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

“You know,” I said, unable to sustain his inquisitive stare, “saved up a lot of money and came back here to open Split.”


“I heard you’re doing very well with that.” Still, he watched me as though he could see the great rock of ice inside me and not only the tip I was showing him. “But don’t you miss traveling? Being…so free.”


“No,” I replied, without a doubt. “I don’t miss those days at all.”


“You must have seen some amazing things out there.”


I would take him traveling. I would take him anywhere he wanted to go. I’d show him all those beaches, if that was what his golden heart desired.


“What was the most beautiful thing you ever saw?” he asked, curious as a child.


“You,” I said, my cheeks feeling warm.


He was conquering me, little by little, moving closer and closer to the fortress around my heart. “Don’t you know who you are to me?” I asked, repeating his own words back to him.


Chapter 34