Chapter 48

And then when Stephen dozed off, drugged by excitement and exhaustion, Mike lay awake most of the night, listening to him breathe, touching every inch of skin he could find, and imagining what this would be like in a month, two, five, nine.

Ten.

In less than a year, it would all be over—and then everything Mike had ever wanted would begin. With Stephen. Because of Stephen.

And Stephen would be Stephen again. Not so dangerously obsessed with running and afraid of so much as a scrap of fat on his bones. Not ill every month. He’d be one hundred percent Stephen, but it would have all been worth it.

Mike could have his cake, and eat it, too.

By the time dawn broke, Mike was physically exhausted, but mentally high as a kite. He nipped out early in the car to a chemist, and bought another test, making Stephen redo it in the ensuite and laughing like an overexcited kid when those two blue lines appeared all over again.

“You know what this means,” Stephen said imperiously.

“What?”