Mitch blinked at him as if he’d lost his damn mind and shook his head. “Oh, God, no. No, no, no. Mark is my friend, my brother from another mother, and I love him dearly, but no. I have never so much as thought maybe we could just get each other off in the dark. Hell, honey, you’ve met him.”
Cam frowned. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, you know how you’re like this tough cowboy, and I’m like this grumpy old dad guy?”
Cam tilted his head. “Yeah…I mean, I guess.”
Mitch wasn’t that old.
Mitch grinned at him. “You know, when you see the stereotypical gay men on the television, like with the flippy wrist and fashion sense and manscaping? That whole kit and caboodle? That’s Mark. Except he’s also tiny. Like itty bitty. You would know that Mark was queer from a thousand yards away. What is it he calls himself? ‘Swishy’, I think that’s the word he uses.” Mitch chuckled. “Obviously, I have a type. Allison was pretty damn manly, and well, you know, you’re it for me. So, me and Mark? Nope.”
He grinned. “Well, that’s okay, then. I was fixing to be jealous.”
“No need, babe.”
Cam nodded, smiling, even as his eyelids felt heavy as hell.
“Get some rest, huh?” Mitch bent to kiss his forehead. “I’ll call Mark and get them to bring the girls over. We can all have lunch together, okay?”
“Mmmhmm.” Mitch was here. He was okay. Just tired. He would rest a bit, and then he would set about going home.
He was ready to get out of this hospital already.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mitch stopped at the hotel for a long shower and a short nap.
Mark had the girls at the hot tub, and it was perfect, because he was exhausted, and it was quiet and peaceful.
“Daddy? Granny Halley called and said to please call her.” Bekka smiled at him when she walked into his room. “Does this mean Cam is awake?”
“It does. He’s awake, he knows me, and he’s going to come home soon.” He sat up, blinking owlishly. “Are you three having fun?”
“We are having so much fun, and it’s good to see Uncle Mark, but we would rather you not be at the hospital. Cam too.”
He chuckled at her and shook his head. “I bet. Let me call your Granny Halley, and then I’ll probably head back up to the hospital and see if I can bring Cam some not-hospital food.”
She bounced at him, drying off her hair with a big towel. “He likes Big Macs.”
“Nuh-uh, it’s Quarter Pounders with cheese.” Sarah came in, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Shelikes Big Macs, which are gushy, and we don’t like that. Are you going to go to McDonald’s, because I could have some chicken nuggets with sauce.”
“I like chicken nuggets!” Rachel bounced in, soaking wet. “Hi, Daddy!”
“Don’t get on the bed. Hi, babies, I love you. He can have whatever he wants, but maybe he this time he just wants a milkshake. However, I will totally bring home McDonald’s when I go out. Why don’t you three go find out what Uncle Mark wants?”
Rachel shook her head. “Uncle Mark is in the bathroom because he is wet, and he has to get changed.”
“Well, aren’t you wet? Go dry off in the other bathroom and put on some clothes.”
He just needed five or six more kids to keep him busy…
“Okay!” Rachel ran out, leaving wet footprints in her wake.
“We could just go with you, Daddy,” Sarah pointed out.
“I’ll see how Cam feels, huh?” He knew he’d said they could all have lunch together, but Cam had been hurting pretty bad. “Thank you both for drying off first.”
They had wet hair, but they were changed and didn’t smell like chlorine.
