Acceptable Behavior (3 page)

“I know, Sammy. I really do know. I just— It’s hard. I miss him so much.”

He gritted his teeth. “Rob is looking at twenty-five years in prison, Mel. There’s nothing you can do for him now. You need to focus on Levi, and being the best mother possible to him.”

“I don’t know if I have that in me anymore. I…don’t know.”

Levi rejoined them and sniffed at the smell of the pasta. “Maybe I’m a little hungry.”

Sam put a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. You can help me stir it up.”

* * * *

Sam fed his sister and his nephew, then settled them on the sofa together watching a movie while he cleaned up the kitchen. Satisfied they were both occupied for the time being, he went into his bedroom and closed the door. His space was small but neatly organized, nothing like the rest of the place that his sister had chosen to call home.

He flipped open his laptop computer and scanned his email. As a freelance writer, he made good money and was able to set his own schedule. Unfortunately, his sister took that to mean he really didn’t work, so he was available to do whatever she needed for Levi at the drop of a hat.

Sam sighed and closed his computer again. There were two jobs he could be working on, but his heart wasn’t in it. He hated seeing what Mel had become, but couldn’t drag her out of the funk she’d settled into.

He’d never cared for Rob Fielding but had been supportive when they’d gotten together and had Levi. The guy had worked as a motorcycle mechanic and brought in good money, enough that Mel hadn’t had to work. Sam hadn’t learned until after the arrest that most of Rob’s money had come from drug sales. By the time he was caught up in the police sting, it was his third strike and he’d automatically been sent away with the maximum sentence. It was then Sam had learned that Mel was not only addicted, she was nearly incapable of caring for her son on her own.

With no family to support them, Sam and Mel had come up with the plan for him to move in with her and Levi. It had seemed plausible at the time. Grateful for the help, Mel had given up her bedroom to Sam, and she slept on the sofa. She got a job waiting tables at a bar five nights a week, but didn’t have to leave until Levi was in bed. Sam was there all night, and if Mel wasn’t awake, he took the boy to school in the morning.

Recently, he’d had to start picking him up, too. Mel was drowning. Things were going from bad to worse.

He sauntered back out to the living room and woke Levi up long enough to swallow another dose of the pink stuff. Levi did, then settled back in and closed his eyes.

Sam shut off the lights. He wasn’t going to pry the kid’s grip off his mother’s arm and try to put him in his own bed. He let Levi sleep where he was, and went back to his room.

Pausing long enough to stick the medicine back in the fridge, he made a mental note to go to the store tomorrow.

Something has to change. If it’s not going to be Mel, it’ll have to be me.
The thought haunted him as he tried to fall asleep, because he wasn’t sure how much more he could manage. Taking Levi to the doctor today had pushed his comfort level to new heights.

It hadn’t been a totally bad experience, though. Dr. Travis was the sexiest man he’d met in ages. Sam chuckled.
The poor sap probably has a wife, three kids and a minivan.
What a waste of such a fine stud.

Sam’s hand slid into his boxers but there was no life to be seen. He wouldn’t have minded a nice jerk-off session, with the good doctor starring in his fantasy. Bringing his exhausted cock to life sounded like way more trouble that it’d be worth. “Strike that, reverse it,” he murmured, recalling the old
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
movie quote. It wasn’t his cock that was exhausted. The poor thing hadn’t seen any action in months. Maybe a year.
He
was flat out exhausted, worrying about his sister and the little innocent boy who hadn’t asked for anything that life was dealing him. Levi had gotten a raw deal. Sam saw it as his duty to fix that, in whatever way he could. He simply hadn’t figured out how to do it yet.

Chapter Two

Sam was pleased to see Levi was feeling better on Saturday. Mel was even up and alert, and they all went to the grocery store together. Sam made sure Levi took his medicine on schedule, and had him rest most of the day. When Mel went to work Saturday night, Levi was tucked into bed, sound asleep, and Sam got several hours’ worth of work done.

Sunday, Levi was almost his normal self. Sam opened the boy’s backpack to see what school work he might have brought home, and spotted a flier the school had sent home with the kids. There was a festival at a nearby park, some charity event with a bicycle road race, a fun run, carnival games and food vendors.

He glanced out of the window. It looked to be great weather for early spring. He wouldn’t mind getting some fresh air. Mel was racked out on the couch. He’d have more trouble keeping Levi quiet than taking him out somewhere for a little fun.

Sam left a note for Mel and headed out with his nephew. The park was just a few blocks from their apartment but he didn’t want to wear Levi out, so he drove them. He maneuvered into a parking stall and they walked the rest of the way, through throngs of people.

“This is so cool!” Levi enthused as runners and bike riders passed them to complete their races.

“Yeah, they have some awesome bikes.”

“You have a bike, Uncle Sammy. You should have entered the race.”

Sam chuckled. His bike came from a discount store and had cost less than one hundred dollars. “These guys are a little out of my league, sport.”

On a stage with a podium a speaker was presenting trophies to the winners in various categories. They sauntered up to watch and Sam was stunned when the men’s bike race first place prize was awarded to Travis Nelson. He’d heard the name before he could actually see the doctor. Grabbing Levi’s hand, he threaded through the crowd to get closer and, hopefully, a glimpse of him.

“Well, look at that,” he murmured.

Dr. Travis was wearing bike shorts and a riding shirt, but he also sported what looked almost like compression garments on his arms and legs. They were pure white, and reminded Sam of the stockings his grandfather had to wear to prevent blood clots. Intrigued, he worked them even closer yet.

“I know him,” Levi chimed in. “That’s my doctor.”

“It sure is.” Sam kept his gaze on Travis, hoping to make eye contact.

The award ceremony broke up and the winners descended from the stage.

“Dr. Travis!” Levi shouted.

Travis glanced up and the boy waved.

He looked from Levi to Sam, confused for a moment, but then he smiled. He weaved his way toward them. “Hey!”

“Hey, yourself. Congrats. That’s quite an accomplishment.” Sam nodded at the trophy.

“Eh, it was nothing.” Travis waved the compliment off. “So what are you doing here? And how are you feeling?” he asked Levi.

“Better.” The boy nodded enthusiastically.

Sam smiled. “Pink stuff, three times a day, per doctor’s orders.”

“Good. And have you stopped it now that he’s feeling better?”

“No,” Sam and Levi said in unison.

Travis laughed and they joined him.

Sam answered the earlier question, “We just came to see what was going on, maybe get some food. The kid’s finally got his appetite back.”

“Great to hear. I, myself, am starved. I always am after a long ride.”

“You take lots of long rides?” Sam asked.

“Almost every day.”

Levi added, “Uncle Sammy has a bike. I told him he should ride the race next time.”

Travis’ eyebrows rose. “Yes, you should,
Uncle Sammy
.”

Laughing again, Sam shook his head. “My bike is a Huffy. I don’t think they’d allow me in the race.”

Travis glanced around. “Speaking of which, I need to get mine into my SUV. You two want to come with, then we can find something to eat?”

“Can we see your bike?” Levi asked excitedly.

“You bet. It’s back behind the grandstand.” He searched Sam’s face. “Okay?”

Sam shrugged. “Why not?” They followed him around back where contestants had locked their bikes.

Travis removed a thick chain and padlock that he’d threaded through both tires of his bike.

“Wow!” Levi ran his hand over one of the handlebars.

“Don’t touch,” Sam cautioned.

Travis waved a hand. “It’s okay. He’s not hurting anything. Levi, can you help me get the bike to my car?”

“Sure!” Levi held one handlebar as Travis guided the bike toward the parking lot.

Sam had to ask. “You here with your family?”

“Nope, just me.” Travis came to a stop behind a silver Lexus SUV.

It was Sam’s turn to be impressed. “Wow,” he muttered under his breath.

Travis didn’t comment, just loaded his bike into the back along with his helmet, and locked the car again. “What are you hungry for? There’s Mexican food, German food and a Tex-Mex place that makes amazing barbecue sandwiches. Oh, and corndogs. They have the world’s best corndogs.”

“Corndogs!” Levi repeated, jumping up and down.

Sam smiled. “Sounds like we’ve decided. I could go for some good barbecue.”

Travis leaned in. “It’s not just good. It’s
amazing
.”

They found the vendor and ordered, then chose a table near some of Levi’s friends from school. He scarfed his food and was soon playing with the other kids near the tables.

Sam and Travis ate slower, and kept their eyes on Levi as they talked.

“So,” Travis began. “You never mentioned you were ‘Uncle Sammy’.”

Sam chuckled. “After my mother died, my sister was the only one who ever got away with calling me Sammy. Levi gets away with it because he’s Levi and, well, who in their right mind would prefer being called ‘Uncle Sam’?”

Travis laughed. “Good point. No, I meant that I didn’t realize you were his uncle. I assumed you were his father. You never corrected the assumption.”

“I was kind of panicking,” Sam admitted. “I’d never taken him to the doctor before. I couldn’t answer your questions, and you started looking at me funny because of it.”

“That wasn’t why I was looking at you funny,” Travis whispered, gazing into Sam’s eyes.

Flustered, Sam hurried to look back at Levi, who was still playing happily. “I, uh, didn’t know you liked to ride. Of course I didn’t, I barely know you. I meant, I was wondering about the garments you’re wearing under your shorts and shirt. They look like the compression stockings my grandfather had to wear.”

“Similar fabric,” Travis agreed. “They help wick sweat away from the body and keep me cooler when riding.” He leaned in. “That’s my story, anyway.” He peeled back one sleeve and exposed the edge of an elaborate tattoo.

“Oh!” Sam was shocked for the second time in less than two hours. “That looks interesting. How big is it?”

“They’re actually a bunch of smaller tattoos put together. They pretty much cover my skin except what you can see. And a couple places you can’t see.” He winked.

The act zinged like an arrow straight to Sam’s heart. His skin was covered with tats? Sam was dying to see them. For the first time in he didn’t know how long, his cock pulsed in his jeans. “That’s just…amazing. Very cool. I’d love to see more. Why do you have them covered up?”

Travis shrugged. “I’m taking it easy on the doctors I work with. They were already shocked when they found out I’m gay. If they saw my extensive body art, I’m afraid one or two of them might stroke out.”

Sam’s cock hardened like a boulder. “You’re, um…okay. Oh, God.” He scanned the kids for Levi again and tried to keep his gaze on the boy instead of the handsome hunk who was watching him intently.

Can Travis sense that I’m gay, too? Do I want to tell him?
Conflicted, he decided to keep his mouth shut for the time being.

“Sorry if that was TMI,” Travis added.

Sam looked at him blankly.

“Too much information.”

“Oh, of course. I knew that. No, it’s fine.”
Now I sound like a blithering idiot
. Sam felt a sudden urge to leave, to be anywhere but within an arm’s length of the sexy doctor with the deep-set brown eyes.

Travis slapped his thighs. “Change of subject. What do you do, Sam, besides take care of your nephew?”

Whew.
That was an easier topic. “I write articles for websites. I’m kind of a freelancer, but I work mostly for one specific company. They send me the specifications for what they need, I write the article and submit by their deadline.”

The doctor blinked. “Fascinating. I had no idea there was such a job.”

Sam shrugged. “I stumbled into it, I guess you could say. The pay is great and I can set my own hours. Which is why my sister figures ‘since I’m home anyway’, I can take care of Levi.”

“Ah, gotcha. And your sister, what’s her name, and what does she do?”

As little as possible.
Sam cleared the thought and instead replied, “Melanie. She’s a waitress.” He wouldn’t mention the name of the skanky biker bar she worked at. Maybe he’d think she worked at IHOP or Denny’s.

Travis nodded. “You said your mother was gone. No other family? What about your dad?”

“He wasn’t around when we were growing up. I heard he died when I was about fifteen.”

“I’m sorry.”

Sam shrugged again. “He was just a name to us. Not even a means of support. Mom worked hard as a cleaning woman, to put Mel and me through school—we were lucky to finish high school. Neither of us went any further. Then Mom died of cancer a couple of years ago.” He glanced at Levi, who was getting dirty but still seemed to be having fun.

“That’s rough. I’m sorry, Sam.”

He sighed. “Yeah, well, it is what it is. I don’t know, maybe if Mel and I had tried college things would be different.”

“Different how?” Travis’ questions were probative, but his voice was gentle.

Sam didn’t feel like he was being judged, so he continued to answer. “Mel hasn’t made some of the best choices. I mean, Levi is great, but his father was a piece of work.”

“Is he out of the picture?”

“Since he went to prison, yeah, he is. For now, anyway.”