Page 31 of Will & Patrick's Endless Honeymoon
Patrick likes theway the sun lights up the golden hair on Will’s exposed forearms and how the wind feels racing through his hair. He likes the purring of the Porsche as it whips down the road next to the ocean. Black lava fields extend toward the mountain in the distance. He even likes the way the air smells. Salty, fresh, and sun baked.
This giddy feeling of blood pumping through his body is called excitement. He’s experienced the sensation outside of the OR a few times since he’s been married to Will, and he likes it now too. All in all, he’s pleased.
A honeymoon is clearly a fantastic idea after all. Who knew?
“We should text everyone and let them all know we’ve landed safely,” Will says, reaching into his murse for his phone.
“No.” Patrick adjusts his sunglasses. “Absolutely not.”
Will hesitates with his phone in his hand. “But they’ll worry.”
“We’re on a total electronics and social media blackout, remember?”
It’s not like it’s easy for him either. He’s agreed to give up control of his patients for ten whole days without even being available for a consult. Plus he’s not going to look atThe Hurting Times,and that’s a real sacrifice for his gossip-loving self.
But even one little slip on the texting front and they could have a Molinaro/Patterson crisis to contend with just when they’re supposed to be getting away.
“When they don’t hear on the news about a plane crashing into the Pacific, they’ll know we made it just fine.”
Putting his phone back in his murse without sending the reassuring texts, Will teases, “What will you do for entertainment withoutThe Hurting Times? Read medical journals like you do at bedtime?”
“No. I bought a vampire romance Jenny told me about.” The sea breeze must have some magical properties, because Patrick swears his shoulders are relaxing with each breath. “It’s a series. If I like the first one, I’ll get the rest on my Kindle.”
Will cracks up, his head tilting back, exposing his handsome throat.
Patrick grins. “What? You think your husband doesn’t read fiction?”
“A vampire romance?” His brown eyes twinkle. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. I like trashy books to go with my trashy TV shows and trashy gossip.”
“That makes sense, I guess.” Will gestures toward the bags in the back. “Well, I broughtA Little Lifeby Hanya Yanagihara.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s supposed to be the next great gay novel.”
“Oh, death and misery.”
“Maybe, but I read online that a lot of gay men think it’s definitelynotfor a variety of reasons. So I’m going to read it and find out for myself.”
“Good plan.”
They fall into a comfortable silence as they whip past palm trees and approach a small, cramped-looking town. The black, hard miles of lava fields all around remind Patrick of the sometimes ruthless land of the reservation out beyond Healing. The resemblance doesn’t stop there, either.
The town itself has that “everyone must know everyone else” quality that is now all too familiar. Healing doesn’t have thick heat beneath a gentle breeze, though, or tropical foliage, or black lava rock, or swarms of tourists.
Tourists are something Healing will never have to worry about.
“Look,” Will says as they pass out of the town and onto the highway that leads to the resort. “Graffiti.”
Stark white rocks decorate the wide black lava fields, spelling out names, declaring loves and alliances.
Aloha!
Joe wuz here
Terry + Rhonda 4-Ever
