Chasing the Rainbow (14 page)

When they separated, Jody’s smile was sad, but it was a smile, and Bobby would take that. “You’re allowed to be scared, Bob. But… I got you. Okay? I love you. It’s me and you.”

Bobby felt another tear well up and covered it with another kiss, much heavier, with more tongue this time. They tasted and held each other. This was a real promise. Bobby had been running from the idea of being with someone so long, that when Jody had slid under his skin months ago, he’d been taken aback, but now he’d probably feel like he’d lost his foundation if he lost Jody again. He’d not realized how much one could need another person; never felt it. But this. This was big and it was perfect in its imperfection.

They broke the kiss, Jody resting his forehead on Bobby’s. Bobby sighed, comforted, glad he’d shared with Jody, because it didn’t feel as scary since he knew he wasn’t alone. “I love you too, Jody.” Fuck, he never thought he’d ever say those words and really mean it. But they were right.

Jody smiled, so very warmly Bobby could feel the smile in his soul.

“We’ll get through this, Bob. Just keep talking to me, okay. You’re not alone anymore.”

Bobby put as much feeling as he could into the words when he replied. “Neither are you, Jo. It’s me and you, huh?”

“Me and you,” Jody said, barely a whisper.

Bobby dropped his head to Jody’s shoulder, and after a quiet moment, chuckled. “Did you really use a romance novel metaphor?”

“What?” Jody snorted. “I was winging it. And this from the man who used a Skittles rainbow metaphor for being a slut.”

Bobby leaned back and gave Jody a playful shove. “Hey!”

“Oh, please tell me I made it back after the sex,” Carlo said, from the doorway.

“Shut up, Carlo,” Jody and Bobby said in unison. And they laughed. God, how they laughed.

Chapter 16

SOMETHING ABOUT ALL doctor offices felt the same to Jody. He wasn’t just talking about that god awful sterile smell and the ugly fake plants. No matter what the reason or who you were with, they had that same tension in the air. Even the standard physical could turn up bad news. No wonder no one likes the doctor.

              He rolled his head where it was leaned on the wall behind his uncomfortable waiting room chair, looking at Bobby. Bobby’s fear clung to him like a bad smell. He’d been good after their talk the day before when he’d finally come clean. They’d gone to Jody’s apartment and made love and eaten take out, forgetting for five more minutes that today was a big deal.

              Jody knew today’s news could be bad. He surprised himself, being the usual over-analyzer, that he’d never considered the possibility Bobby maybe one day could get sick again. Everyone knew if you’d had the big C before, chances were higher for coming out of remission. But Jody’d not thought of it more so than when you thought of
anyone
getting cancer.

              A frown marred Bobby’s face, a deep unhappy one. Jody placed his hand on Bobby’s knee and gave a reassuring squeeze. Bobby gave the hint of a smile, but went back to nervously thumbing through one of the million tattered copies of
Highlights for Children
that were lined up on the coffee table.

“Better than bullshit celebrity rags,” Bobby had retorted when Jody teased his reading choice. No, never would Bobby G be caught reading a silly gossip magazine.

“Mr. Gugino. Bobby Gugino, you can come back now,” a nurse called from the doorway to the back of the office. Bobby’s eyes widened a bit as he turned to Jody, who took his hand, and nodded toward the door.

Bobby didn’t speak as they were led through a fluorescent lit, bright white hallway. Jody almost felt they were being led into a sanitarium. It would probably be fitting, as the entire situation felt surreal and completely insane. Looking at Bobby, vital and strong and big and… Bobby—imaging him having that kind of illness growing in him, it didn’t seem possible.

Jody was pulled out of his thoughts as they were directed into a very simple office. The desk was slightly messy, diplomas hung on the walls, but nothing about the room said
lives change here.
The gravity of the situation, the situation that led Bobby to asking Jody all night if he was sure he wanted to be saddled with him, in Jody’s mind, called for something much more dark and sinister than a simple oak desk and IKEA shelving.

When the doctor came in from a side room, Jody got Bobby’s attention, squeezing his had one more time. He mouthed the words he’d said yesterday and would keep saying until Bobby stopped wanting to hear them. “It’s me and you.”

Bobby blinked, clearly choked up, and squeezed Jody’s hand back in answer. The doctor cleared his throat, smiling not unkindly at their linked hands.

“Bobby, it’s good to see you, under the circumstances,” the cartoonish man said. He was a bit too thin so his clothes hung awkwardly on him and his eyes were a bit too big behind too large glasses—frames circa 1980.

“Dr. Drew,” Bobby croaked. “This is Jody…” Bobby’s gaze was intent as he said “My boyfriend.” The doctor nodded, smile serene. Jody had to contain his own elation at Bobby’s introduction.

“Glad to see you’re not doing it alone this round.”

Jody flinched inwardly, not just at how sadly the doctor had appeared when he’d mentioned Bobby being alone last time, but also at his saying
this round.
What did that mean?

The Doctor opened a folder and flicked through a few pieces of paper before looking back up to them. “Well, sorry if we startled you about the blood work. It was cause for alarm so I’m glad we ran the biopsy.”

“And?” Bobby asked, crushing Jody’s hand in his.

“Well, first, you’re still in remission.”

Bobby’s slumping in his chair almost dragged Jody with him. Jody’s heart was beating so loud in his chest, slamming against his rib cage, he could almost hear it. But he could still hear the loud swoosh of air as Bobby let out a relieved breath. Bobby pulled Jody into such a hard, cheerful hug, Jody couldn’t find it in him to complain the wooden arms were cutting into his side. The way Bobby’s entire body vibrated spoke to just how close the man had been to losing it. Jody wrapped his arms around Bobby, squeezing hard, happy to help him pull himself back together and stitch the battered seams back together.

Dr. Drew gave them a few moments before getting their attention again. “It’s very good news. You’ll, of course, always need to be diligent, continue with physicals, know your body. But, we are moving out of that window where we have to by hyper vigilant. So congratulations.”

The arm Bobby hadn’t pulled from around Jody’s shoulder tightened a bit. “So what was wrong?”

“That’s what you need to be aware of. You’ve got an infection, but it’s nothing serious. It did cause the swelling. Aside from that, the strange blood work was because you’re anemic.” Jody stilled and the doctor held up a hand to halt any freak outs. “It’s not uncommon. We’ll put you on an iron supplement, work with your diet. You’ll be absolutely fine. It’s probably why you may have been feeling tired lately.”

“So…everything is kosher?” Bobby’s accent was thick, kosher sounding more like
koe-shah
. Jody thought it was one of Bobby’s more adorable tells when he was feeling emotional.

“Quite. It’s good we know about the anemia. You’d have definitely felt it if it lasted much longer, but there’s nothing life threateningly wrong right now, Bobby.”

Again, Bobby’s relief was palpable. They sat, quietly and waited for the doctor to explain dietary restrictions and about supplements. Then with well wishes, they were on their way to the parking garage.

They’d only just made it to the truck when Bobby surprised Jody, slamming him against the side and covering Jody’s mouth with his. The kiss was dirty and wet and they probably shouldn’t be grinding on each like they were, in public.

Bobby pulled back, still shaking. “Jo, I’m okay.”

“Yeah,” Jody replied softly. “You’re good.” God, how awesome it was to say that.

Bobby studied Jody like he held some wondrous mystery. “You meant it, huh?”

“Meant what?”

“You really were fine being a trooper. You would have handled it, even if I’d been sick again.”

Jody rolled his eyes. “Like I told you. You ridiculous man. I love you, Bobby. And I hope you’d do the same for me.”

“Always,” Bobby said, brooking no argument. “I just guess it clicked. I wouldn’t have stayed sane without you today.”

Jody was surprised at how effusive Bobby acted. He put his hand on Bobby’s face. “Bobby. Me and you.”

“Me and you.” After a moment or two, holding each other up against the intense emotions of the morning, Bobby straightened up and hit the unlock button on the keyless entry to the truck.

Jody wandered around and hopped inside.

“I want to do something,” Bobby said. “If you don’t mind.”

“Okay. What’s that?”

“I want to take you to Ma’s.” Jody couldn’t contain his surprise. Jesus fuck, though. That was a big step in general, but why on such an already emotional day?

“Because she should know you,” Bobby replied simply to the question when asked aloud.

Jody just nodded because what else could he say to that? Bobby reached over and grabbed Jody’s chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Then maybe,” Bobby said, voice husky and deep, “we can go back to mine and grab one of my suits. We got some celebrating to do.” Bobby leaned in and licked the shell of Jody’s ear before whispering. “I like it when my cock’s the only thing exposed and you ride me so good.”

Jody blinked, staring as Bobby pulled back and settled into the driver seat. Jody’s attention went with Bobby’s hand which rubbed the sizable lengthening bulge in his crotch. When he looked back up to Bobby the bastard had that same smirk he had every time he got what he wanted.

And Jody was totally okay being the prize.

***
 

BOBBY KISSED JODY’S knuckles, an apology to said knuckles for the abuse they’d faced all morning. He still was trying to catch his breath, realize everything was okay.

                  He didn’t know how to thank Jody for being there for him the last couple of days. It’d been tense and long, but Jody had been great, ready with easy smiles and the types of hugs that held a man up when he couldn’t do it for himself. And he felt better for having accepted them. Jesus did he.

                  “You ready for this?” Jody asked, nodding his head toward the house they stood before.

                  Bobby sighed. “As I’ll ever be.”

                  He stared at the familiar, hunter-green door he’d repainted a few dozen times in his life. He’d never been so nervous going into his mother’s home, but also never so certain of himself. It was time. This was it.

                  “You sure you don’t want me to wait out here?” Jody asked.

                  “No. This needs doing.” And with that, he pulled Jody along and pushed through the front door. It was Sunday lunch, so there was absolutely no telling who might’ve been there. He cringed at the thought that his oldest brother may be, but he couldn’t make himself care. The man hadn’t being around for years, other than to complain about what he thought Carlo and Bobby were doing wrong, only to disappear with his wife’s family for another six months.

                  Bobby followed the chattering of voices to the kitchen. That was a good sign, meaning there was no party or large group of people there if they could fit at the breakfast table.

                  The room went silent as Bobby and Jody walked in, faced with the usual suspects. Again, thank God. He wasn’t thrilled that Angie was there, but not surprised either. Carlo’s newest fling was there, chatting with Angie; their mother in her Sunday finest at the head of the table.

                  The frown drooping her mouth into something unpleasant, showing every one of her seventy-eight years, was also not unexpected.

                  “Hey, Bob. Welcome to the party.”

                  “Hey, Carlo,” he said, primly. The girlfriend sat quietly, confused, and Angie hid a grin behind her hand. That was unexpected, because it wasn’t unkind.

                  “Heya, Jo,” Carlo continued, cheerfully.

                  “Hush, Carlo,” their mother snapped. “Why is he here?”

                  “You wanted me to bring the person I’m seeing.”

                 She let out an unhappy sigh, shaking her head angrily. “What would your father say, Bobby?”

                  Bobby resisted the urge to sigh right back at her. But he wasn’t going to back down. He’d spent too many years being the good son, the one who didn’t fight, who didn’t rock the boat. He figured thirty-seven-years-old was long past the time one had to stand up and stop being scared of mommy.

                  “I can’t really care about that, can I Ma? He’s been gone too many years. You, on the other hand, I’m hoping will still be around a long time. And I hope in that time you’ll get to know Jody.” He held up the hand that he was holding. “This is Jody, by the way.”

                  “I know who he is,” she said, icily.

                  This time he did sigh. He let go of Jody’s hand to go sit beside his mother. “Ma. I just came from the doctor.”

                  She blanched. “On a Sunday? Is it serious?”

                  He shook his head, looking at Jody, who nodded encouragingly. “He just happened to have a minute for me because he knew I was anxious to hear back from him. It’s great, actually. We thought the cancer may have come back.” His mother’s hand flew up over her mouth. Everyone at the table had similarly stricken expressions.

                  “I’m fine, though. I need to take some supplements. But other than that, the blood work was good.” He gestured to Jody. “But that man there, he supported me and held my hand and all around was there for me during the whole thing. And he’s so important to me. I never, ever thought I’d find happiness like this.” There were many things he thought he might see on Angie’s face, but the beaming smile she flashed was not one of them.

                  “So I’m asking you to at least try to understand that much. I know it’s a lot to ask. But could you also stop inviting Angie? Because I won’t come if I don’t have Jody and Jody shouldn’t have to be here with my ex.” He shot Angie an apologetic look.