Summary:
It may be cold outside, but inside, the temperature is rising.
When grad student Kevin Taggert goes home with his best friend for Thanksgiving, the last thing he expects is to drool over the guy’s dad.
Forty-eight-year-old Drew Freeman would love a relationship, but he never expected to find it with his son’s best friend.
When a last-minute change of plans leaves Drew and Kevin alone in a cabin the week before Christmas, the heat between them is too much to deny.
Although they promise it’ll only last the week, every day that passes brings them closer together. When Christmas Day arrives—along with Drew’s son—can they salvage the relationship and the holiday?
Brigham Vaughn tells the most amazing May/December romances and Cabin Fever is another perfect example. Kevin and Drew find themselves alone with a chemistry that will ignite any fire without even trying. Will they let that blossom into more? You know my answer to that: you have to read to find out but as the author loves a good HEA, I think you can guess what the answer is yourself. But boy will you enjoy the journey these two men find themselves taking.
I have to admit that I forgot about this holiday gem the author released last year until I was looking for stories that had some level or mention of Turkey Day. I didn't forget it because it didn't sound appealing but my year has been kind of a backwards, sideways, mix-mashy journey and unfortunately reading took the biggest hit. I won't go into details about the story because Cabin Fever may have been a 2020 release that's nearly a year old, I'm sure there are others like me that have yet to discover the gloriously delicious duo of Kevin Taggert and Drew Freeman and I won't spoil it for them. What I will say though is that this was my second holiday read for the 2021 season and their ride really got my holiday spirit revved up.
I know that not everyone enjoys May/December romances and frankly I don't really know that it's my go-to trope but when it's done right it can be magical. Brigham Vaughn does it right. There is just enough realism to make one go hmmm! and just enough fiction to make you go huh! and when wrapped in a holiday bow, you find yourself going HO! HO! HO! A delightful gem from beginning to end and to make it even extra yummy, I just found out there is a free follow-up short available and I look forward to checking it out.
RATING:
Summary:
The Men of River Gorge #5
What kind of loser pretends to have a boyfriend?
Oh, yeah, that’s me, Landon Nichols. I’m the loser. In my defense, I didn’t actually make up a boyfriend. My mom just assumed I had one, and I figured if it made her feel better to think I had someone in my life, then what could it hurt? Nothing, right?
Until she decides I need to bring my pretend boyfriend home for a visit. I don’t want to lie to my mom, but I don’t want to worry her either. I’m flat out of excuses and I have no idea what to do.
Then in walks Miller Monroe. Miller has a reputation as a bad boy, so imagine my surprise when he insists on going with me to see my family. But I’m a horrible liar, and I know I’ll never pull off a fake relationship.
His solution? We’ll date, just as friends, so I won’t be lying. For a guy who is supposed to be terrified of commitment, Miller is awfully committed to making this fake boyfriend thing work, and now I have a whole new problem…
What kind of loser falls for his fake boyfriend?
Baby Makes Three by RJ Scott & VL Locey
Summary:Harrisburg Railers #10
When baby makes three, Christmas will never be the same for Ten and Jared.
There's not much that Tennant Rowe hasn't accomplished, and all before reaching thirty. Hoisting the Cup, marrying the man of his dreams, and becoming a spokesman for LGBTQ2+ athletes' rights have filled his world with great joy. While his successes on and off the ice have been beyond his wildest expectations, he's now wondering if it's time to add one more tiny addition to his already wonderful life.
Being a dad to Ryker and marrying Ten are the two of the best things in Jared's life, only something is missing. He always wanted more children, but with Ten and the Railers riding a wave of success, how could he even broach the subject of adoption or surrogacy with the man he loves? Jared would give the moon and the stars to his husband, so when Ten reveals his desire to be a father, they start a journey that will fill their Christmas with a new and special kind of love.
First off, let's see what Baby Makes Three has:
Tennant Rowe ✔️
Jared Madsen ✔️
Christmas ✔️
Friendship ✔️
Family ✔️
Humor ✔️
Love ✔️
and as the title suggests: baby ✔️
Okay, now that I've established all my reading boxes have been ticked lets continue.
Seriously though, Baby Makes Three is an absolute reading gem! As you know I don't do spoilers but I think the title pretty much says it all. If you've been reading from the beginning I don't think there's ever been any doubt that Ten and Jared would make great parents because let's face it they've had their fair share of dosing out parental guidance with a team like the Railers have😉😉.
Between this entry being a novella and my spoiler free blog, I'm going to make this short and sweet: I freakin' loved Baby Makes Three.
I do want to comment on one thing that really pleased me. RJ Scott & VL Locey managed to show the anxiety of finding a surrogate that fits the couple without, well I don't want to use the term "bog down" because the road couples face, especially LGBT couples, is important but since this is a holiday novella, an established series, and an established couple, I really appreciated how they told the drama without the angst, still keeping the story light and the guys didn't lose who they are.
Oh and the little hints for a future Raptors story was brilliantly laid out and managed to perfectly fit into Ten and Jared's parental journey. So Scott & Locey have done it again with their hockey universe. Such a delight all the way around.
RATING:
Summary:
Magnolia Ridge #6
The holidays are just around the corner. Travis and Levi are hard at work preparing for a house full of all of their friends and family. Jake, Shane, and Austin are coming in from Carolina. Skyler and Dustin are coming in from Shenandoah. Plus all of their dear friends who are already around the small town of Appalachia Virginia.
But, Their plans are derailed when Levi’s deadbeat father Jerry returns; leaving Travis to defend his boy and family. Unfortunately, an altercation that results in the death of Levi’s mother leaves him devastated and trying to figure out how to go on in life without her. Can his friends band together and manage to salvage Thanksgiving, or will grief prove too strong a foe to recover in time for the holiday.
Join Best Selling Author Daniel Elijah Sanderfer for the sixth book in the best selling Stories From Magnolia Ridge Series. Sometimes in tragedy, we discover the power inside of us to hold on tighter and be thankful for the people closest to us in this life.
Summary:
Past secrets uncovered can rip love apart or make it soar...
A gorgeous guy showing up on your doorstep unexpectedly should be a dream come true, right? Well, not if it’s your boyfriend’s ex…
A home invasion that killed his parents wrecked Xander's sense of security. After a few rough years, he's finally found happiness with his boyfriend, Greyson, in an old farmhouse north of Boston.
On the weekend before Thanksgiving, Greyson's ex from college shows up uninvited. Reminiscing of glory days is tedious at best. But when the ulterior motive for the reunion is exposed, it fuels Xander’s hidden fears. Could Greyson ever get tired of living with Xander’s anxieties?
Suddenly, he finds himself questioning a lot of things he took for granted and realizes that the biggest threat to happily ever after is not the ex at the doorstep, but the secrets both men have been keeping from each other. Xander and Greyson have a few years of love and happiness on their side, but will it be enough to hold them together?
Too Thankful for You, a contemporary m/m romance, is the second short story in the “He is the One” series. There’s a soulmate for everyone, but sometimes love needs honesty. Trigger warning: In this story one main character struggles with alcohol addiction.
Gotta start by saying that AG Meiers is a new author to me which can be a roller coaster of a ride, the unfamiliarity can raise some anxiety levels but for me that only heightens the excitement. Too Thankful for You is a wonderful introduction and it's a Thanksgiving story, okay the weekend before Turkey Day but that still counts in my book considering it's not a holiday that gets much fictional attention.
When something is left unsaid it can fester into a bigger disaster than the reality had it been communicated properly and timely. This is part of the problem for Greyson and Zander when Ted, Greyson's ex shows up unannounced. Sometimes we have to go through fights to get the truth out and a much needed dialogue to open. I'll admit I hate Ted on so many levels but truth is, if it wasn't for his unexpected turn-up than the needed clearing the air might not have happened.
Okay, I feel like I've said way too much already for the plot of this holiday short novella so I'll stop. I will say that Zander and Greyson's weekend will warm your heart. Too Thankful for You may take your heart on a short bumpy ride but in the end you'll find it a full to overflowing with hope. Definitely a case of short on quantity but long on quality. Can't wait to check out the author's backlist and future writings.
RATING:
Her books range from short stories to novellas. They explore gay, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.
To stay up to date on her latest releases, sign up for the Coles & Vaughn Newsletter.
Jacki James
RJ Scott
VL Locey
Daniel Elijah Sanderfer
AG Meiers
Reining in the Bad Boy by Jacki James
RATING:
Cabin Fever by Brigham Vaughn
One
“Hey, are you okay?”
Kevin Taggert looked up from his phone to see his roommate frowning at him. “I’m not great,” he admitted.
“What’s up?” Jason Freeman plopped onto the couch next to him, a concerned expression crossing his face. “You look like you just got dumped and I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”
“I’m not. Just feeling bummed about the holiday.” He sighed heavily.
“You’re staying here in Indiana for Thanksgiving, right?” Jason stretched his legs out, getting comfortable. “I mean, dealing with the airport and flights to Washington State and back again for a few days did seem like a lot, so I didn’t blame you for skipping it this year.”
“Yeah, it just didn’t seem worth the hassle and expense since I was going home for Christmas, anyway. But then I got this email from my mom about my brother and his girlfriend, and now I’m feeling bummed that I’ll miss a big moment with my family.”
He woke up his phone again, then handed it over to Jason. It was still queued up to the email from his mom.
Jason read the message, a frown furrowing his brow as he stared down at the screen.
Kevin didn’t have to see it to remember what it said.
We’re looking forward to spending the weekend with Gabe and Meredith. We think there may be a big announcement soon! We’re so excited for them and their future together. It’s great seeing them settling down and beginning their adult lives.
-Mom
“Oh, man, that sucks.”
“Yeah.” Kevin sighed. “I hate to miss my brother’s big moment, and it feels like I grow a little further apart from my family every year, you know?”
“I get it.”
“I mean, I was the one who came here to Indiana for school so that’s on me, but it’s been hard to get home on a regular basis. And I always feel like I’m letting them down. Like they’re disappointed that I went into engineering and that my relationship with my ex fizzled out. I can’t even meet a guy, much less get engaged like my brother.”
“Is that what your mom meant by big announcement?”
“I assume so,” he said. “They’ve been together fucking forever, so it’s the logical thing.”
“And you said your mom is crazy about Meredith, right?”
“Yeah, both my parents are. I like her a lot too, honestly. I’m really happy for my brother. I’m just feeling bummed that I’m going to miss out. The thought of sitting alone on the couch here while my family is off celebrating my brother’s engagement makes me feel crappy about where I am in my life.”
“You’re a semester away from having your master’s degree in mechanical engineering. You’re doing just fine, man.”
“I know. Seriously, ignore me. I’ll snap out of it in a bit. I swear. I’m just feeling sorry for myself at the moment. I reconsidered going out there but it’s really too late. When I checked flights, it was nearly double what it was a month ago, and that’s ridiculous for a couple of days at home. I was originally planning to catch up on studying this weekend, but now I’ll probably just wind up sitting on the couch, bored and lonely.”
Jason gave him a sympathetic smile before his expression brightened. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you come home to Michigan with me for Thanksgiving?”
Kevin considered the idea. “You’re staying with your dad, right? He won’t mind me crashing your holiday?”
“Nah. Dad’s cool. He won’t care if you tag along with me. It’s usually just the two of us, so I’m sure he won’t mind you being there at all. I was planning to leave Wednesday, drive up that day, spend Thursday and Friday with my dad, go with my mom and stepdad to my grandma’s on Saturday, and then head home Sunday. That work for you?”
“Sure,” Kevin said slowly. “As long as no one minds me intruding.”
“I’ll text them and check, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. You can come with me to my grandma’s too, if you want, on Saturday or just chill at my dad’s place. He won’t care either way.”
“I can decide when we get up there, I guess.” He glanced at Jason. “You going to see Angie?”
He shrugged. “I really want to. She’s been weird about it though.”
“What do you mean?”
“One minute she’s all for it, then next she’s saying it’s a bad idea.” He sighed and rubbed a hand across his bearded face.
“Isn’t that pretty standard for you guys?”
“Kind of.”
In the five years Kevin had been friends with Jason, he and his high school sweetheart Angela Hill had dated and broken up more times than Kevin could remember. After they’d graduated from high school, she’d stayed in Ann Arbor to go to a prestigious cosmetology school, and Jason had gone to Purdue in Indiana. It had become a never-ending cycle of hating the long-distance relationship and missing being together. Which Kevin could certainly understand. But he knew his roommate was going to be miserable until things got resolved one way or the other.
“Just hang in there until you graduate next spring,” he said, patting him on the thigh. “Once you do, you’ll be able to figure out a plan for the future.”
“Since when are you such a romantic?” Jason teased, nudging Kevin’s leg with his knee. “I thought you’d given up on relationships.”
He shrugged. “What I’m doing and what everyone else is doing are two very different things,” he pointed out. “And I’m not against the idea. I just haven’t found anyone worth making all that effort for.”
“You’ll find it, dude. You’re a great guy, and someone’s going to see that.”
Kevin shot him a half-hearted smile. “I hope so.”
“Nah, I know so,” Jason said as he typed out a message on his phone. “You’ll make some lucky guy very happy someday. Now let me message my dad and ask if he’s cool with you joining us for Thanksgiving.”
Reigning in the Bad Boy by Jacki James
1
Miller
“Hey, y'all,” I said, sliding into our booth at Cap's Coffee and Cakes.
“Hey,” my friend Ripley replied without looking up from the papers he was studying in front of him.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“He's looking for recipes for pumpkins,” Frankie said with a grin. “I think they over planted.”
“Hey, I was afraid we wouldn't have enough,” Ripley protested. “So maybe I went overboard.”
I gasped in feigned surprise. “You? Go overboard? Surely not.”
He looked up and rolled his eyes at me. “Look, no way I was bringing a bunch of kids out to the ranch to pick pumpkins and not have plenty of pumpkins to choose from.”
“Can't the goats eat them?”
“Sure, and I’ll feed them the carving pumpkins, but I also have a bunch of sugar pumpkins, and I don't want to waste those.”
“Sugar pumpkins?”
“Yeah, they're the kind that you use to make pies and stuff. I had this crazy idea that the parents would bring the kids to choose a carving one and buy the sugar ones to make pies. I underestimated how much easier a can of pumpkin was to bake with. I didn't have many takers.” He shrugged. “Live and learn, right?”
I picked up one of the recipes and looked at it. “You, Ripley Ellis-Warner, are going to use pumpkins you grew and make”—I glanced back at the paper—“spiced pumpkin butter? Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?”
Frankie laughed from behind the counter where he’d been setting out fresh muffins. “Money says he doesn't make it past the first batch, and the goats get all the pumpkins.”
“Nah,” Cap called over. “My money's on Margo. She runs that ranch house for Reed and Ripley like a well-oiled machine. She won't let 'em go to waste.”
“You're right,” Frankie said, giving Cap a kiss and taking a cup of coffee out of his hand before he came over to sit with us. He pushed the coffee over in front of me.
“Thanks,” I called over to Cap taking a sip. The man knew his coffee, that was for sure. This was a new one, though. “What is this?”
“It's a new blend I got in the city from a small startup. They're roasting the beans on-site, and their end product is really good. I'm thinking about adding that one permanently. What do you think?”
“I think you should. It's my favorite so far.”
“What's your favorite?” Maverick asked, walking in. “Do we have a new coffee?”
“Yes, but the nuances would be lost on you by the time you add tons of sugar and cream,” Cap said. “If you're going to add all that, you might as well drink grocery store coffee.”
“For someone with an entire menu of foo-foo coffees, you sure are a coffee snob. Now give me a pumpkin spice latte and be quiet,” he teased.
“Where's Donovan?” I asked.
“He's doing something with the bees. You know I love that man, but I'm not getting near those hives. I have someone coming in early for an appointment today anyway, so I can't stay long.” Maverick owned the local tattoo shop, and his partner was a retired Navy officer turned farmer. I looked around at my friends and once again realized I was the only single one. That was by choice but knowing that didn't mean it didn't leave me feeling a little lonely and out of place. Not that they meant to make me feel that way. They didn't. They always made sure to include me, but at some point, being the odd man out got old.
“We're meeting Cody and Eli at the Drinking Hole tonight. Y'all coming?” Ripley asked.
“Depends on what time I finish up, but I'll check with Donovan,” Maverick said. “How about you, Miller?”
“Depends. Are Cruz and Landon coming?” I wasn't really in the mood to sit around with a bunch of couples tonight. I knew Cruz and Landon because they worked on the Bluebird Ranch, the ranch Ripley owned with his husband, Reed. We weren't good friends, but I liked both men, and they would keep me from being the only single guy there.
“Nah, they’re heading into the city to hit the clubs. I’m surprised you aren't going. What was it you told me? That there weren't a lot of gay men to choose from in River Gorge, right?”
“Well, the numbers are rising. Unfortunately, y’all keep pairing up, so there still aren't many to choose from.”
“Don't tell me the great Miller Monroe is having trouble finding men,” Ripley teased.
“Nah, not Miller. He could find a man in the ladies’ room,” Cap said with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes and chuckled like his joke was funny. I could have argued with him. Told him it had been months since the last time I found a man, but it wouldn't matter. That was the thing about people who'd known you for years, they had ideas about who you were, and those ideas died hard. Plus, what was I going to say? I hadn't picked anyone up because nobody interested me.
“Oh well, if they're heading to the club, maybe I'll take a trip into the city then. Like I said, pickings are slim around here, but there are always willing boys at the club.
“You would know, you've made your way through most of them,” Cap said, rolling his eyes.
“What can I say? The boys love me. Now, I gotta go. I have a client coming in to go look at the Wilson Ranch. Catch y'all later.”
No need for them to know that the idea of picking up another stranger, fucking them, and leaving without even knowing their name was less appealing than staying home and binge-watching Sugar Rush on Netflix, which was totally what I was going to do. Cap wouldn't believe me, and Ripley would start getting crazy ideas about me wanting to settle down, and the next thing I knew, they’d be trying to fix me. I didn't need to be fixed, I just needed…hell, I didn't know what I needed, but it wasn't that.
Baby Makes Three by RJ Scott & VL Locey
Chapter One
Jared
February
I hated waking up to a Ten-sized space in bed but in the last few weeks it had become the norm. Missing the early morning snuggling was one thing, but knowing that my normally unflappable husband woke every day with his thoughts in a twist was hurting my heart. As I tugged on sweats and a T-shirt and resolved to hunt him down, I didn’t know what I’d find.
Day one of waking at dawn I’d found him running hell for leather on our treadmill, day two it was weights, day three he was slamming pucks at the net in our large backyard, then day four we were back to running. It was twenty-one days since we’d gotten the letter from the Harrisburg Central Family Agency, and I had no idea what Ten could be doing today. Hockey players were a superstitious lot, but I was convinced this new daily ritual he’d formed was less about helping his game and more about escaping his worries.
I grabbed coffee and the specific protein shake Ten had on game days and went searching for him, finding him in the home gym. Only he wasn't running, or lifting weights; he was sitting on the treadmill, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He was a sight for sore eyes, his dark hair soft and messy around his face, his Railers T-shirt with his number was old and worn and hugged him like a second skin, and his shorts meant that I got a good peek at his long legs and spectacular hockey thighs. But it wasn't any of that that I focused on—it was the look of misery on his face.
The Railers were on top of the division by five points, he’d played with a fire that blew away the opposition, and the team was on a high. So I was sure it wasn't hockey that was playing with his mind. Also, he’d only just had another checkup so I hoped it wasn't his brain that was causing him issues. He had headaches sometimes, moments when words didn’t immediately come to him, but that was a small non-issue according to the specialist, just remnants of the trauma.
I was sure it was tomorrow that was messing with his head, but then it was a big day for us both. Stress and worry frustrated him, and that was why he’d reverted to routines.
“Babe?” I called from the door.
He glanced up at me. “Hey,” he murmured.
“You worried about Philly?” I knew he wasn’t, and also knew full well what his answer would be. At least it would raise a smile.
He huffed. “The day I worry about playing hockey is the day hell freezes over.”
“Good.” I deliberately didn't push him to tell what the actual reason was, always kept it to hockey, because one day he’d tell me the truth. I almost left him to his thoughts, but it appeared that today was the day he’d decided to share.
“Jared? It’s not hockey, it’s all these worries about what we’re doing.”
My stomach fell. “About trying for a baby?” We’d made the decision together, on Christmas Day, and had talked the issue to death until we were both completely sure we were on the same page. Ten wanted a family with me, I wanted a family with him, and at the end of it we’d hugged and agreed that the time was right.
“No, not that.”
“What about then? Do you want to talk?”
“You’re going to think I’m stupid,” he muttered and rubbed his eyes.
“Never.”
“Well, what if our surrogate hates us?” he blurted.
And there it was. Twenty-one days ago we’d had an email confirming a potential match from our choices, and twenty-one days ago Tennant Madsen-Rowe had begun to lose his shit. I instinctively knew that was the thing messing with his head, but it was up to him to process it all and let me in when he reached a point where he couldn’t keep it inside anymore.
I handed him the shake, and settled next to him on the treadmill, bumping elbows. “What is there to hate?”
“Where do I start?”
I winced at the resignation in his voice. As his coach I needed his head in the game today, but as his husband and lover I wanted to make everything right for him. “You know she picked us from the list, right?”
“Yeah, but—”
“No buts, babe. We ticked all the boxes, same-sex married couple, sportsmen, annual income, family history, your injury and recovery backed up by doctor letters, my divorce, Ryker, wills, trusts, suggestions for contacts, references, there was nothing we left off, so if she chose us then she made decisions based on facts.”
“She can still pull out of it all.”
I put an arm over his shoulders and tugged him close. “She could, and you know what? We’ll deal with that if it happens. Together.”
“What if we go all the way to the end and—?”
“Stop thinking ahead. Let’s take each day as it comes. Treat it like hockey and take each day on its merits, where each win and loss forms a tapestry of content to get us to the finals.”
He laughed, and I knew I’d broken the fears for the moment. “Dude, did you just use the word ‘tapestry’ in a sentence about hockey?”
“I have mad English skills,” I said with a smile and pressed a kiss to his stubbled cheek. He faced me and the kiss changed from a peck to a full blown hello and good morning.
Ten would be fine and we’d make it through the game, and then hell, we’d rock the meeting tomorrow with the potential surrogate.
Together.
Isobel Mackie was thirty-one, a beautician, married to Eddie, and with a twin brother, Adam, who was gay. Isobel had signed up with the agency when her brother had been going through the same process as us to become a dad with his husband. In a selfless exchange of love, she’d offered to become a surrogate because her brother was now the father of twin boys by using the same method. That was one of the things that had drawn her to us the most; that she knew what the process had been like for the brother she adored, and that her family supported her one hundred percent. In fact, her husband, Eddie, was with her today as her advocate, and there was so much love between them that it was like looking in a mirror at Ten and me. The four of us were ushered into a plush room to sit at a round table with the agency owners and a young woman called Michelle who was there to take notes.
We shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, all very formal when all I wanted to do was hug Isobel until she squeaked. Of course that would be after I explained to her that Ten was sure she was going to back out, and then begged her not to.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you in real life.” She smiled broadly.
“And you,” I said when Ten stayed quiet. I knocked my shoe against his, but he was focusing on the paperwork in front of us.
“Do you have any questions for me?” Isobel asked with an open smile, and I knew Ten had a thousand, but again, silence.
“This is the time to discuss the finer points,” Lloyd, the owner of the Harrisburg Central Family Agency encouraged, but Ten seemed tense.
“Ten?” I murmured, “You want me to—?”
“No, it’s okay,” he said, then lifted his chin. “I’d prefer this meeting to be just the four of us in here, with Michelle as our case manager,” Ten interrupted.
“For a high profile situation we usually oversee,” Lloyd said.
“Actually, we’d prefer it to be Michelle,” Isobel murmured.
Lloyd glanced at his wife, Jennifer, the other half of the ownership team, but Jennifer shrugged.
“Okay, if that’s the way it has to be, then Michelle has this,” she said, and pushed back her chair. “Michelle, make sure you detail everything.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Michelle murmured, and opened the pad in front of her, making a big deal of writing the date and time at the top of a fresh page.
We waited in silence until Jennifer and Lloyd had left, and as soon as the door closed behind them I could see the tension leave Ten in a rush.
“I hope that wasn’t rude. I wanted it to be us so we can get to know each other better,” Ten admitted.
Eddie nodded. “Totally understandable,” he said. “But, then I thought maybe they’re all sniffy because you’re high-profile clients.”
Ten dipped his head, he hated the celebrity part of what he did, and out in Harrisburg he was recognized more often than not. “I don’t want them staring at me as if I don’t deserve to be here, or that we won’t be the best parents.” He glanced at Michelle who was still in the start position waiting to write, but who returned Ten’s glance with a level stare.
“Believe me, I have noted, and fully understand your concerns,” Michelle said, and that was all we were getting. Only there was something in her expression that spoke of a deeper understanding of Ten’s worries.
We knew they were the best local agency, and from the first meeting the owners had made it clear that they supported our choices. But they’d also insisted we didn't publicly post about our progress or make what we were doing into a media circus. They called it reasonable discretion, but I felt as if they were implying we were going through this process to get an accessory to our lifestyle and not because we wanted a family. I was probably wrong to even think that, but still, the concern had been there on my list of pros and cons.
I liked Michelle though, a quiet woman who appeared to respect what we were doing.
“Actually, can Jared and I have you as our specific case officer and put it in writing?” Ten asked Michelle.
Michelle appeared startled, but then stared down at the notebook. “You can request whomever you want,” she admitted after a short pause.
“We request you as well,” Isobel said, and Eddie added his agreement.
“Okay then,” Ten said with enthusiasm, “can you write that down. Number one, Mr. and Mr. Madsen-Rowe request Michelle as the official case manager.”
“And Mr. and Mrs. Mackie,” Isobel added.
Michelle was flustered at first, and then she pulled on her game face and sat back in the chair a little more relaxed.
“Let’s get down to business then.”
The next few hours were spent working through the surrogacy structure, the financial and emotional investment from both sides. We spoke at length about why Isobel was ready to do this, and she spoke so eloquently about her twin. Some of it was technical and dry, the fact that we would have an anonymous egg, with Ten’s sperm, and that Isobel was our gestational surrogate. The rest? That was laughter, and getting to know each other, and finally ending up leaving the agency with the four of us going for lunch. We’d signed reams of paperwork and Michelle was collating and copying and sending our contracts.
Everything in writing even this early before conception was an issue. We’d already had a home assessment, criminal and records checks, and Isobel had been screened alongside us. There were extra NDA pages to sign so that Isobel didn't go out and sell our story to the media, and even though I wanted to say blindly we trusted her, we had to have that level of protection.
I had to keep my family safe.
Isobel had us sign anonymity forms, and our own type of NDA that we wouldn't out her as our surrogate unless she chose to reveal it. Michelle appeared to have every eventuality listed, and lawyers had prepared everything. It was reassuring, and overwhelming all at the same time.
We had an egg donor chosen, no name or identification, but we had enough information and we’d asked for very little in the way of qualifying data. We didn't care about some of the more specific stuff like hair color and eyes, because who knew what genetics would play a part in the baby we would end up loving? Yes, we crossed all the Ts and dotted all the Is but now we wanted to know Isobel, the person.
She was lovely, there was no other word for it, and even though we knew the dry details, I wanted to know more about her, but she beat me to it.
“At sixteen we fell pregnant,” she blurted out, and Eddie squeezed her hand. “We’d been dating since eighth grade, and I knew I’d be with him forever. But me getting pregnant was the final straw for my parents. They not only had a gay son in my twin brother, but they had a daughter who was expecting a baby outside of marriage. Let’s just say both myself and my brother were encouraged to leave home.”
Of course we’d read all of this in her profile, but to hear her say the words and know that her parents had rid themselves of two children at the same time, was heartbreaking.
“She didn't need them,” Eddie said, “both Isobel and Adam moved in with my mom and we did okay.”
“We got married, and our first son, Dale, was born just after my seventeenth birthday, and our second, Austin, when I was nineteen. We worked for Eddie’s mom in a salon in town and we were a family. When my twin, Adam, met his husband and wanted a baby, I offered to carry a baby for them.” She glanced at her husband. “We offered. But it worked out better for all of us to have anonymity, and I promised myself that we would help another couple who couldn’t have children. When we read your profile, we knew it had to be you.”
“Thank you.” Ten was choked.
“Of course, when we matched and they revealed who you were we nearly rethought it,” Eddie said, and my chest tightened. “Only because I’m a New York fan.”
“Someone has to be,” Tennant deadpanned, and like that, the ice was broken.
I knew we were in good hands. She was very open about why she was willing to carry our baby, using the money to fund her education and to give her kids a good start in life, and I wanted to hand everything over to her there and then. Ten relaxed as lunch continued, and we were done. We hugged her goodbye, thanking her so much she was scarlet with pleasure. We headed back to the parking garage, and Ten tugged me into a dark corner, and held me as if he’d never let me go.
“We’re doing this,” he whispered in my ear.
I grinned and held onto him. “We’re so doing this.”
The disappointment was real when the first cycle didn't work. February was a hard month mentally and physically for us both. The Railers were fighting tooth and nail in a close division, tensions were high on ice, and the call from Michelle to explain there would need to be a second try rocked our safe little world.
“We get everything so easy.” Ten grasped my hand hard after the call ended, “I just expected this to be easy as well.”
“We don’t get everything easy,” I said, and tugged him to sit next to me on the couch. “We work hard at everything, and this is no different.”
We entered the second month with renewed hope, and the day we would find out if everything had worked was the day after a brutal game against Brady’s Boston Rebels. Ten had been slammed into the boards in so many different ways that he was a mess of bruises, and he was exhausted. We’d slept late, but at least when I was woken by my cell phone dancing on the bedside table, he was curled up next to me.
I reached for the phone, connected the call as soon as I saw it was Michelle.
“It’s good news. Isobel is pregnant.”
And in that single instant as Ten and I hugged each other, we knew our lives were about to change in the most dramatic way.
Bring it on.
A Season of Giving by Daniel Elijah Sanderfer
Levi and Travis were snuggled up tightly together in bed. It was just past midnight, and the mid-autumn weather had turned chilly. The brisk wind was ripping across the ridge like a hurricane. The sound of metal roofs rattled and banged throughout the trailer park. They were awakened by the sound of banging on the front door and a voice shouting for help. Travis jumped up from the bed defensively; he pointed at Levi, “Stay right there kiddo.”
Levi whined, “Be careful Trav!”
Travis grabbed a baseball bat he kept by the nightstand as he crept his way to the front door; the bat poised to strike in the event someone tried to force their way inside. He cleared his throat and shouted, “Who is it?”
A frail voice came from outside, “Travis, Levi, it’s Becky please help me.” Travis tossed the bat onto the sofa and scrambled to unlock the door. Levi emerged from the bedroom scrambling to get dressed: He shouted, “Trav who is it?”
Travis yelled at him like an angry bear, “Levi, I told you to stay in the bedroom.”
Travis flung open the door to see Becky, Levi’s mother standing there with blood dripping down her face, and covered in bruises. Travis shouted, “Mother of God!”
Becky was still shaking as she slid down the doorway onto the porch below. Levi bolted from the bedroom screaming, “Mama, MAMA!”
Travis opened the door and picked her up off the porch. He was panting as he rushed to bring her inside. Levi held the door open with tears streaming down his face. Travis laid her down on the sofa and Levi fell to his knees beside of her. “Mommy who did this to you?”
Becky erupted in tears and turned her head away from them. Travis had gone to get a washcloth from the bathroom, and placed it on her forehead. Travis quipped, “Becky we need to call the police, now tell us who it was.”
She shook her head no, and Levi pleaded, “Please Mama.”
Becky coughed and tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse and weak. She finally managed to whisper, “Your father.”
Travis’ face washed with anger; he yelled, “What?”
Levi was sitting on the floor with his mouth open from shock. Becky coughed again, “I was with your father, and he got drunk and beat me when I tried to stop him.”
Travis could tell Levi had completely shut down emotionally. He stooped down in front of Levi and lightly slapped his face, “Levi, come on baby, I need your help. You can’t fall to pieces right now.”
Becky raised up a little and patted her bruises with the cool cloth. Levi blinked a few times and turned his attention to his mother. He cried out, “Why Mama, Why? I thought he was out of our lives forever.”
Becky spoke softly, “I thought he had changed. I ran into him at the store one day after the wedding, and we started talking.” She started to cry again, “I thought he had changed.”
Levi stood and began shouting, “Didn’t you have enough the last time when he almost killed us!”
Travis raised his hand, “What do you mean almost killed you.”
Levi expression washed with anxiety; he glanced at Becky and then at Travis not sure whether to say anything else.
Travis had his fist balled up to his side, “You never told me he tried to kill you.”
Levi moaned, “It was a long time ago Travis, Please calm down.”
Travis growled, “You let that motherfucker show up on my property, and I’ll kill him.”
Becky shrieked, “No, please.”
Levi turned to Travis, “Please calm down Trav.”
Travis tried to hold back the tears as he spoke, “If that man ever lays a hand on you: I will bury the motherfucker.”
Travis stormed away to the kitchen and scrambled through the cabinet to find something hard to drink. Levi offered Becky his hands to help her sit up on the sofa. She sighed, “I’m so sorry for all of this.”
Levi took a seat beside her and spoke calmly, “Mom why would you ever think he had changed; he’s always done this. He puts on the moves and convinces you he’s changed. Then when he gets you to his house; he holds you prisoner with threats of violence if you leave him.”
Becky closed her eyes, “Son, he is your father, and I will always love him.”
Levi rolled his eyes, “Love is a two-way street mama; if he loved you he wouldn't hurt you like this.”
Becky nodded, “I know.”
Travis emerged from the kitchen still fuming with anger. He took a seat across from them like a father getting ready to lecture his children. He spoke to Becky first, “Go to the bathroom upstairs and get cleaned up Ma: I need to speak to Levi for a moment.”
Becky stood up and made her way slowly up the stairs. Travis stared at Levi with rage in his eyes. Levi whined, “Why are you looking at me like that Trav; you're scaring me.”
Travis leaned in and Levi sunk down in the sofa his eyes dancing across the room trying to avoid contact with his. Travis spoke with an authoritative tone, “Levi!”
Levi closed his eyes and flinched; he licked his lips. He had never gone into detail about the night his father had tried to kill him and his mother. Travis yelled again, “Levi, look at me!”
Levi was shaking as he slowly opened his eyes; it was breaking Travis’ heart to see the boy so timid and scared. Levi whined, “Please don’t yell at me Trav.”
Travis stood up and walked slowly over to the sofa, taking the seat next to Levi. He lowered his voice, “Levi, baby I need you to tell me what happened the night your father beat you and Becky up.”
Levi started to cry, “I don’t know if I remember.”
Travis yelled, “Bullshit, anyone can remember the night they were almost killed.”
Levi flinched at his abrupt tone, “ It was a few months before we met. Mama had just got off for the weekend, and Dad wasn’t working. I had been gone all day cleaning a trailer for Jeannie. Well, while I was gone a boy that used to live in the park, came looking for me. He was gay, and my Dad thought he was my boyfriend.”
Travis quipped, “Was he your boyfriend?”
Levi shouted, “No he was just a friend. We used to go fishing and stuff together.”
Travis nodded, “Go on.”
Levi cleared his throat, “Well Dad hates gays, and black people, and Mexicans. So when Mom got home, he confronted her and told her, Did she know their son was a faggot?”
The word seared in Travis ears like water sizzling on a fire. He detested that word. Travis roared, “Don’t fucking use that word in my house.”
Levi flinched again, “Okay!”
Travis realized he was acting no better than Levi’s father. Levi was only just trying to tell him what happened. Travis took Levi’s hand, “Come here, kid.”
Levi hesitantly leaned into Travis’ chest, and Travis whispered, “You’re breaking my heart kiddo, it’s just me your Trav. I just want to know what happened.”
Levi nuzzled his nose into Trav’s chest, and Travis whispered, “It’s okay kiddo, I just love you so damn much and can’t bear the thought of you in pain.”
Levi continued, “Well the fight had just started turning violent when I got home. He had mom lifted off the floor; his hands wrapped around her throat. He was screaming I’m going to fucking kill you for making our son gay.”
Travis was gritting his teeth trying to control his anger. Levi could feel the muscles in his body tensing. He rushed to finish the story, “I grabbed an iron skillet off the stove and hit him in the head with it, but he got up and came towards me. He picked me up by my neck and body slammed me through the glass coffee table.”
Travis closed his eyes and started to weep. He tightened his grip on Levi’s body. He moaned through his tears, “My God my poor little boy.”
Levi hugged him tightly, “I’m alive Trav, I’m right here please don’t cry.”
Travis heaved, “I can’t believe your life, I wished I could have known you then.”
Levi smiled, “I did kick him in the nuts as I was going down.”
Travis laughed, “That’s my little punk.”
Becky came back down the stairs, “I need to get some clothes from the trailer, but I’m afraid to go alone.”
Travis lifted Levi from him, “We will both go. I can’t leave him here alone in case that maniac comes looking for you.”
Travis panicked as he turned to Levi, “Does he know where you live?”
Becky turned away, and Travis approached her shouting, “Becky does he know where you live?”
She shouted, “Yes Trav!”
Travis shouted, “Fuck! Now that bastard can find both of you.”
Becky cried, “What was I supposed to do. I thought we had worked everything out.”
Travis sighed, “I understand, I know it’s not your fault.”
He turned to Levi, “Come on kiddo; you can’t stay here by yourself.”
Levi stood and made his way to them as Travis addressed Becky again, “You cannot stay in the trailer as long as he is running free. You need to stay upstairs in one of the guest rooms.”
Levi added, “Yeah mom it will be safer to stay here with us.”
Travis sighed, “Okay everyone is staying here. Cousin Skyler and Dustin will be here tomorrow so we will have more help if that bastard shows up.”
Levi asked, “When are Jake and Shane coming with Austin?”
Travis groaned, “Nice Levi, just what we need a child here with all of this drama going on.”
Levi held his hand out to Travis, “Please don’t worry Trav everything is going to be okay.”
He tousled Levi’s hair as he grabbed his coat from the rack by the door, and one Jeannie had left for Becky, “Get your sweater kiddo; we can’t worry about all of this tonight.”
Too Thankful for You by AG Meiers
I knew this day would come, but secretly I’d hoped I’d never see Edward Richards III again. Now here he is, standing on my front porch with his hundred-dollar haircut, designer suit, and a brilliant smile. It’s been four years since Harvard, but Ted the Great still looks as if he just stepped out of the pages of GQ, with stunning blue eyes, a chiseled jaw, and a perfect tan.
My boyfriend’s ex on my door step. Well, fuck…
“Oh, hey, Xander,” Ted says with a broad smile. Back in the days he was legend. Captain of the rowing team. Honor Roll student. The list of Ted’s accomplishments in the classroom was only surpassed by the rumors about his elaborate fraternity parties and his sexual exploits. He’d been an equal opportunity player, so male and female devotees swooned regularly in his path.
I stare at him, desperately trying to get my jaw back under control, but my first attempt at speech comes out as a gabbled croak. Ted just pulls me into a bear hug, slapping his right hand hard on my back. My shocked silence doesn’t bother him. The Great is used to people losing the ability for basic human interactions around him. My stomach twists, and not in a good way.
“Xander, you look fantastic. You haven’t changed one bit since I last saw you.” Another bone-rattling backslap. “Is Greyson around? I’m sure he told you that we met at a conference in New York last month and he invited me up here for a visit. I was in Boston for the week and I thought I’d drop by. I know it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, but I hope you don’t mind.”
What? New York? Invitation? Greyson hadn’t said anything to me. Not a word. The twist in my stomach turns into nausea. Ted and Greyson were together for three years at Harvard. When they broke up in their last year, I got Greyson on the rebound and by some miracle I managed to hold onto him. Ted has almost as much history with my boyfriend as I do, and now, it looks like their glory days are back to haunt me.
Ted pulls me along in his wake as we enter the house. I can smell his expensive cologne and a hint of alcohol. I know he can sense my slight hesitation. I bet Ted is excellent in the courtroom. He could always read his opponents like an open book and rarely missed a weakness, no matter how subtle.
“Beautiful house you guys have. Bit tucked away. I almost missed your driveway from the main road. But it’s really nice once you get here. I’m sure all this peace and quiet”—he points at our tree-lined driveway to illustrate his point—“is good for you.”
Bang. Two minutes, just two minutes and he’s already delivered the first jab. I straighten and feel old anger pump through my veins. I know I’m at a disadvantage. I always have been. Ted towers over me by almost eight inches. No designer suits for me; I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. Right now, I’m wearing my favorite faded pair and an old AC/DC shirt splattered with paint. I worked all afternoon, and all the colors of the rainbow are sticking to me. I have some boy-next-door charm, but no way can I ever compete with Ted’s catwalk charisma.
“Wow, Ted. It’s been ages.” I finally find my voice…kinda. “Ehm…Greyson isn’t here. He had to go to Waltham for a meeting with a new client.” I let my sentence hang in the air and wait a few seconds, hoping that Ted might decide to leave if Greyson isn’t around. No such luck.
“He told me his firm is very busy and he works most weekends. I can relate. No worries. Do you know when he’s expected back?”
“Soon. He should be on his way home,” I admit, defeated yet again.
The short hallway from the entrance leads straight into our almost-open concept kitchen and living room. As soon as we walk through the main door, I see Ted’s eyes darting around—taking inventory of the old farmhouse Greyson and I have turned into our home. The building itself is over a hundred years old, but somehow the contractor managed to tear down some walls all around the house. The remodeling left a few awkwardly placed posts scattered around to hold up the second floor, but still created a lot of open space. Our living room is dominated by an old wood-burning fireplace and Greyson’s baby grand.
Ted stops his walkthrough at the double French doors leading to a patio in the backyard. “Nice. Fall in New England.” He chuckles. “Leaves everywhere.”
“Yeah, we haven’t quite gotten around to cleaning up the back.” I reply defensively. Ted doesn’t comment, but continues his self-guided tour of my house. We have a brand new kitchen, but when we first moved in, Greyson and I spent a lot of weekends touring antique shops and flea markets on the Cape to find some original New England farmhouse pieces. Old is now mixed in with comfortable new furniture. Besides my studio, the living room is my favorite room in the house. Warm, spacious, and with a lot of natural light.
But now, I’m seeing it through Ted’s Manhattan penthouse eyes. The well lived-in space that I love so much probably looks small, outdated, and shabby to him.
I walk over to the kitchen and quickly hide my coffee cup in the sink, while Ted looks at family pictures on a small side table next to the window. “Shit, Grey hasn’t changed a bit.” He picks up a candid of Greyson in board shorts on his father’s boat. Drops of water clinging to his dark skin. One of my favorite pictures of the lot, ’cause my boyfriend is so damn sexy. Ted smiles and strokes a finger across the glass.
What the fuck? Cold panic slowly unfurls in my stomach. Just a hint, but enough to unsettle me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had this feeling. Gripping the smooth stone of the kitchen island behind me, I take a deep breath. “I can’t believe you’re here. We usually only read about you in the paper. How’s married life treating you?”
Ted put the picture down and turns back to the window. About a year ago, he got married to Amy Kennedy, a New York celebrity whose father owns a US-wide media network. For a while, the local society pages buzzed about the dream destination wedding and suspicions about Ted’s political ambitions. Greyson was not invited to the wedding. Thank God! Nevertheless, I watched him like a hawk when the news first broke. He only mumbled something that sounded like “poor girl” and “idiot” and moved on to the business section of the New York Sunday Times.
“Ah, it’s great, really great,” Ted says with little to no enthusiasm. Small talk is not my thing. And I’m so lost in my own thoughts it takes me a few seconds to remember my question. When I do remember, Ted’s vague answer surprises me, but his face is unreadable and he doesn’t offer any more, so I let the topic go.
Before the awkward silence settles again, I ask, “Can I offer you anything to drink? We have water…” Ted raises an eyebrow and I stumble slightly, but decide to plow forward. “Diet coke or iced tea.” Greyson’s upper-middle class upbringing must be rubbing off on me. Here I am making polite conversation and offering refreshments to a man I just want to kick out of my house. I barely suppress a frustrated growl and try again. “How about some cranberry juice?”
Ted chuckles. “No, not really. Do you have some ice? I brought something to celebrate the good old days.”
It’s only now that I notice the sleek leather computer bag Ted brought inside with him and dropped onto the couch. He pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels. “I don’t really drink this stuff anymore, but it made sense for today, don’t you agree? So many great memories.”
My mind screams. Memories. No shit. But none of them good. Fuck. Fuck.
I have a polite refusal ready just in case Ted asks me to join him for a glass, but he doesn’t. He just takes the glass I hand over and pours himself a generous drink. I stay in the kitchen behind the counter while he takes a seat on the sofa.
“So, do you guys have any plans for Thanksgiving?” Ted asks.
None of your fucking business. Instead I say politely, “We always spend Thursday with Greyson’s parents, but nothing planned for the rest of the weekend.”
Ted’s ever-present smile has teeth now. “I’m surprised Greyson is so close to his family. He was at odds with his father when we were at Harvard together.”
“Greyson is a junior partner in his father’s firm. They deal mostly with commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy. It’s a small firm, but they have a stellar reputation, so they’ve got more work than they can handle.”
“M and A, poor sod. God, yeah, he’s got to be bored out of his mind.” Ted shakes his head. “I guess that’s how it is. In college you have all these highflying dreams and then life happens. Just never thought Greyson would be one to settle…” His sentence trails off.
I suppress an angry reply, because there’s some truth to it. Just like our home, Greyson’s lifestyle doesn’t compare to Ted’s. When I first met both of them at a gay bar in Cambridge, they’d been unabashedly ambitious. They wanted to make it big. Besides booze, sex, and partying, that’s all they talked about, and it kept them motivated through long nights of studying together. Now, four years later, Ted is well on his way. He’s working for a large firm in New York with a well-connected trophy wife on his arm. And Greyson…well, he’s got me.
Another nice long swallow of whiskey seems to relax Ted and, suddenly, he starts talking again. And for the first time since he walked in, I’m dying for a return to uncomfortable silence. “You know, Xander, I didn’t realize how much I missed Grey until I saw him again in Manhattan. We always had a lot in common. We still do. I realized that after we spent the night together.”
I nearly drop the glass of water I just poured for myself. Spent the night together?
“We really reconnected,” Ted continues with his low, melodic voice. I quickly put the glass down, because my hands start to shake. I feel lightheaded and my knees give in. I stumble to the bar stool next to the island. I look up to see if Ted realizes the impact his words have on me, but he doesn’t even look at me. He’s lost to the pictures of Greyson on the table while he downs his whiskey. Knowing it’s a mistake, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“Well, we spent the night talking.” His words should relieve me, but before I can gather myself, he takes another long swallow, and he keeps the blows coming. “We talked about how stuck we are in our lives. There’re people who don’t understand, but Greyson does. He gets it, because he’s in the same position.” He throws a quick glance my way. “You probably can’t relate to this at all, but life gets complicated if you try to live up to high expectation. Giving your best all the time and getting little in return.” I don’t look, but I hear the bottle clinking against the glass. God, I badly want a drink now. Ted says again with a little more emphasis, “I really miss him. That’s why I’m here. He always was one of the few people who got me.”
And just like that, the cold panic in my stomach has turned into a full-blown blizzard. Before Ted can say anything else, the front door opens with a soft creak, and then settles back into the frame with a thud. Greyson’s keys scrape against glass as he throws them into the small bowl on the side table and then his steps start walking down the hallway. He sees me first when he walks in and gives me a tired smile. “Hey, babe.”
Our eyes connect. I can see his smile immediately change to concern and he stretches his hand out to me. I probably look like the underdog in the third round of a prize boxing match after catching a few hits to the chin. Dazed, shaken and scared. Before either of us can say anything else, Ted scrambles to his feet.
Greyson’s eyes widen in surprise. Something else flickers across his face, but it’s gone almost too fast for me to catch. Annoyance, maybe. I fucking hope so. I can see Greyson sliding into lawyer mode—guarded, unreadable, but always oh-so-fucking pleasant. He looks like his stick-in-the-ass father when he does that, and it always frustrates the hell out of me. Usually, I fuck it right out of him, but sadly that isn’t an option tonight.
“Ted, what a surprise.” Greyson’s voice is deep and gravelly. Ted gives him a huge smile. Then he actually sways a little as he walks through the room to pull Greyson into a hug. My eyes fly to the bottle on the table. Wow. It wasn’t quite full when Ted walked in, but it looks half-empty now.
“I was in the area. It was great seeing you at the conference, so I thought I’d take you up on your invitation and add a day to my trip. I hope that’s okay. Xander, here, was fine with it.”
I was?
“Sure. You’re always welcome. I remember you actually mentioned your trip to Boston. I’m glad you could make it.” Greyson’s reply takes away my opportunity to protest.
I stand abruptly. “I have a few things I need to finish in the studio. Why don’t I give you guys some time to catch up?” Somehow, I manage to keep my voice steady. I start to walk through the door on the other side that lets out into the yard and my studio.
“Ahh, Ted, take a seat. I need to talk to Xander about dinner. Be right back.” Greyson follows my outside and catches my arm when he realizes I have no intention of stopping. “Sascha, are you okay?”
I turn around and pull my arm out of his loose grip. In Russia, Sascha is used as a pet name for Alexander. Greyson using it right now pisses me off even more. “I’m fucking great. I just wish you’d told me that you invited your ex into our home with a bottle of Jack.”
Lawyer mode slips for a split second and I see Greyson behind his mask. Guilt shows in his eyes and I feel the ground beneath me shaking.
“Hey, I’m sorry, okay? I met him at that conference in Manhattan. We had a few drinks. I may have thrown out an invitation, but I never expected him to actually show up. I haven’t seen the guy for years.”
“I guess he remembers your night together a little differently,” I say angrily. The fact that Greyson kept all this from me fucking hurts.
“What? Our night together? What the hell, Xander? You know that’s bullshit.” He looks frustrated now. I cross my arms over my chest and stay silent. After a moment, Greyson continues in a low voice. “Listen, we can’t discuss this now. Let me go back inside and find out what’s going on. I’ll order food for us and maybe after dinner we can send Ted on his way and talk this through, okay?”
I give him my best fake smile and answer, “Yes, great idea. You go back and try to figure out what’s going on. To give you a jump start, let me quickly relay what I just heard from a well-informed source. Ted is here because after the one night with you in New York he realized that you’re the only person who really gets him.” My voice drips with sarcasm. “And that’s because you two have got a whole lot in common. You both feel stuck in your life. Giving your best, but getting little in return. He told me you guys really reconnected.” With that I turn around and walk away. I hear Greyson call my name, but I just keep walking.
My art studio is just steps away from the main house. Greyson built it for me with the first big money he made from a major settlement between two Pharma companies. It’s small, only one room, but the lighting is perfect for painting. Our dog, Sally, welcomes me when I walk in. She gets up from her favorite spot on the floor where she’s been sleeping in the late afternoon sun. My dog doesn’t like strangers, so I’m not surprised that she’s hiding out of sight. She comes over and pushes her snout into my crotch, nudging my balls. I’m the only person she ever does that with and it’s a never-ending source for lewd jokes from Greyson. I keep telling him that my junk just smells better than anybody else’s, but he insists that it’s because I’m short. Perfect height for her. I bend down to scratch her head and back.
We got Sally from a shelter as a guard dog for me. When I was fourteen, my parents were killed in a home invasion. Even though I’d been at boarding school and never set foot in my childhood home again, my sense of security had been shattered.
My mother’s brother was the first at the house after it happened. John has never given me any details of what he walked into that morning, but the violent loss wrecked both of us. John became my only ally in the months and years that followed. He fought for sole custody and secured my inheritance in a major battle against my father’s family. The fact that he’s a lawyer, just like my parents, helped a lot.
After high school, I drifted for a few years focusing on my art, but it never amounted to much. Taking classes for Early Childhood Education at Harvard had been my attempt to turn my only talent into a proper job, but I just didn’t do well with the overly structured routine and the pressure of exams. My repeated failures led to a major breakdown. John was there when I woke up in the hospital after almost killing myself with alcohol. I knew John would be by my side when I needed him. To my complete surprise, Greyson was curled up next to me in my hospital bed as well. Since that day, Greyson has completely ignored all my attempts to push him out of my life…not that I’ve ever tried very hard.
Sally plops herself back on the floor and lets out a deep sigh. I can’t help but grin at her. “Guard dog, my ass. Can you go out there and chase the fucker out of my house? You’ve got my permission to go straight for his jugular.”
Sally looks at me with big eyes and then rolls over to go back to sleep. She is mostly German shepherd, but some other breed is mixed in, making her fur fluffy and soft. She looks like an overgrown puppy. Greyson’s father laughed his head off when we brought her home. A rare occasion. Mr. Greyson Kelleher Senior is not prone to outbursts of loud laughter. After wiping the tears off his face, he commented that only two gay guys would bring a dog as cute and shy as Sally back home as a guard dog. It was a short moment of begrudging acceptance of his otherwise perfect son’s wrong sexual orientation. Greyson soaked up every second of it.
Sally’s loud snores and the familiar comfort of my studio settle me down again. I spend an hour cleaning up and sorting through paints and brushes before Greyson calls me over for food.
Brigham Vaughn
Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.Her books range from short stories to novellas. They explore gay, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.
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Jacki James has been saying she was going to write a book since she was sixteen and wrote fanfiction (before fanfiction had a name) about her favorite Rockstar. She is a believer in love of all kinds but MM romance is her favorite by far. She has a romantic heart and a dirty mind and likes to write stories that let both shine.
Writing love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards
USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.
She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee.
(Not necessarily in that order.)
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.
Daniel Elijah Sanderfer is a retired Hospitality Manager who currently resides in Southern Indiana with his husband William. Originally from the Blue Ridge Mountain region of Virginia, he moved to Indiana to be closer to his then-fiance. They have been married for three years and together for sixteen total years. He was always interested in writing even from a young age and was featured in a few poetry collections as a teen. Now he has over thirty published works available on Amazon.
When he is not writing he is a care taker, as his husband is disabled and requires full-time care. He also enjoys going to antique stores, and in the summer he enjoys going to yard sales and being outdoors in his garden. He currently writes LGBT fiction that covers many different tropes and genres. The best place to keep up with Daniel is on social media, specifically in his Facebook group Sanderfer's Socialites.
Eighteen years ago, AG Meiers came to the US for adventure and stayed for love. Currently, she lives in New England with her husband and two awesome kids—balancing work, friends and family, and writing.
When she has some free time, her favorite thing to do is travel and visit new places. Her past trips have already brought her to a variety of countries on four continents. She never passes up an opportunity to experience different cultures, diverse people and amazing locations.
Even though she has been dreaming up stories all her life, she has only recently started to write them down and share them with the world. As a writer she loves to put her characters through a lot of challenges, conflict and heartbreak, before she allows them to find their happy-ever-after.
Brigham Vaughn
SMASHWORDS / PINTEREST / SCRIBd / B&N
EMAIL: brighamvaughn@gmail.com
Jacki James
EMAIL: jackijames@jackijames.com
Cabin Fever by Brigham Vaughn
Reining in the Bad Boy by Jacki James
A Season of Giving by Daniel Elijah Sanderfer
Too Thankful for You by AG Meiers
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