Chapter 41

“Remind me never to drink wine again,” he said when he came back into the bedroom.

“You’re never drinking anything alcoholic. You obviously don’t have a head for it,” Merrick replied sharply as he started for the door. “Come on. I’m making you scrambled eggs and toast. Hopefully they’ll stay down.”

“You’re pissed at me.”

“No kidding.” Merrick sighed. “Not really. I am upset, but we’ll talk about it later.”

Ryan managed to eat, and felt better because he had. Merrick also made him drink two glasses of orange juice, “To hydrate you,” he said. Then he told him to get dressed and meet him in the library. Ryan did, in jeans and a T-shirt, then padded barefooted into the library. Merrick was sitting in one of the armchairs. He pointed to the other one, and Ryan sat.

Merrick pressed his fingers together, looking at Ryan. “You know I love you.”

Ryan nodded.

“And I want you in my home, and my life.”

Ryan nodded again, uncertain where Merrick was going with this.