One thing Derek has always searched for is perfection. And in Nick's love, he thought he'd found it. But marriage is rarely perfect and Nick Lund isn't a myth, but a human being, faulted as anyone. With their relationship on the rocks, Derek faces loneliness and doubt, estranged from the man he's adored for most of his life. When he learns that he has a cousin living in the city, a young man named Myles he never knew existed, Derek seeks him out. The two men begin a beautiful friendship that provides Derek with some solace and perspective. But in spite of the affection he feels for Myles, Derek's heart belongs to Nick, who's willing to do anything to get them back on track. Nick is ready to forsake his restaurant Split, the city life he adores and all of his ambitions to win Derek's trust again. Derek is convinced that a quiet existence in the burbs is the solution to all of their problems. Or will it be the biggest mistake of their lives?

Red Dreams

Holding my breath and tongue, I stared at Nick’s profile, waiting, anticipating.


“Spencer’s gonna love that pool, huh?” he finally said. “And Esco is gonna love shitting in that yard.”


And that was it. I knew we had our house.


Nick turned to look at me, shaking his head and laughing. “O’Reilly, your yes vibrationscan probably be felt all the way down the street.” He walked up to me and grabbed my head to kiss it. “Do you really want it?”


“All right, let’s go make an offer.” He stepped back and peeked into the washroom that connects to the main bedroom. “Wow, a tub I can actually fit my legs in. Cool.”


We should hear from Marc-Anthony any day now. Nick and I are going to own our first house together. Doesn’t it blow your mind, Bump? To think I used to eat popcorn for dinner sometimes, as a kid, and that when Nick left for Vancouver, all he had to his name was a driver’s license and twenty dollars, and now, here we are, soon to be homeowners.


Chapter 32