What Hides Inside: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 2

“You look like you’re on cloud nine.”
“I am,” Sam agreed. “God, you don’t know how scared I was. I mean, I know we all were, but…”
“But you were even more scared than the rest of us, because you had more to lose,” David chimed in, walking backward to face Sam and Dean. “I’m sorry, man. Must’ve been pretty rough, especially since you couldn’t tell us. I know that was Bo’s idea, too. He never did like anybody to be in his business.”
“He’s a very private person.” Glancing over her shoulder, Cecile gave Sam a warm smile. “I’m glad you both feel comfortable sharing this with us, even if you keep it from the rest of the world. It’s impossibly difficult to hide like that from the people who care about you.”
“That’s the truth,” Sam said, with feeling. “I hope Andre won’t mind. He’s been friends with Bo longer than anybody.”
“He won’t,” David confidently declared. “Andre’s got a good head on his shoulders. He doesn’t let the little stuff bug him. And believe me, compared to what he’s been through since August, this is miniscule.”
Sam knew David was right. Andre had suffered the worst sort of loss, and it had damaged him, but his love for and loyalty to his friends remained unsullied. He understood what a precious gift love was, and he would be happy Bo had found it, no matter who it was with.
The four of them burst through the waiting room doors together and hurried to where Andre sat slumped in a chair. The big man looked up, hope brightening his eyes as he caught sight of their smiling faces. David grinned. “Andre, have we got some news for you…”
    Janine and the boys showed up Sunday night. Sean and Adrian begged their father to come home with them, but Janine refused. Sam wasn’t surprised. His dislike for the woman was stronger than ever, something he hadn’t thought possible. Not once did she express any worry over Bo, or any emotion at all other than contempt. Sam wanted to strangle her, for the sadness in her sons’ eyes as much as the way she constantly cut Bo down.
    Janine’s unwillingness to look after Bo gave Sam the perfect excuse to invite Bo to stay with him. Somewhat to Sam’s surprise, Bo accepted. The way Janine’s eyes narrowed when she found out stirred a nervous flutter in Sam’s belly, but he ignored it. There was no possible way she could know about him and Bo. Only their friends knew, and they would never tell Janine.
    Bo was released from the hospital the next day. They decided to stop at Bo’s apartment and collect clothes and other necessities before going to Sam’s place. To Sam’s relief, Janine wasn’t at the hospital when Bo was discharged. Not that he’d thought she would be.
    “Thanks for letting me stay with you,” Bo said, giving Sam a sweet smile as Sam guided his truck through the Monday afternoon traffic. “Maybe it’s stupid, but I really didn’t want to be alone.”
    “It’s not stupid. After everything that’s happened, I don’t blame you a bit.” Glancing at Bo, Sam shot him a suggestive leer. “It’s not like I get nothing out of it.”
    Bo looked startled for a moment, then laughed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” His hand crept onto Sam’s thigh. “I’m looking forward to that myself. There’s still a lot you need to teach me about gay sex.”
    The sensation of Bo’s fingers kneading his leg sent Sam’s pulse racing. Licking his lips, he fought the urge to pull over and suck Bo off right there by the side of Airport Boulevard. The trill of his cell phone snapped him back to his senses.
    Snatching the phone out of the cup holder where he’d put it, Sam flipped it open. “Hello?”
“Sam.” Dean’s voice bubbled with excitement. “Where are you?”
“Hi, Dean. Bo and I are on our way to his place to pick up a few things. What’s up?”
“Get over to the college as soon as you can. My friend Laura—Dr. Trent, I mean—has some info for us about the thing that attacked Bo.”
Twisting around to check his blind spot, Sam switched to the left lane. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Just let me get Bo settled at my place.”
“Wait just a minute.” Bo fixed Sam with a fierce stare. “What’s going on?”
“Hang on a sec, Dean.” Setting the phone carefully on his lap, Sam turned onto the narrow, run-down street where Bo’s apartment complex was located. “Dean says his friend Dr. Trent at the college has some information for us about the thing that bit