Page 49 of Fanboy in the Falls (Devon Falls #3)

Thirty-five Days After the Devon Falls Leaf Festival

My protectiveness where Gabe is concerned appears to have few boundaries. —Tom Evers

“You know, I’m actually perfectly capable of looking at a few x-rays.”

My brother grouses from the corner of the exam room, but I just smirk at him and smile sweetly. “I’m sure you are, Sammy. But Milo’s an orthopedist, remember? There’s no need to be jealous of your best friend simply because he has skills you lack.”

Milo bursts out laughing, which makes it a touch easier to take in the scene in front of me: him standing over Gabe as he carefully examines Gabe’s leg, newly freed from the large walking cast (Sam keeps calling it a walking boot, but the thing was never even close enough to fashionable to be considered a boot in my opinion) that’s been holding him hostage for weeks on end.

Milo was kind enough to drive back up to Devon Falls from New York to do an examination and make sure the bone healed properly.

Jack thought that was an excellent idea; Sam insists on pretending to be annoyed.

“You know these GP docs,” Milo says, winking at me as he runs his hands up and down Gabe’s ankle.

And logically, there’s no reason that should bother me.

Milo’s been a friend for a long time, and I trust him implicitly.

But my protectiveness where Gabe is concerned appears to have few boundaries. “Always so territorial.”

Sam rolls his eyes. “If you’d finally take me and Jack up on our offer to move up here and join the practice, then I’d be happy to have you barge in and take over my office, Milo.”

Gabe looks up with surprise. “You might move to Vermont, Milo? I thought you loved New York.”

Milo shrugs. “Shit changes, sometimes,” he mutters.

Jack and Sam glance at each other sharply, and it’s clear there’s more of a story behind that phrase.

“Well,” I say, “just a general reminder that the grand re-opening of the Devon Falls Opera House is in a mere two months. We’re having a variety show. If you can get here before then, I’ll make room for a tap dancing routine.”

“You tap dance?” Gabe’s eyes go wide. I’m not surprised. Milo’s giant, muscled physique generally leads everyone to assume he’s a natural athlete across the board—which he is. But people are sometimes surprised to learn that some of his strongest athletic pursuits were in tap and modern dance.

“I haven’t put on the shoes in a bit, Tom.” Milo grins. “But I’ll come back up for the show. Sounds like you and Colin have been working overtime getting that place back up and running.” He twists Gabe’s ankle gently. “Any pain, man?”

“No.” Gabe grins. “Wow, I can’t wait to go up and down stairs normally again. Run. Damn, I may even try tap dancing.”

“Let’s maybe wait a few weeks for that,” says Colin from where he’s holding up the wall behind me. “We can start with stairs.”

“Fine.” Gabe holds out his hand. “Thanks for coming back so soon after the wedding, Milo. You really didn’t have to do that.”

Milo skips the handshake and wraps him up in a hug. “That’s what friends do.”

Gabe blushes. He still seems surprised by how easily the larger circle of people Colin and I have always had around us has accepted him and Lou. It never ceases to amaze me how much Gabe Gomez underestimates his own charm and kindness. People are easily drawn to him.

Gabe hops down from the exam table and tests out his leg. “It feels really good,” he says. “Just in time for sledding season, too. Lou’s going to be so happy.”

Sam opens the door to the office and the five of us head out together, down the main hallway of Lancer Family Medicine and into the bright reception area where Jack’s looking at a tablet screen.

“Did I hear something about Lou and sledding?” he asks as he looks up at the crowd of people now taking over his waiting room.

“There’s snow in the forecast this weekend,” Colin tells him. “Lou wants us to take him up to that defunct ski area outside of town. He says it’s the best place to sled. Ever. There was a whole lot of emphasis on the word ever .”

“There’s a hill at the bottom of the ski area where all the local kids have always gone,” Gabe adds. “Lou loves it. Actually, I do too.” He shrugs. “It’s a cool little place, that ski area. I hope it doesn’t stay closed forever. I wouldn’t mind working there someday.”

“Cheating on Northern Stars Winery, are you?” Sam asks, his voice teasing. Gabe laughs.

“No, not cheating on them. But now that I’m going back to school in the spring for hospitality management, I’ve been thinking about the kind of places I might want to work besides the winery someday. Bethany and Evelyn are great, but I think I want…”

He hesitates, because our little fox still struggles to have faith in himself and his dreams. Colin and I glance at each other. “He wants to be his own boss eventually. Run his own place,” Colin finally finishes for Gabe.

Gabe blushes. “It’s stupid, I know,” he says quickly.

“Why would it be stupid?” Sam asks. “You’re a very intelligent man, and you’ve got your whole life in front of you, Gabe. Anything’s possible.”

Gabe frowns for a moment. Then he looks back and forth between me and Colin, the way he does sometimes.

Like he’s still trying to convince himself we’re a hundred percent real.

“Yeah,” he says slowly. “I guess I do.” He shrugs again.

“Anyway, we definitely have to take Lou sledding at the ski area now that I’ve got my leg back.

It’s one of the few things Dave and I used to do with Lou together that we all liked, actually. ”

Jack nods. “Heard anything from Dave?” he asks softly.

“He’s written Lou a few letters. They’ve been… nice. I think he’s trying to figure some things out.”

Colin lets out the noise he often does when Dave comes up in conversation: a low, marginally dangerous growl. I nudge him in the side. “And he doesn’t dare come near Devon Falls again until he’s in a good headspace, because he knows Colin might kill him with a glance,” I tease.

Colin shrugs, unrepentant.

“Do you think anyone here will ever buy that ski area?” Gabe asks.

“I mean, I know it’s been closed since… oh.

” He stops and claps a hand over his mouth.

I’m sure he’s just remembered how the closure of that ski area connected to a very, very dangerous experience for Benson, but Jack doesn’t look bothered by Gabe’s question.

“I’m not sure,” he says. “It’s such a big monetary and time investment.

No one’s been very interested after everything that happened there, and anyone who is interested hasn’t had the finances to take it on.

But it would be nice to see it open again,” he adds.

“Who knows. Maybe we’ll get more interest now that a resident of Devon Falls will be an announcer for open wheel racing around the world. ”

Everyone turns to look at Colin, who rolls his eyes.

“It’s not that big a deal,” he says. “I’m just doing commentary for a few races this year. Like five of them. No one even fucking cares, honestly.”

Gabe comes over to lean into Colin’s side, pulling him close. “The internet cares. We care,” he says.

“Are you traveling alone?” Milo asks. “Where are the races you’re going to?”

Colin shakes his head. “Definitely not alone. These two are coming with me, and Lou. I only agreed to do races when he doesn’t have school, and we’re going to get some sightseeing in together. We’re going to show Gabe and Lou London, and Rome, and Japan.”

“I can’t wait,” Gabe says excitedly. Colin smiles, but it’s a tight smile.

I know he’s looking forward to Gabe and Lou seeing all the amazing sights he and I have been able to take for granted over the years—I’m looking forward to that as well—but Gabe and I both know that returning to the racing circuit will be a very big deal for Colin. It won’t be an easy transition back.

And that’s why Gabe and I will both be by his side.

Gabe turns to Jack. “Do you and Benson want to come sledding with us at the ski area this weekend? Lou would love that,” he adds. “He loves that place even more than I do.”

And then an idea comes to me. One that’s nearly as brilliant as my idea to save the opera house.

I look to Colin and tilt my head up in question. He knows immediately what I’m asking, and he nods slowly.

Yes, Tom. Excellent idea.

I don’t even finish the sentence before Gabe tackles me. —Colin Templegate

A few nights later, Lou’s tucked into bed, and the three of us are lying together across the large faux fur rug in front of the fireplace in our house. Our house. I still have to correct Gabe on that, sometimes, when he calls it my house. But he’s getting there.

Once upon a time, I remember, I struggled to think of this house as my home too. Now, with Gabe and Tom and Lou here? I can’t imagine it as anything other than our home.

Snow’s starting to lightly fall outside of the window, bright as it drifts down through the darkness and into the glow of the outdoor lights I’ve installed up and down the front walkway.

Some light jazz music is playing through the smart speaker on the mantle behind us, and the scent of the brownies we baked with Lou for dessert still hangs through the air.

“Tonight reminds me of being at the cabin,” I tell them both softly.

Tom smiles. “Ah, that place. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Should we think about installing a hot tub here?”

“Yes,” I say at the same time Gabe says, “aren’t those expensive?”

Tom smiles at Gabe. “They can be. But we’re lucky. Our sugar daddy here is about to pull in serious bank after he goes back on the racing circuit.”