David Miles and Richter Layover are young lovers from West Hollywood who move to Snowden to open a liberal and fun bakery called Cupcakes. What follows is a string of extraordinary men who enter their lives and change their matrimony and the bakery forever. Realtor Anthony Jarr, handsome and alluring, who lives above Cupcakes and considers himself an exceptional lover. When he meets Ryan Glayson, a professional cellist with a relentless urge for sweets, Jarr falls in love for the first time, turning his life into a topsy-turvy spin of surprising romance and selflessness. The magnetic and strange Stefan Pavlov is one of Cupcakes' regulars. Although he comes across as being sweet and charming, he has secrets that are quite damaging, which are exposed during a heated summer along the lake. Erich Misslow, a part-time employee at Cupcakes, becomes enamored with Pavlov, who is almost three times his age. Erich has always enjoyed the company of older men, but does Pavlov have too much peculiar baggage to share? Cupcakes also draws in Ken Eclipse, a charming underwear model with a taste for sweet men and sultry sex. Eclipse searches for Mr. Right like a slice of cinnamon cake for his appetite and personal needs. Can he find the man of his dreams at Cupcakes, or will he forever be single, enjoying the bakery's treats alone? These employees, friends, and lovers combine together with their individual recipes of bliss and loss, and the little bakery called Cupcakes comes to life as the sugary flavor of a gay neighborhood along the lake bursts into life.

Cupcakes

“Is it true?” he asked between sips of his strong coffee, which he had surely made at Cupcakes and brought along on this journey.


“Is what true?” We were walking toward Presque Lighthouse, a massive structure constructed of bricks and oak boards. At the top of the lighthouse was a narrow railing, light station, and lamp, which filled the night with a beam of golden-white light after dark, when in operation. The 1822 building was painted a bright white with black-and-white trim. At least once a month it would be activated by the Presque family, who had owned the lighthouse since 1842.


“That Richter isn’t having an affair on you?”


He laughed, toasted me with his hot coffee, and said, “The walls are thin in our building, friend. I’m sorry, but Ryan and I could hear your entire conversation with Richter. Shame on us, I know, but we really couldn’t help it.”


Chapter 43