Unencumbered Love

By Cliff Key

After falling in love with his best friend and crossing the dangerous boundaries into a sexual relationship, Clay DeVero, a wealthy heir, finds himself at a precipice when he realizes that his fairytale dreams would likely never come to fruition, or at least not with his best friend, Kyle Turner. Clay had been raised a strong willed and compassionate person who was allowed to express himself; however, Kyle’s vision of the future was quite different and didn’t include a gay lifestyle. Sheltered Clay began to second guess whether or not anyone could. Clay is left devastated until Jason McClain, the jock next door, sweeps in to help Clay mend his broken heart and dreams after Kyle meets and falls head over heels with Coraline.

Just as Clay begins to find hope in his future and discovered a niche volunteering at a local GLBT shelter, tragedy strikes on a stormy, freezing December night, resulting in a mesh of uncovered feelings from all ends. But, could Jason save him this time, or would he be too late? Would Jason’s education and experience at the F.B.I. be enough to save Clay, and thus himself?

This is the prelude to the Jason McClain mystery series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cliff Key
• Release date: Sep 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311589873

Cliff Key

Cliff is from a small town in Western Kentucky where he has built a life providing supports and services to those whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Aside the career that he loves and excels, his passion involves writing and living his life and continuing to learn and grow as a human being with his partner of twelve years, and two dogs, Rocky and Ricki. Cliff finds joy in providing others with an avenue of escape through realistic characters that are likeable and situations that are dangerous and full of suspense and real life drama. Cliff is a gay male that devotes his time to ensuring the lives of others are of the utmost quality and fighting for human equality.

Book preview

Unencumbered Love

Cliff Key

Smashwords

Edition

Copyright 2014 Cliff Key

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Chapter 1

Celine Dion’s The Power of Love blared and I jolted from a deep slumber. I badly wanted to hit snooze but my past with that procrastination button had rendered many negative repercussions.

As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I suddenly realized it was Saturday, and I had no obligations. To assure myself I checked the screen of my cell phone, confirming the relieving reality. I quickly fell back onto my pillow and my arm hit something warm and soft, but firm. I looked over and gazed at the most beautiful naked body I’d ever seen. His back was facing me. My eyes made their way from his feet to his muscular, bronzed calves to his toned thighs, and then I stared momentarily at his perfectly round buttocks, to the curve in his waist. My peripherals caught a glimpse of a very distinctive tattoo, a Chinese peace symbol. I jerked up onto my left arm and the beautiful body rolled over. I felt my eyes and ears were deceiving me as he softly spoke, Mornin‘ peach.

Lying beside me was the love of my life, even though it may never come to fruition. I’d dreamed of these moments since the third grade, when this angelic face first entered my life. His name is Kyle Turner. I am his peach. I’ve never really questioned the pet name, but I’d always assumed it has something to do with keeping Georgia alive in each of us. I was always in denial each time I realized he was with me when I woke up in my bed, especially naked. This is a good indication a wild night had occurred, ecstasy I’d never know before him. Ecstasy that some people may never know exists.

I was nearly speechless as I fumbled for an appropriate response, and finally managed to muffle, Mornin’ gorgeous.

I could feel my face flush, just as it always did when he gave me this attention. By now I should be use to it, but inescapably, I felt feverish.

What’s with you?

A small giggle trickled from my throat as I buried my face in his chest and kissed it. It appears that you didn’t get enough last night, I said as my eyes glanced down at his perfectly straight and erect cock.

Oh really? After all it‘s the morning, isn‘t it? he said seductively.

He flashed his gorgeous smile that melted my heart. I could only imagine that this is how chocolate felt left neglected in the sun. Before I knew it, he grabbed my waist, rolled us and lifted me on top of his solid body. I sat on his waist and peered deep into his eyes.

Told you so, I said with a smirk on my face.

He pressed his full, curved lips to mine. Within seconds we were both panting like dogs in heat and he flipped our bodies to reverse the roles so that I was on bottom. He moved his face toward my erect nipples and one by one he licked them, biting gently, and then he licked down my chest to my abs until he reached the head of my now throbbing cock. He glanced up at me and smiled a crooked smile with his tongue sticking out of his mouth and then mockingly said, Looks like you didn‘t either.

You know, for a straight guy, you sure know what you’re doing down there. I emphasized straight more than necessary. Shit! It didn’t appear to have affected him thankfully. Generally that was a deal breaker. His being straight is a sensitive subject for us both.

I wanted to vocalize my pleasure, but damn these dorms, you can hear everyone’s every whisper. Secrecy was of utmost importance, priority one - or at least to him.

Learned from the best, but unlike you, I’m not a Hoover! he stated teasingly and then went right back to giving me the best oral pleasure known to man. He had a way of curling his tongue at the tip and then sliding down the shaft while sucking that was almost instantaneous combustion.

I was panting heavily and my legs moved up, down, and spread further involuntarily. I’m close, I moaned between pants. But he just continued as if I hadn’t said a word. I thought maybe he didn’t hear me so I repeated, I’m really close. He started sucking harder and moving his hand faster below his mouth, so I grabbed his hair and shoved his head harder, up and down.

K…Kyle… and then it was done. Oh, shit!

I was breathless. A volcanic eruption had exploded into his mouth, but he never pulled back or spit. He rose up, smiling my smile, wiped his mouth and said, Mmm, sweet and salty.

You’re a bad puppy, Kyle. I’m impressed. I’ll have to add this to my list of ‘Most Surprising Acts of Kyle - Memoirs of a Straight Guy‘. Shit! I did it again!

Kiss me, he said softly. My eyes met his emerald eyes and my heart turned to mush instantly.

I raised my right eyebrow and seductively said, Okay, come here big guy, but, I can do better than that!

Mm hum, I know you can, you lion, and he growled and then met my lips.

I didn’t mind at all that his mouth had momentarily held all of my love juice, that didn’t seem to faze him as it was, which greatly impressed me. I, being a gay man, don’t think I could swallow without somewhat grimacing. I’d never attempted to swallow his though, and now I should, it’s only fair. I just hope I wouldn’t spew all over him. I also hoped the chance would come.

When he kisses me the entire world is gone. In those moments, it was only he and I and nothing else mattered. A natural disaster could be raging and I don’t think I would be affected at all, as long as our lips never parted. It was my protection, my desire, and my hope. Hope that someday I could feel this protection every waking hour of every day. No one has ever had his protection, it was only mine. Nothing else compared to my blissful moments. I could not be touched in these moments. And of all things, I could ejaculate without ever having been touched.

I slowly straddled him sitting up, still trying to catch my breath and whispered, My turn.

Actually, Clay, I’ve gotta jet. It’s Saturday and I have soccer practice in, he checked his phone for the time, an hour. And then my moment was gone.

An hour? I asked slyly, a lot of time for a one minute man!

Oh that was a cheap shot, he said laughing.

Don’t worry, it’s just a sign that I do an excellent job, and I’m irresistible, I teased as I thrust against his still raging member.

Mmm boy, that’s not fair. I wish I could stay, but you know I’ll be benched if I don’t show. Besides, the guys at the frat house are probably wondering where I am, and I’ve already gotta come up with some detailed description of the hot girl I bagged last night. You know the pledges look up to me.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Same ole routine, I said as I lifted my body off of him and made my way to the dresser and slid on a pair of underwear, turned and posed.

Calvin Klein anyone? I asked jokingly.

Man, now you’re really not playing fair, he whined.

I can’t help it you have an underwear fetish. I turned around so that my back was facing him, turned my head sideways, stuck a finger to my bottom lip and bent over and put on my best vocal Marilyn impression, Oops, my bad, I dropped my soap, I better hurry up and grab it before someone violates me.

It was perfectly easy to be myself around him and seduce at the same time.

Borderline cruelty, Kyle barked.

Guess someone’ll have to call PETA, you animal.

He was on his feet and embraced me tightly and I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as he picked me up. He is very strong and built like a brick smokehouse. He absolutely drives me wild. Briefly, I was back in my moment. He slowly eased me down until I extended my legs and my feet were on the floor, my face buried in his neck, and my arms draped over his shoulders.

Gotta go, peach, he whispered. If I go now I’ll have just enough time for a cold shower, he said teasingly.

Go get ‘em tiger. I couldn’t help no matter how hard I tried to not look disappointed. I could never hide my emotions, because my incredulous face always gave me away.

Aww, Clay, I’ll see you again soon buddy. A couple of days or so. That’s not so bad. If I stay too much, too soon, people are going to start talking shit. We‘ve gotta lay low.

It doesn’t matter how much he tries to console me, when it came to him leaving, I could never be comforted. I loved seeing him, being with him, and smelling him. I was drawn to his scent, his smile, his body, and his voice. Sometimes I felt that I could see straight into his soul through his eyes. My eyes were fixated on the floor, my mouth no doubt pouting.

Claaaay. Come oooon. Don’t be like this, you know I hate it. There’s no reason for you to look so sad.

Damn it! I thought to myself, I hated feeling, and most importantly, looking desperate.

Sorry, I pleaded, I just hate it when you leave. I never know when I’ll see you again, and I don’t mean to sound or act desperate, it’s just, well, I don’t really know how to explain it. I said pacing the floor. It’s like waiting to vomit, you know you’re going to and that it’s churning in your stomach and you can feel it in your throat, you just don’t know when it’s coming and the anticipation is making you even more nauseous…

Hey, hey, slow down, you’re rambling. Calm down. You know I have to keep it on the low, lower your voice. Please? he said as he caught me and held me by both shoulders. I looked into his eyes and the emerald glistened and I could see alarm.

Kyle, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so melodramatic and crazy. It’s just that I have to act like the best friend straight jock all the time, just to be near you on campus. Not that I’m some Nancy or anything, not that that’s a bad thing, but sometimes I just wish that the whole world could see. I regrouped and sighed. You’ve gotta go or you’ll be late. No need for that cold shower now, huh?

Not so much, but you’re still wearing my favorites, as his eyes made their way to my lower extremities.

Eyes up, big guy, you’ve ‘gotta jet’ remember? I hated to say goodbye, so I choose to use something less permanent, See ya around.

And then my moment came again without warning and I all my rants appeared to have never existed. I was thankful.

He turned away, got dressed and was at the door in less than a minute. He turned his head and glanced at me before opening the door and smiled my smile, and kissed the air toward me, and then he was gone with the shut of the door. I stood still, but I promised myself I wouldn’t mope. I would try not to think about him. I went to my dresser and flipped down the picture of us from a past camping trip taken by one of our mutual friends.

I needed a shower, although I’d love to take a bath. That’s why I loved it when Kyle and I rented a hotel room. I prefer the Four Seasons. He prefers The Hilton. There were no tubs in this dorm, only shower stalls, but at least they were private. A shower would just have to do for now and I started my water. Freshman year, you had to stay in a dorm, unless you had family here in Washington, D.C. and I don’t. I do; however, have money. Not that it mattered much here. My parents at least paid double room and board so that I wouldn’t have to endure sharing the already cramped space, which at least allowed me to move in a full size bed. What an advantage that has been.

I needed to let my thoughts drift elsewhere, and to not stay absorbed with him. He’s the object of my affection. I know he really loves me as a friend, sometimes I think it’s really more. Someday, I have to believe he’ll grow some balls and just come out and claim me. My greatest fear is that a woman will steal his heart. Would he forget me? Could I even exist? I shuddered at the thought and stepped into the steaming fog.

After several minutes of pondering under the hot water, I realized that I could not honestly tell myself that he would forget me, even if his life changed course. Kyle and I have been best friends since the third grade, when his parents relocated to Savannah, and we’ve always been close. He was the type that was always there when I needed him, ready to fight and defend our honors. He’s the tough guy. I hate confrontation; however, confrontation to defend his honor would most likely release my inner Tyson. Without a doubt. I’d never had to though, really never have the chance, he takes care of the both of us. Growing up in the south and being two free spirits in the hills and woods, we were often referred to as fags, cock suckers, and queers by other boys who didn’t have an understanding of friendship, only gangs of rebels. Or so they thought they were.

There’s no way he’d forget me. Not a chance. I’d cross that bridge if God forbid I ever had to. Our relationship crossed beyond the friendship stage a year ago. My life was changed perpetually and irreversibly. Kyle and I had been hiking in our woods near our homes in Savannah for hours when it began to rain. We raced back through the woods to the pool house on my family’s estate. We were soaked with rainwater and shivering from October’s chill. I turned on the fireplace and we both stripped our clothing down to our underwear. This was nothing new, we often slept in the same bed wearing nothing but our underwear, but, they were boxers. I was wearing white bikini briefs, which were extremely revealing compared to Kyle’s green and red Christmas boxers. I looked down and realized that they too were wet, which left nothing to the imagination. Embarrassed, I quickly sat down on the chair next to the fire. Kyle asked me what I was wearing, which didn’t help alleviate my anxiety any. We laughed and he sat down on the floor in front of me and warmed his hands near the fire.

I had been attracted to him since we were young, but I had never disclosed these feelings to him, and I most certainly didn’t make any advances. I knew I was gay at a young age, but I had never had sex, or even been close to a relationship with another guy. Kyle knew I was gay and never turned his back on me. Kyle and I sat silently near the fire. Then the most exciting and unexpected thing happened, which still mesmerizes me each time I recall it. Kyle turned his body and faced me. He didn’t say a word; he just stared into my eyes, and created my moment and it was difficult to breathe normally. His eyes drifted from mine and I watched him explore my body, in a way he never had before. When his eyes rested on my crotch, I spread my legs a bit more to give him a better view. I had no idea what I was doing, but he made it obvious that he wanted to see more, which made my package swell, giving him more to view. His emerald eyes met mine again. He looked like a bronze god. The way the fire’s reflection bounced off his skin and face made him look even more exquisite.

My heart was racing and I wanted to touch him, I mean, really touch him. He raised his body up and moved between my legs and kissed my mouth gently, as if he were testing his ability to follow through. I was glad he did because I was lost, and had no clue what was happening, or how to make it last. Lord knows I wanted it to last. After the kiss, he graduated to touching my face, neck, chest, stomach, and then my thighs. He moved his fingers slowly and softly. My breathing became labored the more he touched me and explored new boundaries. I had never been touched so sensually. I knew I was rock hard by the time he made his way to my crotch, and I gasped as his hand brushed the entirety of my member. Then he asked me what I was thinking, and I didn’t have the ability to speak. My response was physical, driven by emotions and lust. I threw myself onto him and straddled his lap and made my lips meet his. And from there, well…I would never see Kyle in the same way. He instantly became the object of my idolatry, and I more than willingly gave myself to him.

Damn it!

I caught myself off guard as I realized I had thought out loud. I knew that not obsessing about him today was hopeless. He consumed my mind and soul, but I wouldn’t dare let him know that I was so engrossed in him, although I know that he knows. My ignorant, selfish rants certainly blow my cover. As much as I try, I cannot help but dwell. I’m a dweller. As much as I hated to admit to myself, I love him irrevocably. Of that I’m sure. I just don’t know how much he loves me. We’ve never said to one another, those three simple words in one sentence together, ever. I guess in doing so it would make us official, gay, queers, cock suckers, everything we were accused of being by the wannabe gangs back home.

I’ve been liberated from my closet for two years, since the beginning of our senior year in high school. Kyle, well, he’s straight. Or at least it seems, only outside my four walls. I consider him bi. He doesn’t. He won’t accept any part of himself being remotely gay, he just likes sex, but not with other men, only me. Or so he says, and I hope that’s true, although I have no reason to believe otherwise. If not, my life would surely be over. Jealousy. I hate it.

I turned off the water, grabbed my towel, wrapped it around my waist, and wiped off the condensation that had formed on the mirror with my hand. I generally liked what I saw staring back at me. I took a close look in the mirror at the bags that had formed under my brown eyes. I couldn’t recall what time I had fallen asleep or even last looked at the clock last night. I rubbed my eyes and stretched the skin under my eyes and sighed.

Goodness Clayton, I said to myself, What a night! And it was, I thought to myself. What a morning!

Chapter 2

I forced myself to move past the encounters of the night and this morning. I felt a growth under the towel from just the thought. Down boy! I said aloud and went to the pathetic closet, which is the size of my linen closet back home. I had improvised, and Mom had helped design an organization unit that she had built by her carpenter, to maximize the use of space. It’ll do for another semester, until I could live off campus. I grabbed one of my favorite white ribbed shirts, low-rise jeans, a brown belt and shoes, threw my clothes on the bed and walked to my dresser. I grabbed a pair of underwear, an identical pair to the ones that now lie on the bathroom floor. They were low-rise, sheer black with orange trim.

Kyle had no idea that once I discovered his fetish, at the first mentioning of this particular pair, I took note and bought every pair available at the time. Devious? Maybe, but it had proven useful. It drives him wild, and I have no doubt that our first encounter would not have occurred had it not been for a similar pair.

I threw my clothes on and grabbed my gym bag and headed for the door, and my cell phone rang. I was always forgetting my phone. I turned back to the bed and answered, before even checking to see who it was.

Hello.

Hey Clay. I gotta problem, Kyle said sounding as if he were hiding something, a sound I’d learned to pick up on easily through the years.

What? What is it Kyle?

Calm down, it’s no big deal. I’ve, ’em, I got kicked in the shin and coach thinks I need to have it checked out.Then he moaned. I felt as if the bottom of my stomach had dropped to my feet.

How bad is it?

I was trying to not sound panicked but I couldn’t bear the thought of him being hurt. He usually never complains of pain, no matter the injury. I’d only seen him hurt one other time when he fell from a tree and broke his left arm. Even then, he didn’t vocalize pain and didn‘t dare cry.

"It hurts to bear weight,’ his voice was cracking.

Oh, I’ll be there in a minute. I was just out the door headed to the gym. See you in a few, where are you?

Hoya’s field, he said still sounding in pain.

Okay, you want me to stay on the phone?

I was already in my black BMW and was rounding the corner. Luckily I was only blocks away and it would only take me about five minutes to get there, if traffic wasn’t heavy. Luckily, most people cycled or walked around campus.

No, I need to sit and breathe, he sounded exasperated.

Where’s your cell? I asked instinctively. Never mind, see ya in a few. I closed the phone and tossed the phone in the driver‘s seat.

Damn it! I said aloud, frustrated.

I hate soccer, I told him he would eventually get hurt. All I could think about was what I’d do to the fucker who caused the pain. Is his leg broken? Is the bone protruding? Did someone do this deliberately? I always overreact.

Shit, shit, shit!

The traffic was worse than I’d hoped. It figures, just my luck. All I wanted to do was be there in the blink of an eye, pick Kyle up and carry him to safety. Then I realized how ridiculous that sounded, it may just be a sprain.

As I rounded the field’s corner, I ignored the no motor vehicles sign and drove straight to the bleachers. Kyle was nowhere in sight. Breathing was of importance for me right now, where is he? Just breathe Clayton, breathe. No time to panic. I put my hand over my eyes to shield the sun and peered across the field, no sight of him.

Hey, hey, Jason? I ran across the field to where he was practicing with the rest of the team. Where’s Kyle? How bad is it?

Whoa, Cowboy, slow down. He’s right over there on the bench next to the locker rooms. We gave him an ice pack, that’s all he’d allow us to do. Looks pretty rough, bruised to hell already!

Thanks.

I gave him no opportunity to describe anymore. I felt nauseous. Oh God don’t let me throw up. I fought the thought and managed to succeed. I ran to the sports building, and as I rounded the corner, there he was, my beautiful angel doubled over holding his head with a rag.

Kyle, there you are big guy! Relief washed over me as he raised his angelic face and flashed my smile, I nearly lost my breath. How are ya? How bad is it? Let me see.

I’m a premed student and was sure I could make a diagnosis, even in my first semester.

Well, come here doc, have yourself a look-see. His breathing was a bit labored.

He squinted as he lifted the wet towel from his leg, and I gasped. I didn’t expect to see what was revealed once the towel was on the bench beside him. His left shin was a deep purple, almost black with swelling the size of a baseball in the center of the bruise, obviously the location of the blow. A tear trickled down my cheek.

Damn Kyle. This had to take an extremely hard blow. Who did this to you?

It felt hard, that‘s for damn sure. It was an accident, Leo did it. He was playing defense and I had the ball. He went to side-sweep to gain control of the ball and misjudged, kicking my shin rather than the ball. Ow. He grimaced,

Sit still, don’t move it. I said sternly, not meaning misplace anger. Sorry, I’m not angry, just a bit worried.

I knelt down in front of him and reached for his left leg. This may hurt, but I’ll be gentle.

Ahh, shit, he said as I gently touched around the knot that was protruding at least an inch. I felt all the way around without feeling anything out of the ordinary. But my initial thought, as indicative of the massive edema. It’s broken, Kyle. We need to go to the hospital to be sure. Without an x-ray, we can‘t be sure.

I think it is too, pea.. he started to call me peach, and I felt my face blush.

I wondered why he stopped mid word, and then I heard footsteps. A group of his fellow teammates approached.

Hey there, Kyle, so, how is it? Leo asked, smirking as he and others kept walking past.

I saw red. Before I knew it, I had Leo slammed and pinned against the brick wall.

Fuck you, Leo, did you do this on purpose? Huh? Can’t stand that he’s better than you, huh? I was screaming, Fuck you Leo! I ought to kick your ass you mother-fucker!

Clay, knock it off! I heard my angel’s voice and snapped back letting go of Leo’s collar, I told you it was an accident, he claimed.

I didn’t realize I’d been so rough, I just had a suspicion it was no accident. I turned to face Kyle and then felt a very hard blow to the left side of my cheek, and I lost my balance and hit the sidewalk. I could taste blood, and before the sensation hit the back of my throat, I spit the blood on the sidewalk. Then the dull ache hit me.

Clay! Damn you, Leo! I‘ll fucking kill you. Clay? Kyle raged, but when he called my name, I sensed worry in his shaky voice.

I looked up and saw Kyle rising to his feet and he lunged towards Leo but fell short and was stumbling forward to the ground over me. I instinctively and almost supernaturally rose up, flipped, and was on my knees and caught Kyle with both hands and broke his fall. I gently eased him down to where he was on his side in my lap with his head at my shoulder.

I heard a thunderous roar of laughter in the background and I turned to face the men, Go to hell! Hear me? Get the fuck outta here!

Leo, you’ve got it coming boy, if I could walk, I’d have your ass in a bag.

And then Jason walked up the sidewalk and yelled toward the other guys, What the fuck is going on here? Kyle, Clay what happened? he asked while looking at the group of laughing hyenas.

Leo said, oh nothing, just lovers protecting lovers, ain’t that right boys? he was still laughing.

The others regrouped and stepped back, silently. Kyle looked up and there was fury in his emerald eyes.

It doesn’t matter, Kyle, let it go. He was wrestling in my arms. Hold still. You’re gonna make your leg worse. We’ve got to get you to the emergency room.

Okay, alright, where’s your car? Kyle asked. His face was pain stricken.

Jesus, come on, I’m gonna move you over so I can stand up. Jason? Can you help me please? I need to get Kyle to the car.

Sure, hold on.

Jason walked toward the group and acted as if he was going to lunge forward and they all scrammed. I wonder what hold he had on them, other than the fact that he is larger. Oh well, I thought, more important things to do right now. Jason returned and was in front of me and he lifted Kyle out of my lap and threw his right arm over his shoulder to help stabilize him.

Hold on, I’ll get the other side. Let‘s get him back on the bench. Are there no medics here? I asked.

No, not today, this was a make-up practice and I guess coach didn’t tell administration, there’s been no one on site. I’ve already checked.

Kyle, you okay?

Yeah, just hurts, he said squinting.

Jason, I need a few things to splint this before we get him into the car.

Sure, what do you need?

A board, towels and medical tape will do. Don’t they have kits here?

I don’t know what they look like if they do, I’ve never seen one used, sorry.

Okay, that’s fine, if you could just round me up those three things, after it’s braced, we can safely move him to the car without inflicting more damage.

Jason sprinted down the breezeway and disappeared. I looked back at Kyle.

It’ll be just a few minutes and then we can go. This may cause more pain.

I gulped as I realized that it would be my hands inflicting the pain as I braced his leg. I had to remind myself that it was for the best, without splinting, it could cause more damage, and thus more pain.

I’ll be fine, no kryptonite right? he said trying to smile.

Don’t think so, but there’s no telling what kind of radioactive material those supplies will be infected with if they come from the locker room. I shuddered at the thought.

Ha! It’s clean in there.

I’m sure, I said smirking.

Then I heard the thuds of a jog and looked up to see Jason speeding toward us with both arms full of towels and a board.

I think this is a splinting board, he said as he handed it over.

Thanks Jason, Kyle offered before I could.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

You’re both welcome. What next?

"Well, this will be make-shift. Kyle, your leg is already pretty straight, and I’ll tie this pretty loosely to cause as little pain as possible here. Jason, we’ll place the board on the back of this leg, it’s ideal to have two, one on each side, but this will do