Scene designer Charlie Cox is in a clandestine relationship with the theater's lead actor, Ricky Moore. Charlie knows it will never be more than that because Ricky is too egotistical to want to be seen in public with a man who has deep burn scars on one arm. Not that Charlie blames him, since he's certain he’s a freak in almost everyone's eyes. Jace Parish, the scene shop boss, is in love with Charlie but will never let him know. Jace thinks he’s uninteresting because he’s thirty and starting to bald, which makes him look middle-aged. He also has never admitted to anyone he works with that he’s gay. Liam Dolan owns the gym where Jace comes to work out his anger and frustration. Liam has been drawn to Jace from the beginning but believes Jace is straight, so has never revealed his feelings to Jace. Ricky Moore knows he is using Charlie for his own selfish ends. What Ricky can't figure out is why, when he can and does have anyone he wants in his bed, he keeps coming back to Charlie. These four men have preconceived ideas about themselves and each other. What will it take for them to realize love is possible, if they will only give it a chance?

Hell, Look at Me

Admittedly he’d been very surprised to find out Jace was gay. He was also somewhat dismayed to realize he found Jace…interesting? Sort of. Enough that I want to get to know him better? Maybe. Not that he’d let that happen.


He smiled, leaning back in the chair in his dressing room. The cast was on break from rehearsals for the moment and he hadn’t been in the mood to go grab lunch with any of them. So here he sat, contemplating the older man. And he is older. Maybe thirty or a bit more I think someone said. He doesn’t look it, except that he’s starting to go bald. He does act it though, coming across sort of fatherly. I bet he doesn’t know he’s doing that. He’s sort of like a banty rooster defending his flock, both in how he acts and how he’s built. And one of his flock is Charlie.


Chapter 14