One Day
One Day
Nights Series Book 9
A.M. Salinger
Copyright
One Day (Nights Series Book 9)
Copyright © 2018 by A.M. Salinger
All rights reserved. Registered with the US Copyright Office.
www.AMSalinger.com
The right of A.M. Salinger to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Your respect of the author’s rights and hard work is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction. References to real people (living or dead), events, establishments, organizations, or locations are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used factitiously. All other characters, and all other incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
Editor: www.ElfwerksEditing.com
Cover Design: A.M. Salinger
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Thank You
About the Author
Also by A.M. Salinger
Chapter 1
Cam Sorvino felt the man beside him stiffen when the flight attendant announced their imminent arrival into Chicago. He reached for Gabe Anderson’s left hand where Gabe gripped the armrest of his seat.
“Hey, are you okay?” Cam asked softly, running a finger lightly over Gabe’s engagement ring.
Gabe’s ice-blue eyes softened as he lowered his gaze to the beautiful, white gold and platinum band adorning his ring finger. “Yes.” He turned his hand over and entwined his fingers with Cam’s before lifting Cam’s hand and pressing a brief kiss to Cam’s knuckles. “I’m sorry, I’m just—nervous. I haven’t seen them in ten years.” He tugged his lower lip between his teeth in a gesture that Cam had come to adore and lowered his head on Cam’s shoulder, a heavy sigh shuddering out of him. “I was surprised they agreed to meet me.” He paused. “To meet you.”
Cam frowned faintly over his lover’s head as he looked out through the window of the first class cabin to the city growing rapidly below the fuselage of the plane.
It had been his idea for them to reach out to Gabe’s parents to invite them to their wedding. Since Cam was an orphan and wouldn’t have any family attending on his side, he hadn’t wanted Gabe to be in a similar position. He’d first suggested it over breakfast one morning a month ago.
“As long as our friends are there, I don’t really mind,” Gabe had said. “Besides, my parents pretty much disowned me the day I came out of the closet and told them about—,” he’d hesitated for a second and grimaced, “—about Andrew.”
Cam had clenched his jaw at the mention of Gabe’s former flame. Though he and Gabe were happy and committed to one another, it still irked Cam that Gabe’s first gay relationship had ended so disastrously, leaving him with emotional scars that had made it impossible for him to have sex for eight years.
When Gabe confessed to Cam about how Andrew had arranged for a group of five men to gang rape him on camera on the night of their first year anniversary, a night where Gabe had thought he and Andrew would finally consummate their relationship, Cam had wanted to find the bastard and beat the ever-living shit out of him.
That Andrew and his associates had gotten their just deserve and gone on to serve jail sentences didn’t take away from the fact that they had hurt and traumatized Gabe so deeply he hadn’t been able to bear another man touching him for nearly a decade.
It was thanks to Cam that Gabe had finally been able to defeat his demons and have his first ever gay sexual relation. That he was and always will be Gabe’s first man was something Cam treasured with a possessiveness that sometimes scared him.
Although Cam had overcome his trailer trash past and now lived a life he could never have dreamed of when he was a child, Gabe was the first person who had truly belonged to him, in every sense of the word. Yes, they had amazing friends, and that circle had grown to a pretty tight-knit group these past two years, but still, Gabe was his and his alone.
Cam’s frown deepened. And that’s something no one will ever take away from me.
The plane started its descent into Chicago O’Hare Airport. They cleared customs in record time, collected their luggage, and were soon headed for the exit. Cam sensed the tension winding through Gabe increase tenfold when a black limo pulled up smoothly at the curb in front of them as they came out of the building.
He glanced at Gabe’s stony expression, surprised. “Hmm. Is that for us?”
Gabe nodded curtly, a muscle jumping in his jawline. The chauffeur got out, greeted them with a polite smile, and ushered them into the back of the vehicle under the curious stares of passers-by.
Cam twisted on the luxurious leather seat and stared at Gabe while the chauffeur placed their cases in the trunk. “Does your family normally do limos?”
Gabe ran a hand through his hair, irritation darkening his face. “I told them we’d get a cab, but my father insisted on sending the car. Knowing him, this is purely for show.”
As the vehicle pulled out of the airport and merged onto the interstate heading north, Cam wondered what else he was going to discover about the man he was going to spend the rest of his life with. Gabe had been pretty tight-lipped whenever Cam had inquired after his estranged family in the past. All Cam knew was that Gabe’s father worked in banking and his mother used to be a realtor. And he had a younger sister who he’d also lost touch with ten years ago.
The limo rapidly ate away the miles to their destination and soon entered the picturesque North Shore community of Kenilworth, overlooking Lake Michigan. Cam’s heart sank as he studied the stunning, multi-million dollar properties visible behind the walls and hedges of the affluent neighborhood they were driving through.
The limo turned into a cul-de-sac, headed through a pair of imposing wrought-iron gates, and pulled into a circular driveway fronting a gorgeous red-bricked Georgian colonial mansion. One of the imposing oak double doors opened to reveal a man in uniform.
“You have a butler?” Cam said leadenly when the vehicle slowed to a smooth stop in front of the solemn figure standing under the portico.
Gabe sighed, turned to face Cam, and took his hands while the chauffeur got out and headed for the trunk. “Okay, before we go in there, I want to apologize.”
A bark of laughter escaped Cam. He wasn’t sure whether he was shocked or annoyed with Gabe for having kept this a secret from him. “What, for being stinking rich?”
Gabe shook his head, his expression full of remorse. “My family is wealthy, Cam. I’m not. I’m still the same man you healed that night two years ago. The same man who fell madly in love with you.” He leaned his forehead against Cam’s. “The same man who belongs to you, body, heart, and soul,” he murmured, pressing a sweet kiss to Cam’s lips. He pulled back and tightened his hold on Cam’s fingers. “No, I’m apologizing for whatever may go down in that house in the next couple of days.”
The back door of the limo opened.
“It is good to have you home, Mr. Anderson. Welcome, Mr. Sorvino,” the butler murmured respectfully.
Gabe tensed and let go of Cam’s hands. Cam followed Gabe’s uneasy gaze to the couple watching them coolly from the doorway of the mansion, his lover’s heartfelt confession and warning still ringing in his ears.
Oh boy.
Chapter 2
“So, Cameron. Gabe mentioned that you’re an asset manager for an investment firm in Asia,” Cathy Anderson said in a fake bright voice where she perched on the edge of her Queen Anne chair.
Cam glanced at Gabe where the latter sat stiffly beside him on a Chesterfield sofa.
Although, ‘beside’ is pushing it slightly. If he were any farther from me, he’d be on the fucking floor.
Cam had noticed how Gabe had maintained a subtle physical distance between them the moment they’d stepped inside his parents’ house, as if he were afraid to touch Cam while in their presence. Although this irritated the hell out of Cam, he was willing to follow Gabe’s lead on this. For now.
He leveled a steady look at Gabe’s mother across the elegant drawing room. “That’s right.” His lips curved up lopsidedly. “And please, call me Cam.”
Gabe’s mother blinked under the power of his smile. Cam’s gaze shifted to the man standing behind her.
It was dawning on him that the reason they were here today was because of Gabe’s mother. George Anderson’s face was still locked in the same chilly expression he’d been wearing since they’d stepped out of the limo half an hour ago. After the initial tepid introductions, Cam was given a grand tour of the mansion and its extensive gardens, complete with s
wimming pool, tennis courts, and a boathouse sitting on the end of a pier on Lake Michigan.
It was evident to Cam that the senior Andersons were intent on impressing upon him exactly how wealthy they were. He now understood Gabe’s comment at the airport about the limo being for show.
“Gabe said you used to be a realtor?” Cam drawled, directing another charming smile at Gabe’s mother before he took a sip of his iced tea.
“I was,” Cathy said dismissively. “These days, I’m mostly involved in charitable causes.”
“That’s nice,” Cam murmured. “Which ones?”
Surprise darted across Cathy’s face at his question. She listed a number of prominent, nonprofit organizations in a puzzled voice.
“Oh. So, nothing allied to the LGBTQ cause?” Cam said in an innocent voice. “You know, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer?”
There was a sharp inhale to his right. Cam didn’t have to look at Gabe’s face to know his lover’s eyes had just widened to the size of golf balls.
Cathy’s mouth opened and closed silently, her stunned expression telling Cam she couldn’t quite believe he had just said that.
“Umm, no,” she finally mumbled, her face pale as she glanced from her son to her husband.
“And George.” Cam paused as Gabe’s father practically turned to stone behind Gabe’s mother. “I’m sorry, may I call you George?”
Icy silence descended around them.
“You may,” George Anderson finally bit out.
“Gabe told me you’re a banker,” Cam said blithely.
George frowned. “I was,” he said with a grunt.
Gabe straightened at the other end of the couch. “You retired?” he asked, stunned.
George’s mouth thinned into a hostile line as he looked at his son.
“Yes,” Cathy replied awkwardly in his stead. “Your father had a heart attack a couple of years ago. The doctors ordered him to take early retirement.”
Gabe blinked owlishly at his parents. “You had a heart attack?” he asked his father hoarsely.
This time, Cam literally felt Gabe’s shock. Unheeding of Gabe’s parents, he moved along the couch and took Gabe’s left hand where the latter clutched his thigh in a white-knuckled grip, his heart aching for the man he loved.
“And you never—” Gabe stopped and swallowed convulsively, his voice echoing with grief. “You never called to tell me?!”
Something that looked like guilt darted in Cathy’s eyes. George’s gaze dropped to where Cam held Gabe’s hand, the muscle jumping in his cheek and the scowl darkening his features telling Cam everything he needed to know with regards to how the man viewed his and Gabe’s relationship and engagement.
Cam was about to throw caution to the wind and tell Gabe’s parents exactly what he thought of them when a knock came at the drawing room door. It opened to reveal a woman dressed in a conservative business suit that made her look much older than her age.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said breathlessly as she strode past the butler. “I got delayed at the office—” She stopped in her tracks when she saw Cam and Gabe. “Oh.” Blue eyes identical to Gabe’s widened slightly as she took in their linked hands and George Anderson’s disapproving expression.
Gabe rolled onto his side, plumped up the pillow under his head, and lay back down again. He sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time that day.
What a fucking disaster.
He’d known from the word go that this was a bad idea when Cam first suggested it a month ago. Although he was aware Cam only had his best interests at heart, Gabe had tried numerous times to convince his fiancé that they didn’t need to invite the Andersons to the wedding. Or go see them when he’d gotten the surprise letter from his mother requesting Gabe and Cam come visit so they could meet with them.
Cam being Cam, he’d had none of it.
And now, here we are, sleeping in different rooms because my parents can’t even bear the thought of us being physically together under their roof.
Gabe grimaced as he recalled Cam’s face an hour ago, when the butler had shown them to the guest quarters after dinner.
“This is your room, Mr. Sorvino,” the man said, indicating a door. He hesitated and looked at Gabe. “Mr. Anderson, your old room awaits you in the family wing.”
Cam froze. “I’m sorry, what?”
The butler paled slightly under Cam’s steely stare. “Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, er, insisted on separate sleeping arrangements.”
“Separate sleeping arrangements?” Cam repeated incredulously. He gave Gabe a “Are-you-fucking-kidding-me-right-now?” look over the butler’s shoulder. “For their son and his fiancé?”
The butler swallowed and dipped his chin stiffly, an apologetic expression washing across his face.
“It’s alright, Cam,” Gabe murmured. “It’s only for two nights.”
“It’s two more nights than I can tolerate, Gabe!” Cam hissed. “And I can’t believe you’re actually thinking of going along with this. This is not the fucking eighteenth century!”
Gabe straightened, anger flickering through him in that moment. “Cam, let it go,” he said in a hard voice. “We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we came here. We have to abide by their wishes.”
Cam stared at him for a moment, a muscle working in his jawline. “Shit.” He stormed inside the guest bedroom and slammed the door shut.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Anderson,” the butler mumbled to Gabe.
“It’s okay,” Gabe said, his stomach twisting as he gazed at the closed door. “It’s not your fault.”
Gabe resigned himself to what was likely going to be a sleepless night, turned on his back, and stared at the dark ceiling. Sorrow filled him as he thought of the stilted conversations and the strained dinner he and Cam had shared with his parents and his sister Melissa since they’d arrived at what used to be his home.
Gabe couldn’t really fault his upbringing. Although his father was a strict man who never cared to show his feelings, Gabe knew he’d loved him deep down inside. As had his mother and his sister, despite their own increasingly reserved attitudes while he was growing up, his father’s rigid expectations squashing much of the warmth and spontaneity they used to display when he was a child.
All that changed when he came home for his final spring break from college and confessed to them what he’d suspected for a number of years; that he was gay.
It had taken all of Gabe’s courage to stand in his own drawing room that day and tell his parents and his sister that not only did he like men, he was in his first ever relationship with one.
He had been prepared for their shock and anger. He had even been prepared for the fact that they might stop talking to him for some time. What he hadn’t expected was that they would cut him off from their lives completely, with a cool, clinical precision worthy of a surgeon’s blade.
An age-old agony pierced through Gabe then, so sharp it almost winded him.
What he hadn’t told Cam was that he came out to his family and was rejected by them ten days before Andrew arranged for him to get gang raped on camera. When he’d been taken to the ER by the cops that night and asked for his next of kin’s details, Gabe had literally frozen. For one wild moment, he’d been tempted to give the detective and the nurse his parents’ address and phone number. Then he’d recalled his mother and his sister’s shocked faces and the revulsion in his father’s eyes.
Now that he’d seen how little his family’s attitude had changed in the last ten years, Gabe was glad he hadn’t done so at the time. The thought of how much worse they could have made things, or even more devastatingly, chosen not to turn up, was something that had gnawed at him all evening.