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

“I guess if we’re going to travel, we’ll be able to add what you’ve got in your suitcase and more of the supplies here in the bunker.”


“Except when it came to giving you up.”


Laurie felt himself blush. No one had ever seemed to want to hold onto him for long. He ducked his head and smiled, and continued unzipping compartments and pulling out items—a towel, antiseptic wipes, a survival kit with everything necessary for making it through an emergency—flashlight, fire starter, compass, Swiss knife…revolver and ammunition.


“That’s cool,” Wheat said. “I packed one, too.”


“Jesus, I hope we don’t need them”


“People are always the worst aspects of what you have to face in an emergency.”


Laurie began to laugh, then stared down at what was at the bottom of the bag. “Oh my God, I’m so stupid.”


Chapter 33