One Big Family (Hot Alaska Nights Book 1) by Aiden Bates

Author:Aiden Bates [Bates, Aiden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-04T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Bastian had a glow.

He saw it himself in the small mirror in the tiny bathroom of the ranger’s cabin.

When he noticed the pinkness in his cheeks, he smirked shyly at himself. It was the flush of happiness.

He’d only known Zachary for a week, but already there was such a strong connection between them. Was it just that they were alpha and omega, drawn together by the drive to survive and the chemicals that flowed through their bodies? Or could it possibly be something more real, spiritual, and meaningful?

Bastian winked at himself, and then laughed at how ridiculous he was being.

The rescue team was on its way, but it would likely take a few more hours. Bastian decided to clean up the slight mess that he and Zachary had made, and he set about folding blankets, sweeping up the hearth, and bagging the empty cans.

When it was tidy, he looked around the old, dismal place. It was ugly, outdated, and impersonal, but in Bastian’s current state of mind, it was a charming little love nest. He sighed with contentment.

Zachary sighed at almost the exact same time, and Bastian noticed his expression was tortured.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

“Oh . . . some. Not too bad. I just—”

Bastian felt his heart sink. There was something about the look on Zachary’s face, and the way he looked down at his hands on his lap, clenched together, that made him think he was about to hear something like, It’s not you, it’s me.

Zachary looked up at him, his eyes worried. “Bastian, I’m sorry, I should have told you this sooner. I’m in a relationship.”

“Oh. Did you just remember?”

Zachary shook his head. “I’m ashamed to say no. I knew.”

Bastian’s confusion must have been broadcasted clearly on his face, because Zachary continued.

“It’s Thomas. I guess we started dating right before my accident. I don’t remember that. But he told me about it. I—I guess I still haven’t remembered it because it happened so close to the accident and the concussion.”

“Thomas? How do you know him?” No Thomas lived in Stellar Landing, and Bastian racked his brain to think of anyone named Thomas that lived in the city limits.

“Dr. Nichols.”

“Dr. Nick Nichols?”

“Yes.”

Bastian’s laughter came sputtering out of his lips.

Zachary waited patiently for an explanation.

“Look,” Bastian said, sitting down next to Zachary on the scratchy old couch. “I know it’s my word against his, but I assure you, you aren’t dating Nick. He’s—he’s lying to you because you’re vulnerable.” He said it with an incredulous laugh, but the words and the situation really weren’t funny.

Zachary jerked his head back as if to try to wrap his head around what Bastian was saying.

“Really?”

Bastian shrugged. “Yeah. And—” He laughed again sharply at the memory of the conversation. “He even told me that I better watch myself because it would be wrong to take advantage of a memory-impaired man.”

It wasn’t clear how Zachary was taking the news. Bastian hoped there was relief, but he couldn’t blame Zachary if there was mistrust.

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