Free Finding Peace (Finding Series, Book 3) by Sloane Kennedy

fucking paid Luke for installing the dishwasher. And just like that, their relationship had changed completely and while Luke hadn’t touched the money Gray had left sitting on the counter for him, Gray hadn’t taken it back either. If Luke had been smart, he would have taken the money and used it to get his ass back on the road. But he didn’t want Gray’s fucking money…he didn’t know what the hell he wanted but he knew it wasn’t that.
    Luke reached for the bread on top of the fridge and tossed a couple of slices into the toaster. Once the bread was lightly browned, he put it on a plate and then went to the table and replaced the chicken and vegetables Gray had been pretending to eat with the toast. Luke put the uneaten food in the garbage and then returned to sit at the table. Gray hadn’t touched the bread and a glance at his glass of water showed he hadn’t had any of it either.
    “You need to see a doctor, Gray,” Luke finally said when he took in Gray’s sunken eyes and pale skin. He looked like death warmed over. At the slight shiver that went through Gray’s body, Luke got up and grabbed the throw from the back of the couch in the living room and dropped it carefully over his shoulders. Luke had already turned the thermostat up in the cabin and he’d even started a fire in the fireplace but Gray still seemed chilled. “It doesn’t make sense that you’d get the stomach flu again so soon but in any case, you’re too dehydrated. A doctor can give you fluids…”
    Gray’s dull eyes continued to stare out the window as he wrapped the throw around his body. It was like the man hadn’t even heard him.
    “Gray,” Luke whispered as he put his hand over the hand Gray had resting on the table.
    “What?” Gray asked in confusion as he finally turned his head to look at Luke. So Gray hadn’t been hearing him. “Sorry,” he mumbled as he finally noticed the toast in front of him. A small sigh went through him as he eyed the food and then he pulled his hand free of Luke’s and ran it through his hair.
    Luke was about to repeat his statement about Gray needing to see a doctor when he saw Gray pull his hand away from his head. Shock tore through Luke when he saw what Gray was holding in his hand and a silent scream of denial went through Luke’s brain as he registered what he was seeing.
    Gray stared at his own hand and then let out a little laugh. He turned his hand over and let the small chunk of hair fall onto the table next to his plate and Luke couldn’t take his eyes off of it as everything clicked into place.
    “Gray,” was all he could manage to get out and Gray turned his suddenly too bright eyes back on him.
    “Excuse me,” Gray whispered and then he was climbing unsteadily to his feet. It took Luke several long seconds to make his own body react and then he was up and following Gray to his bedroom. He found Gray standing in front of the mirror in his bathroom, his fingers stroking over his hair. When another, smaller clump pulled free, Gray just stared at himself in the mirror for a while. And then his knees started to buckle and Luke barely managed to reach him before he hit the ground. Gray’s weight threw Luke off balance but he was able to maneuver them so that they were both on their knees, Gray’s back pressed to his front. The blanket that had been draped around Gray’s shoulders was bunched between them and Luke loosened his hold on Gray’s chest long enough to pull the blanket free and get it settled back around Gray.
    He heard another dry chuckle escape Gray’s lips. “It’s true,” Gray said hoarsely. “None of it’s really real until this,” he whispered as he opened his palm to look at the lock of hair.
    Luke felt tears burn his eyes as he leaned his head down so that his forehead was resting against the back of Gray’s neck. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Gray just shook his head and his whole body began to shake. Luke felt moisture hit his forearm where it