Page 128 of The Way Home

“He’s abigot.”Jamie’s voice rose enough to make an older couple nearby glance over. “He cut you and Sally, no one else, even thoughmultipleother staff members have missed games. It’s clear as day, and everyone is furious.”

“Everyone?” Caleb frowned. How did Jamie know so much about this? “What do you mean?”

Jamie reached into his pocket and held up his phone. “The women are livid. They’re practically rioting.”

Caleb stared at the screen for a moment, realizing Jamie was in an entire group message of players. “Why the hell has no one spoken to me about this?”

The question made Jamie’s face fall, guilt replacing the anger.

“I told them I’d break the news to you, but…” He pulled his phone back and dropped his gaze. “I haven’t had the heart to do it. You… you’re not yourself, Caleb. I’m worried about you. And I was afraid this might send you deeper into—” He trailed off, but Caleb could fill in the blank.

Into depression.

The knot in Caleb’s chest tightened. Great. Now his own dark cloud of emotions was affecting Jamie too. Caleb wiped his mouth with his napkin and waved down the server.

“We’ll take the check.”

They didn’t say much after that. A few minutes later, they headed back to the car and drove to the hospital. Maybe today would be better. But if the past week was anything to go by, his father was still going to be a dick.

Within a few minutes of being in the hospital, Caleb was proven right.

“Where’s the guy from yesterday?” his father snapped. “He knew what he was doing.”

“Sir…,” the nurse said patiently. Before she could continue, Bri jumped in.

“Dad! Come on, she’s doing her job. I’m so sorry, Marie.” Bri was doing her best to manage the room while Mike stepped down the hall to grab drinks for everyone. Muttering under his breath, Derrick turned back to the television mounted in the corner of the room.

Caleb tried to muster up some sympathy for him. Surely the man was in a lot of pain. The medication probably made him feel like shit, too. But did he really have to be so fucking mean to the staff?

“Hi there,” the nurse said, turning toward Caleb and Jamie with a polite smile. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Marie, one of the nurses here on the oncology floor.”

“That’s my son, Caleb,” Derrick said without taking his eyes off the television. “And his gay boyfriend.”

The words landed like a slap to the face.

“Really, Dad?” Caleb stood, stepping in front of Jamie. “Did youreallyjust say that?”

“What?” Derrick scowled and turned toward him. Marie shiftedawkwardly. “I’ll… go get the doctor,” she said quietly before slipping out of the room.

His father’s eyes moved to Jamie. Caleb had to fight the instinct to block him from view entirely.

“I don’t see what I said that was so wrong,” Derrick snarled.

“It’s theway—”

“Dad, we talked about this…” Bri said quickly, stepping forward.

A hand settled on Caleb’s shoulder, Jamie trying to calm him, but Caleb shrugged it off. His head was pounding, and that heavy knot of exhaustion in his chest was tightening so rapidly it felt hard to breathe.

“His name isJamie,”Caleb said sharply. “He’s my partner and the love of my life, and I willnotlet you disrespect—”

“I did no such thing,” Derrick interrupted defensively.

“Caleb, calm down—” Bri tried.

“Really, Bri?” He whirled on his sister, feeling sixteen again. Un-fucking-believable.

He came all this way, missed games that could advance his career, and was getting kicked out of a camp that could help him get intomedical school.