“Yes, me too. Although I doubt any of the cafeteria food they have here is edible,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
“It seems like there’s actually quite a few decent options in the cafeteria. And they have a full salad bar and a deli where they’ll make to-order subs,” Ollie suggested, and he saw Jaz smile and nod in agreement.
“He’s right, Mom, it’s not half bad. We should—”
“I wasnotasking you, Oliver,” Mrs. Reynolds spat, her voice full of venom.
Ollie felt Sam tense up next to him, and he quickly set his free hand on Sam’s chest, warning him not to engage.Jaz didn’t seem to have as much tolerance for her mother’s unpleasantness. She stepped away from her mom and shook her head.
“That was totally uncalled for, Mom. I can’t believe you. I—”
“It’s okay, Jaz,” Sam said. “I don’t—didn’t...” He let out a long breath. “I didn’t expect civility. But, Mom, please don’t attack my boyfriend for being kind to you. It only reflects poorly on you, not on him.”
“Samuel Alexander Reynolds, how dare you speak to your mother like that,” Mr. Reynolds said, his voice low but forceful and full of vitriol, just as Mrs. Reynolds’s voice had been.
Ollie stepped in front of Sam then, facing him and placing both of his hands on Sam’s chest, and Sam swallowed hard and looked down at Ollie. His eyes held a deep pain that Ollie hadn’t ever seen in them, along with more than a twinge of anger. But after Sam blinked a few times, the unfamiliar expression was gone, replaced with love and... exhaustion.
“It’s okay, Sam. Ignore them,” Ollie whispered, pressing his palms flat against Sam’s sternum. “Come on, let’s sit and finish our coffee. Ignore them.”
Sam closed his eyes for a beat and then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, I...” He looked up and over Ollie’s shoulder toward his parents, but when he spoke again, he addressed his sister. “You should go and get something to eat. I’ll call you if the nurse or doctor comes back with any updates.”
“Sounds good,” Jaz replied, and without even turning around, Ollie could hear the defeat in her voice.
He respected her. He knew she was in a difficult position and that she was trying her best—learning how to stand up to her parents, call them out on their harmful views and behavior.
Sam’s hands came up to cover Ollie’s, and behind him, Ollie heard some indistinct huffing, followed by heavy, quickfootsteps. And when he was sure they were alone, Ollie slipped his arms around Sam’s waist and pulled his boyfriend close in a tight embrace. Sam shuddered and lowered his head to Ollie’s shoulder.
“I-I’m sorry, love. I’m sorry, they’re—”
“Shh, Sam. Don’t apologize and don’t even give them another moment in your head. They’re... just—”
“I know. I know, but I was hoping maybe things had... changed. Or, I mean, at least that they wouldn’t be quite so... terrible, at least in public, you know?” Sam’s voice trembled, and it hurt Ollie’s heart to hear.
“I know, and I’m so sorry, Sam,” he said, and he kissed Sam’s temple. “I wish I could make things better for you.”
Sam’s body shook with a light laugh, and he straightened up, his eyes shining with love and probably some unshed tears. “Oh, Oll, you do,” he said quietly. He reached up and cupped Ollie’s cheek and then bent down for a brief, sweet kiss. “You always make things better.”
Chapter 18
Sam stood in the doorway of his uncle’s hospital room, frozen in place as his eyes settled on the familiar figure lying very still in the bed in the middle of the room. There were tubes and wires everywhere, and several monitors beeped with distinct rhythms. Multiple IV bags hung from an IV pole next to the bed. A nurse leaned over the bed, speaking quietly to Barry, and then straightened back up and pressed a button on one of the machines.
The hand on Sam’s back was comforting, and he could feel Ollie standing just to his right, slightly behind him. But he couldn’t get his feet to move.
It was all so... real. Standing there, seeing Barry hooked up to all manner of machines and with the IVs and blood pressure cuff and...
“Sam, get on over here and... introduce your poor old uncle to the nice young man you... you brought with you,” Barry said weakly, his voice low and hoarse.
Sam blinked and ducked his head as tears welled up in his eyes. Ollie’s hand slipped into his, their fingers immediately intertwining, and he glanced down at his boyfriend, who smiled up at him. God, the love and encouragement in Ollie’s eyes—Sam’s heart stuttered, and he squeezed Ollie’s hand and nodded.
“Yeah, um,” Sam started, looking back toward Barry. “S-sorry, I—”
“Oliver, right?” Barry’s voice was a little stronger, though he still sounded exhausted, and he’d turned his head just slightly so he could address Ollie.
“Yessir, but—”
“Oh, no, now, don’t call me... don’t call me ‘sir.’ Save that... for my brother. Pleasant man, isn’t he?” Barry tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a grunt, and the nurse frowned.
“Barry, you need to take it easy now,” the nurse warned as he reached back over Barry, maybe to check one of the IVs.
