The doctor’s gaze softened as she addressed Logan’s question. “Adrian waited a long time before seeking treatment,” she said gently. “I understand there were personal reasons, but that delay allowed the cancer to progress to a stage where it is more aggressive and harder to treat.”
Adrian’s head dipped slightly, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. Logan’s stomach churned at the thought of those months when Adrian had been fighting this alone, retreating from the world instead of reaching for help. Logan fought back the urge to speak, sensing this wasn’t the moment for reproach.
“However,” the doctor continued, “despite the advanced stage, your overall health and age work in your favor. You’re still a candidate for remission, and the experimental treatment gives us a real chance. But the first step is to start chemotherapy immediately. Our goal is to get the cancer into remission before moving forward with the next phase.”
“What does the first phase look like?” Adrian asked, his gaze meeting the doctor’s.
“You’ll begin chemotherapy,” the doctor explained. “It will be intensive and aggressive. You’ll experience fatigue, nausea, and a suppressed immune system, among other side effects. The chemo will weaken your body, but it’s necessary to target the cancer cells. Once remission is achieved, theSeattle team will take over with the experimental program. That phase might involve targeted therapy, bone marrow transplant, and, if necessary, high-dose chemo.”
Adrian nodded slowly, absorbing the information. “How soon do we start?”
“Immediately,” she spoke. “I’ve talked with the team in Seattle, and the experimental program wants you at their facility as fast as possible. They’ve reviewed your case, and given the advanced stage of your leukemia, they believe it’s critical to begin treatment immediately. They’re prepared to admit you as soon as you arrive.”
Logan’s chest tightened. He’d known the situation was dire, but hearing the words spoken aloud, hearing how little time they had left to act, made it all feel unbearably real. He turned to Adrian, searching his face for any sign of hesitation or fear.
Adrian’s expression remained calm, but Logan could see the weariness in his eyes—the kind of exhaustion that came from carrying a burden too heavy for too long. Slowly, Adrian looked at Logan, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We’ll do this,” he said quietly, his voice steady despite the weight of his words.
Logan reached for Adrian’s hand, his grip firm and full of determination. “We’re doing this,” he echoed, his voice raw but resolute. “Together.”
The doctor slid a folder across the desk, filled with detailed instructions about the chemo schedule, dietary needs, and side effect management. “Adrian,” the doctor said gently, “this is going to be a difficult journey. You’ll need support—physically and emotionally. And Logan,” she added,turning her attention to him, “you’ll need to take care of yourself as well. Caregiving is as much a challenge as treatment.”
Logan nodded, his gaze never leaving Adrian. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said, his voice firm, leaving no room for doubt.
As they left the office, the weight of the diagnosis and the plan ahead pressed heavily on both of them. Logan didn’t wait until they were in private to pull Adrian into a tight embrace. “I’ve got you,” he murmured into Adrian’s ear, his voice cracking slightly. “We’ve got this.”
Adrian didn’t say anything for a long moment, simply leaning into Logan’s embrace. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft but certain. “As long as you’re with me, Lo… I’ll fight.”
“Hope. Old and gray, remember?”
“I remember.”
On the way back, Logan couldn’t stop smiling, the kind of grin that stretched wide and refused to fade. He held Adrian’s hand the entire way, as if letting go would break the fragile thread of hope they’d just been given. His voice was light, full of unbridled joy, as he called Ada Mae to share the news with her. She screamed with happiness on the other end of the line, her excitement infectious. It wasn’t the end of the road; it wasn’t even close, but it was the beginning, and that was enough to make Logan feel like the world had tilted back into place.
When they got to the house, Dean was waiting for them, and Logan barely got the words out before Dean lost his mind. His reaction waseverything: arms thrown around Adrian in a tight hug, his voice loud and cracking with emotion. Logan was almost certain he caught the glimmer of tears in Dean’s eyes, though Dean turned his head quickly enough to hide it.
“There’s a chance, man, a real chance,” Dean said, releasing Adrian just to hug him all over again. “You need to call your parents. And Tom. And Oz… and everyone,” he added, rattling off their friends’ names while Adrian laughed.
“I will, I will,” Adrian promised, his voice lighter than it had been in weeks. He turned to Logan, his expression softening. “It’s Friday tomorrow, so I’m going to my parents’ for dinner. Tradition… kind of,” he shrugged.
Logan’s gray eyes met his, already knowing what Adrian was going to ask.
“I’ll tell them then,” Adrian added, his voice quieter. “Not over the phone. Would you come with me?”
“Absolutely,” Logan replied without hesitation, leaning in to kiss him lightly. “I’ll book us a flight for Saturday. Or maybe late Friday night? Sounds good?”
“Yeah,” Adrian agreed, his hand tightening slightly around Logan’s.
Dean, who had been scrolling through his phone, looked up. “You guys staying over?” he asked.
“Maybe. Why?” Adrian asked, turning to him but still holding onto Logan’s hand.
“I was thinking,” Dean started, his tone casual but his eyes serious. “If you’re leaving after dinner with your parents, you won’t have time to say goodbye to everyone. Maybe I’ll invite some of the guys over tonight?”
“Yeah, tell them to come,” Logan said, already pulling out his phone. Adrian smiled at both of them, the heaviness of the past days easing for just a moment, replaced by the warmth of the people who loved him.
Dean and Logan often bickered and teased, but beneath it all was a budding friendship. They had grown closer with each passing day, and Adrian could see that Dean was warming up to Logan.
Adrian nodded slowly, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as Dean continued talking on the phone in the other room. Logan saw it, the way his lips pressed together, as if he were trying to bury the weight of the wordgoodbye.Did Dean mean it as a farewell for a few years, until the treatments were over? Or as something heavier, something final, whispered into the cracks of a fragile hope? Adrian didn’t ask, and Logan didn’t dare.
