Page 8

C hipper watched Baylor eye the clothes Zander’s guards had found for him. Likely, Zander had sent them on a shopping spree. He looked content. For once, he didn’t look ready to tear his hair out if he couldn’t get back to work.

“I’m surprised you wanted to stay.”

Baylor glanced up and smiled. “It was a nice day. Plus, Zander offered his physician. If he can make me feel better, I’m in.” His gaze slid down Chipper’s body like Chipper didn’t still stink with sweat that molded his clothes to his skin. “I want to be back to a hundred percent so I can use it against you.”

Whoa. His heated expression had Chipper’s skin tingling. “I have strength to lend. You wouldn’t have to do a thing except hold on.”

“I’m in.”

That caught Chipper off guard. He had only been letting Baylor know he was interested. Chipper had fully expected Baylor to laugh off his offer.

Baylor didn’t stop there. “I could wash your back.”

Chipper grabbed his bag. “I’d love that.” He made his way to the bathroom and dropped his bag. After pressing a few buttons to get the shower going, Chipper dug out his small toiletries bag and placed it on the shelf inside the shower. He kept his mind busy in case Baylor didn’t join him. Chipper didn’t want to end up disappointed. As determined as he was to keep Baylor, he wasn’t good at hanging on to people. There was something about him that people just couldn’t love. He wished he knew what it was so he could change. He tried his ass off to be as good to everyone as possible. Obviously, he failed in some way.

Dark clouds gathered in his mind the more he went down that road. A nude Baylor stepped past him and into the shower. Like that, Chipper’s mood cleared. A huge grin exploded across his face. Baylor didn’t let him down. Chipper stripped out of his sweat-covered clothes. He wished he hadn’t spent so much time brooding and more time showering before Baylor joined him. There was no way he would miss this, though.

Hot water hit Chipper from several directions as he climbed inside the shower. Baylor’s face turned up toward the water. He slicked his hair back. Chipper let the water carry away some of the sweat before he molded against Baylor’s back. “Goddamn. You’re beautiful.”

Baylor leaned into his touch. “I love the way you feel against me. That’s probably an odd thing to say. It just feels good right here.”

He got it. There was a peace when he held Baylor he couldn’t explain. It was like he was finally whole and could rest. “It’s not odd. Thoughts about holding you take up way more of my time than anything else.” He kissed Baylor’s shoulder. “I could stay exactly like this, never going further, and be happy. You’ve brought something to my life. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I’m so fucking grateful.”

A soft chuckle caressed his ears. “While I appreciate hearing that, I really want you inside me. Then I want you to hold me until this doctor comes.”

He could do all that. “There’s lube and a condom in that toiletries bag in front of you.”

Baylor snagged the bag and handed things to Chipper as he needed them. They were methodical—like a team working together who had done this a million times. Chipper froze while lubing Baylor. He didn’t want to be efficient, even though he recognized their actions showed how comfortable they were together. Chipper wanted chaos. He needed Baylor to feel as wanted as he was. Comfort aside, Chipper was crazy about Baylor. Baylor needed to know it.

Chipper snatched Baylor from his feet. With the slightest twist, he had Baylor’s back against the wall with Baylor’s sexy legs wrapped around his waist. The hunger and need written in Baylor’s every line nearly buckled Chipper’s knees. Comfortable or not, Baylor wanted Chipper. That was all Chipper needed.

“Hold on to me.” He pushed his way inside, while watching Baylor’s every reaction.

Baylor moaned like it was the first time anyone pleasured him. That could easily leave him addicted. His cheeks were flushed, and he looked as if he struggled for air. The visual alone threatened to push him over the edge. Baylor felt amazing. Chipper easily lifted and lowered while rolling his hips upward. Baylor weighed next to nothing. Chipper doubted Baylor made eating a priority. He would have to change that. Baylor would be so fucking spoiled. He couldn’t tear his gaze away as he took Baylor. Baylor held his stare as if he felt the same.

“I was meant to be yours.” Chipper didn’t think he had ever uttered a truer sentence. “You completely own me.”

A shaky-sounding breath filled the air. Baylor’s green eyes seemed to turn even brighter. “Then come for me.”

Chipper switched angles, ensuring he blew Baylor’s mind. “You first.” He thrust harder.

The back of Baylor’s head hit the wall. He moaned and visibly fought for air. Chipper watched him strain toward release and thought he would lose his mind. He didn’t know if he’d last. Chipper was right to worry. An orgasm ripped through him, stealing a loud cry from him. Thankfully, Baylor’s cum filled the space between them, because Chipper couldn’t even think, much less plot to make him blow. They kissed. It tasted like desperation. Chipper couldn’t get close enough.

He didn’t know which of them laughed first, but it started softly and grew. It was like happiness filled them until it boiled over and they couldn’t contain it. Chipper let Baylor’s feet hit the floor, but he didn’t let go. He kissed Baylor’s forehead, cheeks, chin, and nose. Chipper couldn’t stop. He wanted to know he had kissed every inch of Baylor.

Baylor chuckled. “You’re the biggest kid I know.”

Chipper smiled against his cheek. “Maybe, but you like me.”

“I do.” Baylor’s fingertips dug into Chipper’s biceps. “I’m terrified I’ll open my eyes any second and none of this will be real.”

“It’s real. Everything about us.”

Baylor kissed him again, and Chipper forgot his plan to kiss every inch of Baylor. He could be happy with enjoying Baylor’s tongue for now. They had forever for the rest.

Baylor had no idea why his nerves fluttered so badly as he headed downstairs. It seemed the doctor had just arrived and would see him soon. Meeting new people didn’t normally bother him. It was like this guy had the power to make or break him. That made zero sense, but he couldn’t help his feelings. It was anxiety. He still hadn’t fully gotten his meds back in his system yet.

Chipper squeezed his hand as they stepped into the sitting room. It was still empty. He chose a wingback chair near the door before his knees gave out.

“You’ll love Dr. A. Zander flew him in from Florida. He doesn’t trust anyone else as much.”

“From Florida? For me? That has to be annoying.”

“I don’t mind. It’s my job to make people better.”

Baylor’s gaze moved toward the voice. The air froze in his lungs. A guy with a perfectly pressed white coat and flawlessly styled brown hair stood in the doorway. In one hand, he carried an old time-y looking physician’s bag. The other hand held the hand of a child. He looked to be the exact age Micah would be now if he lived. Baylor wondered if he would faint.

The guy smiled, looking every bit as great as Chipper claimed. “Hello. I’m Dr. A. You can also call me Corey if you’d like. I’m not picky.” He lifted the boy’s hand a bit. “I hope it’s okay if my son joins us. My husband has whatever nasty virus is going around. I hear you know it well.” He chuckled.

Baylor tried for a smile. His eyes wouldn’t budge from the little boy. He wore a backpack and clutched a book against his chest. His eyes stayed carefully in a direction where no one was.

Corey motioned toward a nearby settee. “Why don’t you sit over there while Dad works?”

With a sweet little nod that tore at Baylor’s heartstrings, he headed for the couch.

Corey pulled a chair close to Baylor and opened his bag. He lowered his voice for Baylor’s ears alone. “Seriously, I hope this is okay. Rhorey was adopted out of unthinkable conditions. He has special needs and can’t be left alone with anyone else.”

“It’s fine.” If only Baylor could breathe. “How old is he?”

“Eight.”

“He’s so tiny.”

Corey flashed him a small smile. “Yeah. He came to us from a nightmare. Is it okay if I draw some blood? Zander says there’s been a problem with your GFR. There’s a lab onsite. I can have these tests running while we talk.”

“That’s fine.” Baylor’s gaze moved back to Rhorey.

Corey went to work, drawing several tubes of blood.

Baylor needed to focus on anything other than Rhorey’s presence. “What does the A stand for?”

“Abayantsev. That was my last name before I married. I still call myself that when introducing myself to patients since that’s the last name that’s on my medical license.”

That made sense. Baylor looked around, trying to keep his mind completely blank.

Rhorey suddenly stood and moved to Baylor’s side. “I’m Rhorey.” He spoke like an adult.

A sad smile tugged at Baylor’s lips. “Hi, Rhorey. I’m Baylor.”

He nodded and sat on Baylor’s lap. “You’re sad. I’ll read you a book.”

There was a knot in his stomach and a lump in his throat. He wanted to shove Rhorey from his lap. Worse, he wanted to wrap his arms around him and hold on so tightly he somehow brought Micah back to life. “Okay.”

He felt the stillness in the air. Baylor glanced around. Everyone looked totally frozen. Corey visibly swallowed. He cleared his throat. “Sorry. Rhorey never lets anyone touch him other than a select few people he’s known for years.”

Rhorey opened his book. “It’s okay. He’s a daddy too.”

Baylor immediately fought for air. He turned his head and blinked rapidly, trying not to fall apart.

Corey stared at him questioningly.

Baylor managed to breathe for half a second. “He passed away three years ago.”

Corey looked truly upset on his behalf. “I’m sorry to hear that. There’re no words.”

Baylor gave a jerky nod.

Corey cleared his throat. “I have to run this to the lab. Come on, Rhorey.”

Rhorey ignored Corey’s outstretched hand. “He needs a story. When I was broken, Dada always read to me.”

Before he knew it would happen, Baylor wrapped his arms around Rhorey and pulled him into a more comfortable position. Rhorey didn’t complain.

“It’s okay.” When Baylor realized he said the words to himself, he focused on Corey so he wouldn’t look crazy. “It’s okay. We’ll be okay.”

While Corey still looked slightly unsure, he headed for the door.

Baylor focused on Rhorey and listened to him read. Each word was clear and concise. He had never met a kid like Rhorey. It was almost like he was an adult inside a child’s body. Yet, he also seemed very fragile and young for his age. He was an enigma. Baylor had never been more curious about anyone. He couldn’t be that nosey, though. Baylor would never dig for anyone else’s trauma. Some things were better buried.

“What’s your son’s name?”

“Micah.”

“How did he die?”

The question felt like it came from left field, but it didn’t hurt as much coming from Rhorey. A child’s curiosity was pure. “In a car accident.”

Rhorey nodded. “I died once.” He suddenly lifted his shirt, revealing a roadmap of horrible scars. It looked like someone had stabbed him repeatedly. He dropped his shirt. “My Dada saved me.”

“It sounds like he loves you very much.”

Rhorey smiled and bounced a little. “I got to ride in a plane on the way here. I mean, I get to do that all the time, but I got to watch them fly.”

Baylor smiled. Kids' minds were so beautiful. “Do you like planes?”

Rhorey nodded. “I think I could fly one.”

It took everything Baylor possessed not to laugh. It was obvious Rhorey truly believed he could just fly a plane. His jaw set in a hard line—almost like he dared someone to say otherwise.

“I believe in you.”

A huge smile exploded across Rhorey’s face.

Corey returned, still looking dumbfounded by Rhorey’s reaction to Baylor. A massive man who looked more than a little scary was on his heels.

Rhorey scrambled from his lap. “Bear!”

The mountain kneeled and caught Rhorey as he ran into his arms. The guy wore a huge grin as he listened to Rhorey talk at a thousand miles an hour. He carried Rhorey away.

Corey didn’t seem bothered, so Baylor assumed everything was fine. “I stayed until I got the results, since it only takes about five minutes.” He reclaimed the chair at Baylor’s side. His gaze moved between Baylor and Chipper and back again, reminding him Chipper had been there the whole time. Rhorey had flipped him on his head. Now he couldn’t breathe for a whole new reason. Corey didn’t look like a man about to deliver good news.

“With your permission, I’d like to do a nuclear GFR scan. A renal scan,” he said, as if clarifying. “A small, thin plastic tube is inserted in the vein of your arm and a radioactive tracer is injected. The test takes about four hours, but it’ll give me a clear picture of how your kidneys are actually functioning.”

Chipper moved closer and took his hand.

Baylor’s brow furrowed. “Why do we need that?”

Corey made a calming gesture at the slight panic in Baylor’s tone. “My personal opinion is your kidneys are fine, but your bloodwork is wonky, and we need to rule that out. The numbers don’t match. If you were dehydrated, I could tell. If your kidneys were diseased or failing, I could tell that too. Bloodwork is always the first and most important test anyone takes for anything. However, your blood doesn’t show dehydration, disease, or failure. But your GFR is much lower than it should be.”

“Why would that happen?”

At Chipper’s question, his expression completely closed. While Baylor got the impression he didn’t normally show emotion, he knew Corey held something back.

Baylor pressed. “Please. I swear you won’t scare me. I’m just a worrier with high anxiety. If you don’t tell me, I’ll have a stroke.”

A small smile played on Corey’s lips at Baylor’s dramatics. He shook his head. “When I drew your blood earlier, I noticed a few things.” He took Baylor’s arm and held it out. “You have a webbed pattern under the skin.” Once Corey pointed it out, it was super obvious. It almost looked like hives were just under the skin, waiting to burst to the surface.

“What the hell!”

“And this.” He turned Baylor’s hand palm up and brushed the top of his finger down the tips of Baylor’s. They were purple.

Now he was just confused as fuck. How had he not noticed that?

“There’s also a hint of a rash across the bridge of your nose.”

“I was in the sun yesterday.”

Corey shook his head. “It’s not a sunburn. I think you have lupus. I also think that’s why you’ve been hit so hard by this virus and you’re having such a hard time shaking it.”

Chipper grabbed a chair and pulled it close to Baylor’s side—like really getting into the conversation. “What are the options?”

Corey smiled. He looked kind. Baylor knew he must be to have saved Rhorey. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I took more blood than needed when I noticed the signs, but I don’t have any results yet. Plus, I genuinely need to see what’s happening with the kidneys. There’re other possibilities such as blockages or lack of oxygen to the kidneys. We won’t know for certain until I have all the results. If it is lupus, you’ll be okay. I’ve obviously caught it really early if you haven’t been completely hobbled by it before now or noticed the symptoms. That’s a good thing. That means starting medications and getting ahead of things. No matter what we find, I’m glad Zander called. It takes years to get taken seriously in our health system and I’m better.”

That might have sounded conceited, but Baylor got the feeling Corey had just saved him when an overworked nephrologist probably would’ve had to see him a thousand times before finding anything.

“Thank you. Whatever tests you need. I’m in.”

Chipper kissed his temple and Baylor felt stronger than he had in a long time. It was strange that staring a challenge in the face was the thing he needed to breathe easier. Maybe that was a little of Rhorey’s doing too, and a lot of Chipper’s. Still, whatever happened, he wasn’t quite as ready to leave this world yet as he was a month ago. He wasn’t alone. That mattered more than anyone would ever know.

Chipper felt sick. He spent the evening hours searching for all the possibilities and treatments online. Baylor seemed oddly fine, and that worried him too. Chipper stopped pacing and rubbed his chest. Baylor’s face when Rhorey called him a daddy. Something inside Chipper had shattered. He hurt all the way to his soul, and it wasn’t even his son that was gone. No one could stand that close to that deep of a loss and walk away whole. It was a pain that scarred the universe. He had no clue how Baylor kept getting up every day. Chipper had to be his strength now.

“I was afraid I’d find you like this.”

Chipper started at Maverick’s sudden appearance. “Oh. Hey. Baylor is still getting scans. Apparently, this takes several hours.”

Maverick nodded. “I know. That’s why I’m here. I knew you’d be outside the door, wearing a hole in my floor.”

A guilty smile snapped to Chipper’s lips. He sat. “Sorry. I just don’t handle medical shit very well.”

Maverick nodded. “I know. PTSD from your mom.”

He had to change the topic. “How did you know when you were ready to retire?”

Maverick blinked, obviously taken aback by the question. He sat. “Do you want to retire?”

Chipper shrugged. “I was just thinking about a conversation I had with Baylor. He asked what people did after losing their titles. It got me curious. You’re the only person I know personally who’s made it as far as I have. So how did you know you were done?”

Maverick leaned back in his seat. “Zander. He always came to every fight. I knew his would be the last face I saw before stepping into the cage and the first face I’d look for when I won. My final match, my gaze immediately found him as soon as it ended. I looked at him and I chose him. It suddenly hit me how many hours, days, weeks I’d spent training. That was time away from him for a ten-second match that meant abso-fucking-lutely nothing. Don’t get me wrong. It was everything at one point, but not really, because he’s really what’s always been everything. In a flash of clarity, I wanted those moments back I lost trying to be the best.”

“To be fair, for most of us, it’s longer than ten seconds in the ring.”

Maverick laughed. “Even the matches that lasted longer than that weren’t worth the time I lost. It’s just a sport. I love it and I’ll probably never totally walk away. After all, Zander has shit to do during the day that doesn’t involve me, but I don’t want to split my focus anymore. I choose him.”

“I figured it was something like that.”

The door to the medical center inside Zander’s home opened. Corey stepped out. “I’m just running an IV of saline through Baylor to make sure I flush all the dye from his system. Plus, he’s a bit dehydrated now. Thankfully, though, his kidneys look to be functioning perfectly, exactly as I expected.”

Relief flooded through Chipper

“Unfortunately, it’s as I suspected. He has lupus. I’ve run the bloodwork several times. He has all the markers, and he’s had more symptoms than he realized. He said he works so much, he didn’t notice.”

“That sounds about right,” Chipper muttered under his breath. “How is he holding up after the news?”

Corey motioned toward the door. “You can go see for yourself if you’d like.” Chipper took a step toward the door and Corey stopped him. He looked expressionless, as always, but there was something dark in his eyes. “I’m sorry if Rhorey triggered Baylor. I’ve never seen Rhorey act like that with a stranger and I honestly didn’t know the right way to handle things.”

Chipper thought about Baylor’s every reaction. “Honestly, I think it helped in some way. Right before you came back, Rhorey asked about Micah, and it was the first time I’ve seen him talk about his son without falling apart. I think he needed that.”

Corey nodded. “Rhorey is an old soul. He has an uncanny ability to help others.”

“Sounds like he ended up with the right family, then.”

Corey smiled. “I’ll let you go see Baylor now, and I have a bedtime story to read.”

Chipper dipped his chin. “Thank you for everything. I know we took you away from your husband when he needs you.”

Corey laughed. Chipper didn’t think he had ever seen him genuinely laugh. “Rhett? He hates anyone seeing him sick and it would kill him if Rhorey caught something from him. You know he’s a giant puppy.”

Chipper snorted and headed in to see Baylor. He had no idea what he would find with the way the night had gone.

Baylor looked up from his spot on the bed as Chipper came through the door. He looked fine. “Hey.”

Chipper moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “Hey. How are you feeling?”

Baylor shrugged. “Fine. How are you feeling?”

Chipper couldn’t help but smile. Baylor shouldn’t be worried about him. “Worried about you.”

Baylor scooted over and patted the bed. “Come here. Cuddle with me.”

In five seconds, Chipper had Baylor in his arms. He didn’t need to be asked twice to do his favorite thing.

As soon as he was settled, Baylor kissed his chest. “I really am fine. Corey talked to me about treatment. It’s just a bunch of meds. That’s no big deal. Everything else will come as it comes. But apparently, since I’ll be medicated, this isn’t life-threatening. I’ll just have to be extra careful to not catch anything.” He paused for a second. Chipper practically heard the wheels turning in his head, coming to grips with all the ramifications. “I suppose I need to slow down.”

Chipper tried to keep the happiness from his voice. He truly wanted Baylor to stop killing himself, but he hadn’t known how to make it happen. It was better for Baylor to make the decision on his own. “Have you started working on a plan? I know you’re booked solid for like the next two years.”

Baylor tilted his head back to meet Chipper’s stare. “How would you know that?”

He pointed at himself. “Stalker. Remember? I’ve had to finagle a lot of wedding invitations to see you.”

“I fucking knew it!” Baylor covered his mouth as if he hadn’t meant to shout. His eyes swam with laughter. He dropped his hand. A huge smile played on his lips. “I knew there was no way you go to that many weddings all the time.”

Chipper couldn’t stop smiling. “Of course it was all for you. Everything is these days.”

Baylor looked moved… and happy.

He couldn’t resist pointing that out. “For someone who just got life-altering news, you look strangely elated.”

He felt Baylor shrug. “I don’t know why it doesn’t look that daunting right now, but it doesn’t.” Baylor seemed to turn inward for a moment before his gaze locked on Chipper again. “That’s not true. I know why. Meeting you has turned my world upside down in all the best ways. I can’t explain it, but I feel like… It’s stupid.”

“Nothing you say could be stupid.”

Baylor visibly swallowed. “I feel like I won’t ever be alone again.”

That was exactly how they felt to him too. They had something big. Something life-altering. From the outside looking in, it had to look like they were two idiots who didn’t really know each other, but they did. He couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was due to Chipper caring for Baylor through an illness. He didn’t think so, though. They just found something in each other. Something they were both missing.

He kissed Baylor. “You won’t be.” Their kiss was so sweet, it sent a flutter through Chipper’s chest. He held Baylor tighter and savored every second. He had never been so full.