by Lane, Shawn;
“Then she must have been a young lady until you scared her near to death and made her hair turn white,” Hector said with a grin. “I’ll drive.”
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay. Just thought I’d offer. You don’t have to be a punk about it.”
They got into the car and Hector started it up.
“Listen, I wanted to tell you something.”
Hector glanced his way briefly. “Sounds serious.”
“Yeah. I applied for medical school at USC, Keck School of Medicine and it’s been accepted.”
“Keck? How come?”
Sebastian bit his lip. “It’s a great school, too.”
“I know but…wait, is this about being near my brother?”
“Maybe. Yes. Are you mad?”
“Mad? No.” Hector shook his head. “I just want you to be sure you know what you’re doing. When we were kids you talked about going to Stanford.”
“I did go to Stanford.”
“For medical school, too. If Pablo is the one for you then he can wait for you to finish school.”
He sighed. “I know that. But maybe I can’t wait. Look, my dream was to be a doctor. My grades are good enough I can practically go anywhere. Keck is a good choice and I’d be in residence right there in Los Angeles. It’s where I’d want to be eventually anyway.”
“You sure about this?”
“I thought about it a lot. Some of it is being homesick. Wanting to be near Pablo, your mom, and you, now that you’re done with school. I acknowledge that. But doing this isn’t going to hurt me or my choice to be a doctor.”
Hector smiled. “All right. I just want you to be happy with your choices. If you are, then what else can I say?”
“Thanks, Hector. I’m glad I told you. I’ve been keeping it to myself since I got the acceptance letter and I was about to burst.”
“I am glad you’ll be in LA, honestly,” Hector admitted. “I bet Pablo will be, too.”
“I hope so.”
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I don’t think you need to worry.”
* * * *
“I can’t wait to get you alone,” Pablo said, holding him close right after dinner that night. Mama had made a big feast in honor of Hector and Sebastian’s homecoming. Hector and Mama had insisted on cleaning up so Pablo figured they wanted to give him and Sebastian some time alone together. “Should we go to my room?”
Sebastian nodded. “Yes, I have something to talk to you about.”
“Ah, I see.” He released his lover and reached for his hand to draw him down the hallway to his bedroom.
When they got inside the room, he closed and locked the door. Then he brought Sebastian to sit on the edge of the bed.
“I’m listening.”
Sebastian bit his bottom lip. “Okay, well, I hope it’s good news. It is for me, but, well, I guess it depends on what you think. I mean I guess I’m kind of presuming a lot.”
“Sebastian, just say it.”
He nodded. “Okay. I decided not to go to medical school up at Stanford.’
Pablo frowned. “What? I thought you wanted to be a doctor.”
“I do. I’m still going to medical school. Just not at Stanford.”
“Where then?”
“Keck.”
“USC?”
“Yes,” Sebastian whispered. “I wanted to be in Southern California, so I applied there. I can’t go until next spring, but I got the acceptance a few days ago.”
Pablo stared at him for a moment, letting the news sink in. He was absolutely thrilled Sebastian would be in LA, but he also wanted what was best for Sebastian, not himself.
Sebastian shifted on the bed to face him. “Was I stupid to do this? Did you not want me here?”
“Oh, no, cariño. Of course I do.” He pulled Sebastian into his arms. “I just want to be sure this is really what you want. I love that you want to be here and if Keck is what you want, I couldn’t be happier. I just don’t want you to have any regrets later.”
“Well,” Sebastian said against his chest. “No one can know what will happen in the future, but like I told your brother, Keck is a good school and I’m excited to be going there and to be back in LA again.”
Pablo squeezed him. “Then I couldn’t be happier. Mama will be thrilled, too.”
“Good. I’m so grateful to your whole family. But especially you.”
“Grateful?” Pablo kissed the top of his blond head. “I don’t want your gratitude, squirt. I want your body.”
Sebastian laughed and pulled back to meet his eyes. “You can definitely have that. Whenever you want.”
Pablo brushed his thumb along Sebastian’s bottom lip. “There’s something else I want, too.”
“What?”
“Your love.”
Sebastian’s breath hitched. “You have that, too. You must know I love you, Pablo.”
“I suspected, I hoped, but I’m glad to hear the words. I love you.” And as he leaned into kiss Sebastian, Pablo figured he was pretty grateful for Sebastian, too.
THE END
ABOUT SHAWN LANE
Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romances and believes love and passion know no boundaries. Happily Ever After is for everyone.
She has been published by Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, Amber Quill Press, Dreamspinner Press, and Evernight Publishing.
Shawn lives in California and holds down a boring day job in a legal department of a giant corporation dreaming of the nights and weekends when she can create new stories.
For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!