Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“It seems you’ve hired a very stalwart and dedicated valet, son,” his father said, offering a wan smile.
Ash frowned. “Brand? What did you do?”
“It turns out I am a match,” Brand said.
“…what?” It took a moment to sink in, what he meant.
Brand’s bone marrow was a match for his father’s.
Ash stared. His heart felt like it was ripping, torn between relief, dismay, worry, fear, hope. “I…y-you…that’s where you went today? To get tested?”
“Yes,” Brand said simply. “Considering your father’s condition and the potential for further metastasis, Dr. Singh managed to expedite the lab results and called a short time ago. I am to begin donation procedures tomorrow, while your father begins high-intensity chemotherapy to prepare him for bone marrow replacement.”
“Oh,” Ash said numbly. “Oh.”
Brand had…he’d…he was going to hurt himself, just so Ash’s father would have a better chance to live…
“Why?” he whispered. “Why would you do that? You…you don’t even know my Dad…”
“I know you,” Brand replied softly—and there was no hiding the naked emotion in his voice, in the way he looked at Ash.
No. No, this…this felt wrong, it felt all wrong, and Ash wanted to be happy but he just…he just…
“Do what you want to do,” he bit off, then turned on his heel and flung himself from the room—ignoring Brand’s voice, rising after him, twin to his mother’s call of,
“Ash!”
BRAND STOOD HELPLESSLY IN THE living room of the Harrington estate and watched, for the second time, as Ash ran away from him.
“I,” he said, “am very confused as to what just happened.”
Amiko let out a low laugh, while Calvin Harrington just snorted. “Boy’s as contrary as I am, that’s what just happened,” Harrington said.
Brand frowned. “Does he not want you to find a transplant donor?”
“Oh, Mr. Forsythe.” Amiko sighed with a touch of amusement. “I’m sure he does, but it gets rather complicated when that donor is you, don’t you think?”
Brand glanced at Calvin Harrington uncertainly. He wasn’t sure how much the man knew of what Amiko Arakawa seemed to have gleaned of Brand’s relationship with their son, and he was hesitant to speak—until the elder Master Harrington made an amused, almost derisive sound.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not oblivious. You think any man’s going to offer to put himself in that kind of pain for me if he’s not in love with my son?”
“I’m not—” Brand protested, then stopped and made himself say more honestly, “I don’t know what I am.”
“Confused isn’t a bad way to be.” Harrington glanced at Amiko, gaze softening. “Hell, our confusions gave us Ash.”
“And years of trouble.” Amiko returned his gaze fondly, patting his arm, before offering Brand a smile. “Why are you still here, dear?”
“Perhaps because I am once again not certain if pursuing the young Master is wise.”
“Well you’re never going to find out why he’s so upset with you if you don’t, are you?” Amiko clucked her tongue. “Don’t be silly.”
Brand had never been called silly in his life. It was rather a new thing, but then so was standing here feeling as helpless as a boy half his age while he tried to sort out the conflicting mess of his feelings toward a boy half his age.
Somehow, Ashton Harrington had managed to turn his life halfway inside out and upside down while Brand was busy getting Ashton’s life back together.
He sighed, pushing his glasses up and rubbing his fingers against his eyelids. “I will make haste to do so, then,” he said, then bowed his head to Ash’s parents. “Thank you.”
“No,” Calvin Harrington said. “Don’t you ever thank me for anything again. I owe you more gratitude than I can say, for giving me a chance.”
Brand…Brand had no idea what to say to that. He wasn’t accustomed to being on the receiving end of such heartfelt sincerity.
And so he said nothing, and only turned from the room and set off in search of his confusing, frustrating, extremely indecipherable young lover.
HE FOUND ASH IN THE master suite, almost completely buried and invisible in the massive bed, if not for the silent jerk of his shoulders giving him away. He was crying, Brand realized as he stepped tentatively into the room—face buried in the pillows he clutched close and crying in silent, shaking gasps that wrenched at Brand’s heart.
He closed the door gingerly behind him, then crossed to settle on the edge of the bed. He wasn’t certain if his touch would be welcome, but after a moment he reached over and rested his hand lightly to Ash’s back.
“Young Master,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m not certain how I did.”
Ash pushed himself up, flinging a wet-eyed glare at Brand, his face flushed with crying, eyes and nose pink and swollen. “You went behind my back,” he shot back. “You couldn’t even tell me what you were going to do; you went behind my back! And now you’re…you’re sacrificing yourself when it might not even work…”