Laurie Parkinson, who’s lived in Laurel Hills all his life, is a gay sheet metal worker who’d rather be a gay hairdresser. Wheat Dupuis, who’s also gay, is the scion of one of Laurel Hill’s wealthiest families. He’d rather grow grapes than become CFO of Dupuis International. Laurie wakes one morning to discover his family gone and his town decimated by a bacteria that has lain dormant for millennia, incased in ice. With the melting of the ice caps, the bacteria is released, and mankind faces a pandemic that could surpass the Black Plague. Wheat and his family are on their way to safety when the unthinkable happens and he’s left behind. Laurie knows of a bunker in the woods outside Laurel Hill, where he intends to take refuge. On the way there, Laurie finds and rescues Wheat. Can two such dissimilar men work together through a pandemic to find their families ... and possibly find love, as well?

Pandemic

Laurie swallowed and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Okay, car, don’t fail me now.” He stepped down on the gas.


And thank God, the car rolled forward smoothly for the piece of shit it was. 8


Laurie found the overgrown track that would eventually lead to the bunker, and he steered his piece of shit car into it. Overgrown was putting it mildly; he knew if he pushed his car too hard, it would get stuck, either because its tires became mired in the deep ruts or the weeds tangled with the undercarriage and clogged the engine. Already the path behind him was obscured by the weeds and underbrush, and only careful examination would reveal a car had taken this path.


This is going to be an adventure, Laurie assured himself. Only…How am I supposed to get an injured man plus his belongings to the bunker?


Chapter 21