Clouds and Rain

ignore what had happened, and Flynn was glad to sit quietly and read while Gable rested.
    Gable‟s room was right opposite the nurses‟ station, and after Calley paid them a quick visit, Flynn settled down with a book while Gable dozed. When Flynn looked up, he saw a tall man with dark, curly hair talking to the male nurse in charge of Gable‟s care. He didn‟t pay them much attention until he caught the visitor staring at Gable while the nurse was telling him something. Flynn got up from his chair with the intention of closing the door to keep the insolent man from eyeing his lover when the ventilator alarm went off and he saw the panic in Gable‟s eyes. The nurse came in to check out the alarm, but by then Gable had managed to pull out his breathing tube, despite being well restrained.
    Although everyone rushing around had a calm, professional air about them, Flynn felt his heart beating wildly. He wanted to stay by Gable‟s side, but was more than a little curious who this dark stranger was and why he‟d had such an effect on his lover.
    “We‟re going to give him a chance to breathe on his own for a bit,” Dr. Isaacs informed Flynn. “Let‟s hope he does well enough to prevent us having to put the tube back in.” Flynn nodded before turning toward Gable, who was clearly exhausted. He wiped the stray hairs off his forehead and kissed it.
    “Who was that man, Gable?”
    “Grant,” Gable mouthed silently.

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    Flynn felt rage building inside and rushed out of the room toward the hallway, hoping he could catch up with Gable‟s ex. To his surprise, Grant was still in the waiting area and Calley was talking to him.
    “Grant, I believe?” Flynn called out to make the taller man turn around.
    When Grant nodded, Flynn stepped forward and planted his fist into the man‟s jaw.

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    Zahra Owens

    Chapter 12

    FLYNN was not a violent man, but he couldn‟t believe that after all Gable had been through with Grant, he‟d dare to show up at Gable‟s hospital bed. On top of that, seeing Calley talk to Grant quite amicably made him see red.
    “How dare you come here!” Flynn shouted at Grant. He turned to Calley and pointed his finger at her. “And you are no better!”
    “Flynn, please,” Calley pleaded, trying to keep Grant from retaliating and Flynn from lashing out again. “Stop this!”
    “You know exactly how much damage this man has done to Gable,” Flynn continued. “We trusted you, but I suppose it was you who told him about Gable‟s whereabouts.”
    Calley shook her head.
    “She didn‟t tell me,” Grant replied, rubbing the side of his jaw Flynn‟s fist had impacted with. He was still not entirely calm, but clearly trying very hard to control his temper.
    “Then why did you come back here after more than a year?”
    “I came through town on my way to… another job and someone told me that they‟d rushed Gable to the hospital in an ambulance. I knew it must have been serious, so I came looking for him.” This made Flynn‟s blood boil even more. “I don‟t believe you.
    Last time he was hurt, you weren‟t around to call the ambulance, and you didn‟t even bother to say good-bye afterward, when you ran away like a coward. How am I supposed to believe that you all of a sudden grew a conscience?”
    Grant sighed and looked defeated. “You have no idea what it was like.”
    Flynn gave him a stern look.

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    “People were talking behind our backs. I wouldn‟t have found work elsewhere if that had continued.”
    Flynn bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from reacting on impulse again. “Macho man like you?” he mocked instead. “I‟m sure you could have proven your masculinity in one way or another.” He threw Calley a poisoned look and turned around. “Now I‟m going back to where I‟m needed.”
    Flynn took a few deep breaths and tried hard to calm down on the way to Gable‟s room, but he was worried about the impact seeing Grant again would have on Gable. He knew he was no coward, though. He‟d never run, never leave Gable as long as he needed him. If he was honest, he was glad that he‟d finally met Grant. It helped to have a picture of the man in his head; he now understood the physical attraction, but he couldn‟t see Gable having his way with Grant the way he‟d shown he liked to have his way with a man.
    He couldn‟t imagine Gable overpowering Grant the way he‟d overpowered him in the barn, and then again by