thump. With a flick of his tail, he nudged open the door to make his escape.

  “And we’ve been flipped off by the feline,” Seth said.

  “A high insult,” Ryan said.

  Another indignant mewl sounded before Fili appeared in the doorway’s faint light. He flicked his fluffy tail and trailed after his brother.

  “There goes the other one,” Seth said.

  Ryan sneezed again and grumbled.

  “Ry, that’s it. As much as I want you next to me, you need to sleep at your place for a few nights.”

  “Won’t have that option much longer.”

  “What?” Seth twisted in his spot to stare at his partner.

  “Corey’s moving to Houston with his girl….” Ryan wrinkled his nose. “Wait. Fiancée now. Jenna took a high-end corporate job with one of the oil companies.”

  “Fiancée?”

  “Proposed at New Year’s. She accepted.”

  “Wow. That’s a change.”

  Ryan rubbed a finger under his nose. “Yup.”

  “Can’t you keep the place?”

  “Nope, they’re raising the rate, and I can’t afford it. Not going to get a raise this year. Not for us poor chart analysts. We may keep all the patients’ charts in order, along with the doctors and HIPAA, but we’re not on the list,” Ryan said. “Anyway, I’ll need to find something else.”

  “When do you have to leave the apartment?”

  “Three months.”

  “What?”

  “Jenna just received word she was hired. She’s leaving early to set up everything and start work. Corey gave notice to the company he was leaving.” Ryan shrugged. “It is what it is. I’ll land on my feet.”

  “Ry….”

  “In the morning. Got a long shift ahead of me. Please, Seth,” Ryan said, ending with another long yawn.

  “Sorry. Sorry. Go back to sleep. We’ll figure it all out together. P
erhaps it’s time we both change things,” Seth said. He clicked off the light and curled against his lover’s side.

  One of those changes would definitely be about his beloved cats.

  HARSHER WHEEZING and gasping woke Seth again. Along with the gasps came the sounds of someone struggling to breathe.

  “Inhaler.”

  At Ryan’s strangled voice, Seth shoved himself up, flipped a light, and turned to study his lover.

  Awake and struggling, Ryan sat upright, trying to open his airways. He held a hand to his throat and smacked the other on the bed. His voice was raspy and thin when he said, “Inhaler.”

  “Shit. Oh shit, Ry, baby,” Seth said. “Where’s your inhaler?” He leapt to his feet and rushed around the bed. He dug through the makeshift nightstand on Ryan’s side until he found the blue inhaler. He sat next to Ryan, shook the medicine, and held the opening to Ryan’s mouth to help him dispense a burst. “Hold your breath. Let it work.” He counted to a slow ten. “Release. Take another dose.” He pressed the canister for another burst. “Take it in, Ry. Let it help.”

  Ryan let out another shaky breath. His wheezing increased. “Worse.” He shook his head. “Can’t. Breathe. Hurts. Help. Me.”

  “Gotta get you to Urgent Care.”

  “Closed.”

  “What?”

  “Urgent. Closed.” Ryan closed his eyes to concentrate on breathing.

  “Then I’ll get you to the fucking ER.” Seth returned to his feet and ran around the room. He yanked on the nearest clothes he could find. Dressed in faded jeans and a wrinkled long-sleeve shirt, he shoved his feet into sneakers.

  After a quick look at Ryan, who continued struggling for breath, he snagged sweatpants, a T-shirt, socks and sneakers. He returned to Ryan and helped dress him. He snagged their wallets, phones, and keys.

  A knock on the bedroom door made him pause for a brief second.

  Two of his roommates pushed open the door and stepped inside.

  Justin knuckled his eyes and yawned. “What the hell is happening?”

  “Ry’s in a nasty asthmatic attack. His inhaler isn’t helping. Gotta get him to the ER,” Seth said. “Help me get him to the car.”

  “Call the ambulance,” Justin said but moved to help Seth.

  “Takes just as long. He needs help now,” Seth said.

  “No. Call.” Ryan whimpered and wheezed hard when they got him to his feet.

  “Fuck. Fuck, Ry, baby. All my fault. This is my fault,” Seth said and gestured to Adam, their other roommate. “Get the cleanest sheet possible and spread it over the sofa. Get the cats in a bedroom and away from the sofa.”

  “Got it.” Adam raced away.

  Seth juggled the items in his hands, shoving the wallets in pockets until he freed both hands. He wrapped one arm around Ryan to help Justin walk him to the living room, then dialed 911.

  “9-1-1, what is your emergency?” a calm female voice said over the speaker.

  “Medical. Send an ambulance immediately.”

  “Please explain your emergency, sir?”

  “My boyfriend is having a severe asthmatic attack. He’s unable to pull in a deep breath. His skin is turning blue around his lips. We administered two doses of his inhaler, but it didn’t relieve the symptoms. We need an ambulance,” Seth said.

  He helped Ryan sit on the sofa. Justin grabbed pillows to prop him up to keep his airways open.

  “I’ve alerted the closest ambulance crew. What is your name?”

  “Seth.” Seth sat next to Ryan and took his hand. “My boyfriend is Ryan.”

  “Okay, Seth, I need you to try to remain calm. I know it’s hard. Is your location—?” She read off the address connected to his phone.

  “That’s correct. Ryan is on the sofa in the living room.”

  “Do you know Ryan’s medical information?”

  “Yes,” Seth said and answered her questions about Ryan.

  “Do you know the cause behind the attack?”

  Seth explained about Ryan’s severe allergy to his cats. He hated himself for the suffering Ryan went through because of their relationship.

  “Try to remain calm. Help Ryan concentrate on his breathing. The ambulance is on its way.” She continued keeping all of them calm and focused on Ryan.

  “Justin, get the door open and look out for them,” Seth said.

  “You got it.” Justin raced toward the front door. He yanked it open and raced outside into the barely lit dawn.

  “I’m here, baby, I’m right here,” Seth said and kissed Ryan’s fingers.

  Ryan’s breathing skipped and wheezed. The shallow sounds distressed Seth.

  Finally, sirens wailed in the distance and got closer. Red and blue lights poured through the opened door and windows. It lit the darkened room.

  “In here! In here!” Justin shouted.

  “I’ll let you go now to stay with Ryan. The ambulance is there,” the 911 operator said.

  “Thank you,” Seth said.

  “Good luck to both of you.” The speaker clicked.

  Adam returned to the room. “Cats are in the bedroom, Seth. How’s Ryan?”

  “Struggling,” Seth said. He leaned over and kissed Ryan’s forehead.

  “Hello. Excuse us, please. Let us help him, sir,” someone said.

  Seth sat back and turned to find two male EMTs standing behind him. They held their gear and pulled a gurney between them. He pushed back and got to his feet. Justin followed them inside at some point but headed off to his bedroom.

  “He’s been struggling to breathe for over ten minutes. We gave him two puffs of his inhaler, but it did nothing,” Seth said.

  One EMT pulled out gear and began his medical inspection. He grabbed an oxygen tank and mask, and then placed the mask over Ryan’s mouth and nose.

  “Do you have the inhaler?” the other EMT asked.

  Seth looked to Adam. “It’s on the bed.” With a nod, Adam took off to find it.

  “Are you his boyfriend?” the EMT asked.

  Seth nodded. “His name is Ryan. I’m Seth.” He clasped his hands together and rubbed them repeatedly.

  “This appears to be an anaphylactic reaction with an asthmatic response. We need to get him to the ER. He needs more than a breathing treatment,” the first EMT said.

  “Got it!” Adam tossed it to the EMT, who caught it and studied the little contraption.

  “Appreciate it,” the EMT said and glanced to his partner. “Let’s transfer him to the gurney and get out of here.”

  The EMTs went to work. One adjusted the gurney’s backrest to keep Ryan sitting upright. The other strapped him in place, then adjusted the oxygen and mask.

  “Can I go with him?” Seth asked.

  “I’m sorry, it’s against regulations. We’re taking him to Flagler Hospital’s Emergency Care Center. You can meet us there,” the second EMT said, while the first started to push the gurney away.

  Seth nodded. “Ryan, I’ll be right there with you.” He stared at the EMT again. “Please let them know I’m his partner. I don’t want to be separated.”

  “We’ll let them know,” the EMT said while he grabbed the gear and rushed out of the house after the gurney.

  Seth followed them to the ambulance. He watched them load Ryan in the back, and he moved to the opened doors. “I’ll be with you soon, Ryan. Hang in there, baby.”

  “Give me your keys,” Justin said when he reappeared by Seth’s side.

  “What? Why?” Seth finally looked away when the doors closed and the ambulance pulled off with lights and sirens whirling.

  “You’re in no condition to drive. Let me.”

  Seth nodded and handed over the keys.

  “I’ll stay home. Call if you need anything,” Adam called out.

  They climbed into Seth’s sleek black Mustang. Seth rubbed his fingers together while Justin drove. They followed the ambulance with Seth’s lover inside.

  SETH LEAPT out of the car when Justin pulled to a brief st
op by the doors. He rushed inside the ER and to the desk.

  “Ryan Dermott. The ambulance brought him in,” Seth said. “I’m his boyfriend, his partner.”

  The nurse typed something and looked at her monitor. “The doctor is with him now. We need you to fill out some paperwork, if possible, for the records.”

  “Ryan works here. He’s a chart analyst with Health Information Management. You should have all his information,” Seth said. He tapped his fingers in a random pattern on the counter.

  The nurse looked again at the monitor. “Yes, I see he is, but he’s never been a patient.” She gathered papers and set them on a clipboard. “If you could, fill in as much as possible. By that time you should be able to see him.”

  Seth almost had a full meltdown, but he took the clipboard. He went to the waiting room with babies crying; some people were moaning in pain or discomfort, while others argued or talked. He found a section of seats away from most of the waiting crowd. He pulled Ryan’s wallet out of a pocket and used it to start writing down the information.

  “What are you doing?”

  Seth looked up to find Justin standing over him. “Paperwork.”

  “What?”

  Seth wiggled the clipboard. “I can’t see him yet. They’re treating him.”

  “Any updates?”

  Seth shook his head. He flipped through the pages. “Finished what I could.”

  “Give me his driver’s license and insurance card. I’ll take it to the desk and see what’s happening,” Justin said. He held out his hand.

  Seth handed over the board and let Justin take it. “Thanks. Appreciate it, Justin.”

  “Of course. I called Chris. He and Derick are on their way. You’re not alone in this. Okay?”

  Seth nodded. He leaned forward, dropped his head in his hands, and sank his fingers through his hair.

  Justin patted his shoulder and walked away.

  Things needed to change. Somehow. He couldn’t put Ryan’s health at risk any longer. To do that meant something had to give—either his relationship with Ryan or his guardianship of Fili and Kili.