Acceptable Behavior (4 page)

“Oh, wow. How’d he end up in prison?”

Sam inhaled then blew the breath out. “You know, that’s about as much family drama as I care to share for one day. You’re a great listener, though. Thanks for that, and for lunch. I intended to pay for ours.”

Travis waved a hand. “No biggie. I enjoyed the company.” He glanced at Levi then back at Sam. “So, you kinda got flustered when I told you I was gay, but you didn’t say much.”

“I wasn’t flustered,” Sam insisted, but deep down he knew he had been. “It’s cool. To each his own.”

“I guess I have to ask, then, are you…”

Sam held his breath.

Travis finished the sentence quickly. “Seeing anyone?”

Vague.
Sam got the feeling that wasn’t the original question Travis had wanted to ask. His heart thumped loudly in his chest and he wondered if the other man could hear it.

How do I answer that?
No, but I’d love to see more of you, including those tattoos.
How could he even think about starting a relationship given his current living situation? Travis probably had a place to go, but what if he didn’t, or had a roommate? How embarrassing would it be to explain that he lived in a dingy rat trap with Mel and Levi? Or that he couldn’t ever make plans because he was obligated to watch the boy every evening? It was simpler just to fib and let it go at that. “Yeah, kind of. She’s a great girl.”

“Ah, I see.” Travis put up a good front but his eyes gave him away. He appeared deflated.

Sam nearly retracted his false statement but he’d be left with the same problem. Levi and Mel were his priority right now. He didn’t have time for a relationship. “We should probably go. It was great visiting with you. Thanks for being so kind to Levi.”

“He seems like a good kid.”

“He is. When everything else is up in the air, that’s the one thing I’m sure of.”

Travis’ brow wrinkled. “What’s up in the air, Sam? I’d like to help if I could.”

Sam jumped up. “You’re too kind, really. Everything’s fine. I just need to get the kid home so he can rest and be ready for school tomorrow. Don’t want him to miss another day.”

The doctor rose and nodded. “Rest is good. Of course, you know if Levi needs anything, you can call me any time. You’ve got my office number.”

“Thank you.” Sam extended a hand.

When Travis shook it, Sam felt sparks of electricity where they’d touched.
Now I’m freaking out. We have to leave, pronto.
“Bye.” He hurried over to Levi and asked him to say his goodbyes, then hustled him off to the car. Sam needed to be home, away from the prying eyes and inquisitive mind of Dr. Travis Nelson. Not to mention his bulging muscles and massive tattoos.
God, I’d love to see those tats.
Maybe someday.

He sighed.
Dream on.

* * * *

Travis couldn’t get the handsome blond with the haunted eyes out of his mind. Something was up with Sam Madison, and he suspected it had to do with the little family he was so obviously trying to protect.

And for Sam to imply he
wasn’t
gay?
Bullshit
. He was as gay as Travis, he’d bet his life on that fact. What straight guy, when being questioned by a queer, would reply that he ‘kind of’ had a girlfriend? A truly straight man would be all over himself with details about the woman, right down to her tit size. Straight men left no doubt that they were straight. He’d seen it time and time again.

Unless… Could Sam be a gay-curious straight man? Maybe he’d never tried it, but was interested. Travis would be all over that. He could help Sam with whatever reservations he might have.

But Sam would have to let him in. Right now he seemed pretty walled-up. Travis needed to think of a way to tear down the wall, even if it was brick by brick.

He drove home from the road race and cleaned up his bike, then found a spot on his bookshelf for the trophy before he hopped in the shower. Afterward, he poured himself a tall glass of ice water and sat down to make a call.

“Hi, honey! How’s your day going?” His mother sounded chipper as usual.

“Hey, Mom. Good. I rode in a charity event this morning and took first place. Got my own little trophy and everything.”

“Travis! Why didn’t you tell us that was going on? Dad and I would have been there.”

“I know, but you just got home from Aunt Mary’s last night and I figured you’d be tired.”

“We’re never too tired to watch you win a race. Next time,
call us
.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Duly chastised, he changed the subject. “So how was Aunt Mary? Recovering from her knee surgery?”

“Slowly. I guess it’s pretty painful at first.”

“Of course it is. Soon enough she’ll begin to realize that the new knee is now her
good
knee.”

“Your father is still griping that you didn’t go into orthopedics. He says that specialty will benefit us more in the future than pediatrics.”

Travis chuckled. “Probably right, but I wouldn’t meet as many hot uncles at the ortho practice.”

“Hot uncles, huh? What’s his name? When did you meet him?”

He hesitated. “Eh, it’s too soon for that, Mom. But let’s just say this one’s got potential and leave it at that.”

“Okay, just promise to let us know if it advances past ‘potential’.”

He chuckled again. “You know I will, but don’t hold your breath. The guy’s got issues, and I haven’t quite figured out the depth and scope yet.”

“What kind of issues, Trav?”

He recognized the concerned tone in her voice. He’d heard it often enough during the Jack years, so he was quick to reassure. “Nothing really bad, not like Jack. He just doesn’t seem to have a lot of money. And his family is kind of messed up. No parents anymore, and I haven’t figured out what’s up with his sister, and why the brother was taking the kid to something as important as a doctor visit.”

“Oh, yes, you are important,” his mother teased. “Families do that for each other, especially when there are no grandparents in the picture. You’d know that if we had any grandchildren of our own. Sometimes the parent needs a helping hand.”

“I do know that, and would you let me find a man before we have to start worrying about where the grandchildren will come from?”

“Certainly. Find-A-Surrogate.com is one place to start, though they seem rather pricey. I think you might be better off finding a woman yourself and making arrangements through a lawyer. I bet your friend Alex would help with something like that.”

“Mo-ther.” Travis rubbed his temple with his free hand. “I’m sure Alex could handle the paperwork because he’s a very good lawyer. But you’re putting the cart before the horse,
again
.”

“Just saying, if you decide not to wait for a man, you know Dad and I will help you with the child, as much as we’re needed. We’d love to do it.”

“Thanks for that. But if I’m having trouble finding a guy when I’m single and unattached, what makes you think it’d be any easier if I was a single father? The kid would scare off half of the men I meet.”

“If he’s scared off, then he isn’t the right man for you.”

“Got it, Mom. Appreciate the input. How was your week?”

“Good. I’ve got most of my flowers planted. Another couple weeks and I can put in the tomatoes and cucumbers.”

“That’ll keep you busy.”

“Not that busy, so remember to call next time you’re in a race. Or just call for no reason. We miss you, Trav.”

“I’m fifteen minutes away. We see each other regularly. How can you miss me?” he teased.

“Because that’s what moms do, so there. Quit giving me static. And would it kill you to ‘like’ some of the stuff I post to your Facebook page?”

“I’m never on Facebook, Mom.”

“Then maybe I should stop posting all the funny pictures and jokes.”

“No, you go right ahead. I’ll get on there one of these days and have myself a regular laugh riot.”

“You are a rotten, ungrateful son,” she teased through her chuckle.

“Top five percent of my class in med school, Mom.”

“Yeah, and you remember what they call the people who graduated in the bottom five percent, don’t you?”

Travis smiled. “Yeah.” He and his mother both said at the same time, “Doctor.”

He grew serious for a moment. “I’m not ungrateful, and that’s one of the reasons I called you today. Meeting this guy reminded me of how lucky I am in many regards.
Most regards.”

“Dad and I are lucky too, honey. Be patient with your new friend. Not everyone opens up as easily as you do to new people. He might just need some time.”

Time.
For some reason, the thought bugged him. “Yeah. I hope he has time. Have a good week, Mom. Love to you and Dad.”

“Right back at you, son. Take care.”

Travis ended the call and leaned back in his chair. Talking to his folks always helped him put things into perspective. He could give Sam some time, if he knew for sure the guy was interested in him. Right now all he had was the slim possibility of a definite maybe. And a ‘kind of’ girlfriend, which he still wasn’t buying. He’d get to the bottom of it, one way or another.

* * * *

Travis hadn’t come to any conclusions and by Thursday he’d started to feel frustrated. He needed to find a way to meet up with Sam. If they didn’t talk or even see each other, Sam would never know how Travis really felt.

Hell, I’m not even sure how I really feel.
He just knew he wanted to see Sam again.

“Dr. Travis, the nurse at Jefferson Elementary School called. They’ve had a playground accident,” Janel told him at four o’clock. “She thinks it’s a broken arm. They’re sending the family right over.”

He sighed. Clinic ended at three-thirty except for the doctor on call, which today was lucky him. “Sure. Call ortho and alert them, so they don’t send everyone home. Get X-rays first thing and we’ll figure out what needs to be done.”

“You’ve got it.” She hurried off to prepare a room.

Travis dictated some charts until Janel returned to his office. “The Madisons are here. You saw Levi last week for an ear infection.”

His senses perked up. “He’s the broken arm?”

“I’m not so sure it’s broken. He’ll be back from X-ray in a few minutes.”

“Thanks.” Travis’ heart pounded and he suddenly felt guilty for wishing he could see Sam again. He’d never dreamed Levi would get hurt.

Hurrying to the X-ray department, he saw Sam and a thin woman with long blonde hair standing just outside the room where films were shot.

He stepped alongside Sam. “Hey.”

The handsome man glanced at him, then relief washed over his face. “Oh, hey! I’m glad you’re here. Levi’s been asking if he’d get to see you.”

“I’m on call today, so yep, you’ve got me.” He glanced at the woman who’d turned to face him. His first thought had been to wonder if she was Sam’s girlfriend but one look at her face answered that. She was the feminine version of Sam. “Oh, wow. Are you twins?”

Sam smiled. “Yeah. Dr. Travis, this is my sister, Melanie Madison. Mel, this is Dr. Travis Nelson.”

She curled her lips into an unfriendly snarl.
“Dr. Travis.
How cute.” To her brother she muttered, “I don’t know why we had to come here. He’s just going to send us somewhere else, and we’ll have twice the bills. We should have gone straight to the ER.”

Travis knew at that moment that even if Sam and his twin had been the same sex with the same haircut, he would have been able to instantly tell them apart. Sam was sweet and gentle, and knowing Mel for all of two minutes, he could already see that she had an ugly soul. Or maybe it was a damaged soul, with an ugly face on it. “Don’t worry about the bill,” he said to Sam. “I’ll need to see the X-ray before I can determine if he needs to go elsewhere. Fractures are best treated by orthopedic specialists, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Okay.” Sam appeared nervous, like a good parent would be.

His sister looked bored and pissed off. “Is there somewhere I can go have a cigarette?”

Travis gazed at her levelly. “No. He’ll be out in a moment, and we’ll determine what’s wrong with his arm. I’d assume you’d want to be here for that?”

“Whatever.” She turned her back on him.

Sam looked at him sheepishly. “Sorry,” he mouthed.

Travis nodded. If anything,
he
felt sorry for Sam. But knowing that Melanie was his twin made it easier to understand why Sam stayed with them.

The door opened and Janel led Levi out. The boy hugged his mother with one arm, then glanced up. “Dr. Travis!”

“Hey, buddy. You can stop by to see me anytime you want, you know. You don’t have to fall off a jungle gym.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Levi grinned.

Janel led them to an exam room.

“Right up here.” Travis patted the paper-covered table, and helped Levi climb up. “I’m going to go look at the X-rays and see what we’ve got. I’ll be right back.”

As Janel followed him out, he heard Melanie say, “Hey, since this happened at school, we should be able to sue them or something, shouldn’t we?”

The nurse closed the door and Travis glanced at her. She made a wide-eyed face, but neither of them said a word. He went to his office and looked at the films. He’d learned when children were involved it was best to see them first and determine the seriousness of the injury, before showing the patient and parents. Some people had a tendency to freak out when a break was bad.

Fortunately, Levi didn’t have a fracture. A mild sprain, if anything. He instructed Janel to let the ortho practice know and to bring him a sling.

He returned to the exam room and as he opened the door, heard Melanie was still talking. “He’s kind of cute, I guess, but you could do better.”

“I like him,” Levi insisted.

“It doesn’t matter,” Sam whispered in a hushed voice. “He’s married with three kids.” He stopped talking and glanced up as the door opened.

For a moment Travis thought they’d been talking about him, until he heard the part about being married with kids. Sam knew better, so they obviously weren’t discussing him. But why was Sam’s sister talking to him about a
man
, if Sam had a girlfriend?