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

“—but I haven’t the strength at this time to quarrel with you.”


“Good.” While I was still on my knees, I reached under the bed and dragged out her suitcase before rising to my feet. “I’ll pack for you.” I swung the suitcase beside mine.


“You didn’t let me finish, Dante. I can see how good you two are together.”


“When Dr. Autry—Micajah—arrived here, we were able to chat for quite a while.”


“Huh?” How long had they been talking on the front porch?


She rose and came to me, then cupped my chin. “He thinks very highly of you. And you—”


“Oh, Dante, did you even realize how much you talked about your Dr. Autry?”


“What are you talking about? He only covered that one lecture.” And I’d missed most of it, either having been passed out on the floor or been in the toilets. And what did she mean “mine”? Distracted, I unzipped her suitcase and began filling it.


“Oh, my son. You talked about him more than you know.”


Chapter 31