Page 95 of Out of My Mind

“You’re a New York asshole,” Mac said.

“I’myourNew York asshole.”

The nurse wheeled the gurney down the hall. Gideon jogged alongside it like a secret service agent in a motorcade.

Mac grabbed his finger tight.

“It’s going to be fine, Mac. It really is. You have good doctors here.”

“Gideon…”

“I’m here.”

“Stop the gurney!” Mac yelled. The gurney screeched to a halt inches from the double doors to the OR.

“Last time. I promise,” he told the nurse.

He nodded for Gideon to lean in close.

“I can’t kiss you because of germs,” Mac said.

“Understood.”

“But as soon I get out of here, I’m kissing the fuck out of you.”

“I’m holding you to that,” Gideon said. His gaze nearly set Mac on fire.

“I’m in love with my best friend,” Mac whispered.

“Me, too. Isn’t it great?”

CHAPTER thirty-Two

Mac

Mac’s face crunched with agony as he put one foot in front of the other. His triceps flexed to steady himself. Gideon stood at the end of the bars, arms out, ready to catch his boyfriend.

“Come on. You got this.”

Mac gritted his teeth together in pain. His arms wobbled in support.

“Three more steps. You can give me three more steps, baby.”

“No. I. Can’t.”

“There is no ‘I’ in teamwork,” Gideon said.

Sweat drained down Mac’s temples and sideburns. Red on a rampage could best describe the color of his face. Mac lifted his leg to take another step and yowled in pain.

Gideon looked behind him for the physical therapist, but he stopped himself. They didn’t need no stinking physical therapist.I believe in you, he told Mac with his eyes.

Mac’s foot touched the floor. He gasped for breath like he just played a quarter of basketball.

“That was beautiful. First class step. Okay, two more. You can do two more.”

Mac mumbled out something indecipherable. Gideon assumed it was “fuck,” his curse of choice.

He lifted his left leg. Mac sucked in a deep breath of air. His leg hung above the floor.