Theodore fuckin’ Pym.
Roger had slept with a fellow Gentleman plus five other random guys while Mickey had absolutely no chance to reclaim what was rightfully his. He couldn’t punish Roger. He couldn’t fuck him and make him pay for this trespass like all the other times. Mickey was in prison, totally trapped, and he hated that Roger couldn’t have waited a few more months for him to get out of here.
It was infuriating.
It was agonizing.
Andfrustratinglyhot.
“This isn’t like what we usually do,” Mickey said carefully. He trusted Doc with his life, but the details of his sexual preferences were a bit much to share. “He doesn’t fuck up like this unless I’m there to handle it.”
“Well, then I would say his infidelity is his way of saying that he’s missing you.”
“You always spin shit like this?” Mickey tilted his head. “Did you tell your patients with cancer that it’s just a little lump and everything is gonna be all rainbows and butterflies?”
“No,” Doc replied firmly. “I’m being honest. I was honest with my patients, and I’m being honest with you now. You’ve gotta keep hope alive, Mickey.”
“Right, like your son who’s gonna magically spring you out of here someday.” Mickey sneered.
“Do you know what my biggest hope is?”
The short question struck Mickey silent for a moment because the answer seemed obvious. Looking at Doc’s face, however, gave Mickey the impression that it was something else.
“That your son gets you outta here?”
“No.” Doc smiled sadly. “In my heart of hearts, my biggest hope is that my son gives up on me.”
Mickey was stunned.
All of these months he’d known Doc, all the guy talked about was his son trying to prove his innocence: law school, filing appeals, poring over the police reports.
“Why… why would you want that?” Mickey managed to ask.
“Because I know my son.” Doc shrugged. “And I know he is wasting his best years trying to save me when I already know I’m never leaving this place. He needs a life of his own without me holding him back. He needs to meet someone. Fall in love.”
“Like me and Roger, huh?” Mickey made a face.
“Maybe. That depends.”
“On?”
“Well, I want my son to have a love that’s gonna survive some bumps. I want him to have a love that will last. Do you love Roger enough to get through this? Or are you ready to give him up?”
Mickey was immediately filled with a flash of rage. He would never give Roger up. That man belonged to him, mind, body, and soul. He meant everything to Mickey, and he couldn’t…
“No,” Mickey replied quietly, doing his best to quell his rising emotions. “I’m not ready.”
“So, there you go.” Doc smiled. “I hope my son moves on from me and finds someone to love him as much as you love Roger.” He grinned. “Maybe without all the cheating. He’s a bit sensitive.”
“I’m sensitive.”
“Mickey, you almost stabbed someone for taking your pudding.” Doc frowned.
“Because it hurt my feelings. I was really looking forward to that pudding.”
Doc laughed and shook his head. “Well, you can have all the pudding you want in just a few minutes. And I highly suggest you take some time and go set your man straight. If you’re not ready to give him up, don’t do it. Remember why you fell in love with him in the first place.”
Because he went down on me in a bathroom and we fucked like gods in a shitty hotel room…
