Free Hand (Irons and Works Book 1)

by E M Lindsey

  Part of him felt a pang of grief that Sage wasn’t there to share in this moment with him, but his brother was caught up in the building of the new halfway house, and interviewing staff and organizations that would help with the caregiving for teens needing a place to go. They didn’t have enough money or resources for what Derek and Sage both really wanted—to ensure no teen in their position ever went hungry, but it was a start. At the very least, it was a start.

  He felt a slight tug on his hand, and he looked over at Basil who was staring out the front window which overlooked the massive lake. There were a handful of people out on jet-skis, and a couple of rowboats toward the middle. He could see five other cottages on the right side, and three to the left. But the woods were thicker and obscured most of the side-view, giving them a sense of privacy which was what he was craving.

  It had been eight long months since his father died. Eight long months since he’d pinned Basil to the bed and pressed inside him and told him he loved him for the first time. He’d always been warned not to say it during sex—it would mean less, it wouldn’t be real. But Derek had come to discover that most advice about love was bullshit, and he was done following what other people thought he should do. His heart had stopped leading him astray the night he met Basil, and he was willing to give his instinct the benefit of the doubt.

  Which was why he had a little box tucked away in his case, buried under a pair of ugly yellow socks Basil wouldn’t go near. He wouldn’t take it out right away. No, not immediately. They’d do other things first. Like he’d set up his easel and paints and try to capture how the place made him feel—the good and the bad, the cowardly and the brave. He and Basil would take out a pontoon boat and try to fish. They’d go into town and shop at the farmer’s market and hold hands in public and kiss, and Derek would give exactly zero fucks about what anyone else thought.

  Home waited for them just on the horizon—with obligations, with his degree just around the bend, and with Basil trying to figure out if the shop really was his end-game. Derek would keep taking his ASL classes in spite of using it every day with Basil because he was dedicated, and he wanted to encourage everyone else in the shop to keep going.

  He’d keep putting his mark on random strangers he’d never see again and go to bed knowing that he’d made a difference in the world, even if it was superficial in the form of an infinity symbol on the inside of a twenty-year-old’s middle finger.

  It was just life. Everyone had their paths to walk, and that was fine.

  ‘You okay?’ Basil asked, interrupting his thoughts.

  Derek smiled as he grabbed Basil by the waist, spinning him and pressing him to the glass which led to the wrap-around porch. He loved the quiet, unassuming noises Basil made with him now that he wasn’t trying everything in his power to keep from letting his throat give way to involuntary sound, and he couldn’t help but lean down and kiss him.

  Their gazes locked, and Derek traced his finger down the side of Basil’s jaw before nodding his fist. ‘Yes. Yes. I’m perfect.’

  Basil smiled at him, the sun glinting off the side of his face, and Derek smiled back.

  The End.

  Acknowledgements

  First, I’d like to thank Tay, for all your help with tattoo stuff. Letting me sit and pick your brain whilst you inked my skin was more valuable than I can even begin to express. Picking up random information and lingo over my ink experiences through the years has nothing on what you were willing to offer me, and I love you for it.

  Second, I’d like to thank Jason*, Julie*, and Rachel* for lending me some of your experiences in life when it comes to dealing with moving past childhood trauma. The fact that you were not only willing to share, but that you were willing to help walk me through some of the more delicate experiences for my characters means the world to me. I know we don’t know each other well, and only through the writing world, but all the same, my life is richer for having known you.

  I’d like to give a random shout-out to my dad. Mostly because writing a cruel father figure was almost beyond my abilities, and the fact that I was given someone strong and kind like him to raise me and see me through growing up with another parent who didn’t approve of who I was as a person means everything. I know not everyone is that lucky, and I miss him every day, and there are still no words to describe the feeling of loss now that he’s gone.

  Lastly, I’d like to thank you all—my readers who have been amazing and supportive, and without you this wouldn’t be possible. I look forward to reviews—the good and the bad—and I wish I could just meet and squish you all.

  I look forward to writing more in this universe, and I hope those of you who enjoyed it will stick with me in the future.

  All my love,

  E.M. Lindsey x

  Coming Next: May/June 2019

  Book Two of Irons and Works: Blank Canvas

  Follow the story of Sam Braga in his journey to keep the daughter he’s raised since she was nine months old, and navigate life, and his attempt to avoid love in spite of the dark eyes and bright smile of the quiet gym goer who has a lot more to offer than he realizes.

  Works by E.M. Lindsey

  Baum’s Boxing Series:

  Book One: Below the Belt

  Book Two: Fortune and Fate

  Book Three: Fringe Contender

  Magnum Opus Series:

  Verismo

  Tremolo

  Serenata

  Love in History Series:

  Time and Tide

  Monsters and Men

  Stand-Alone Novels:

  Endless Forever

  In Secret, In Silence

  Absolution

  Time to Wake Up

  Like Water Catching Fire

  Forget-Me-Not

  About the Author

  E.M. Lindsey grew up on the South East coast of England, and currently lives in the SW United States where she’s on the Ph.D. track. Her life is family, thesis research, and writing in that order. In what precious little time she has to herself, she reads cheesy romances and binges GBBO, the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and terrible 90s romcoms on Netflix.

  Find E.M. Lindsey’s blog at wordpress. Subscribe for short stories, excerpts, sales, news, and updates.

  To support people like the characters in these books, please consider donating to the following charities:

  US:

  National Association for the Deaf

  ChildHelp

  PTSD USA

  UK:

  British Deaf Association

  NAPAC

  PTSD UK