It's been eleven years since Nick ran off with David for the West Coast. And though his life resembles a blue dream, after more than a decade of bar tending in resorts and cruise ships, Nick is finally thinking of heading home. First, he needs to go see about David in Vancouver ...<br><br>When he arrives, Nick finds a community of young men devastated by AIDS. Part of him wants to flee back to Montreal, but David is dying and Nick knows his place is by his best friend's side. In those four days and nights in David's apartment by the English Bay, Nick learns more about himself than he ever did before. When it's all over, he packs his bag and locks up his grief, determine to honor the promise he made to David of opening up his own restaurant.<br><br>Five years later, Nick is gaining a reputation in the industry as a chef, but has yet to have any meaningful relationships. Until Derek O'Reilly, that redheaded kid with the avocado-green eyes he used to know, walks into his dining room and ignites Nick's passion once more.

Blue Awakenings

“I’ll stay, David,” I said into his ear, though he slept. “My Davie.”  6


The next morning, I stood in the corner of Davie’s room, staying out of the nurse’s way. She was a woman in her early forties with a rough bedside manner I didn’t particularly appreciate. She shot me a quick glance over her shoulder. “You’re gonna stand there the whole time?”


“Can I help you with anything?” I asked, as nicely as I could.


She was hooking up a new bag to the pole. “No,” she said, but her expression had softened. She watched me for a second. “I haven’t seen you around before, now have I?” Meanwhile, she stuck a thermometer in David’s ear.


Chapter 13