Even the nicest of guys can decide to cut loose at some point, especially if he's at college and a frat brother invites him to a party. Unfortunately, that can end quite badly. Luckily for Dante ap Owen, it doesn't -- until he keeps needing to piss every few minutes and he sees blood in his urine. Another stroke of luck for him is the substitute professor, also a medical doctor he’s been crushing on, who happens to be there when he passes out in class and pushes him to come to his clinic.<br><br>But Dante and his beloved, critically ill mother are under the control of his bitter uncle, who also provides health insurance. If his uncle finds out Dante is being treated for anything, let alone what Dante fears is an STD, he's ... Dante doesn't want to think about that. So he flees the clinic before he has to make a follow-up appointment.<br><br>The good doctor shows up at his uncle's farm when phone calls do nothing. And when Dante's uncle invites the doctor to dinner and serves a meal worthy of Medea, the doctor urges Dante and his mother to leave. But will they? And will Dante realize the doctor wants him as much as he wants the doctor?

So Let Us Rejoice

“Thank you. Now would you mind answering my question?”


I studied the glowing tip of my cigar. “He should do fine.” I could tell my friend that much.


“That’s a relief.” Fortunately, he went on to the topic of the musical his department was gearing up for—My Fair Lady—and how he still couldn’t find someone to play Alfred Doolittle. “I think Dante would be ideal for the part—that accent of his and all—but his uncle would probably throw a spanner in the works. The bastard.”


I found that comment intriguing, but I didn’t think it would be ethical for me to pursue it, so I let it go. The rest of the evening passed in pleasant conversation.


Finally, I glanced at my watch and knocked the ash off my cigar. “I’ve kept you awake long enough.” And I did need to return to my clinic to look in on patients a final time and update Dante’s chart.


Leo grinned at me. “I’m surprised you stayed away from your clinic this long.”


“Are you suggesting I’m a workaholic?”


Chapter 19