What do you do when your boyfriend begins acting strangely, and at the same time, you meet someone his total opposite? Do you start having second thoughts? Jesse Jamison must confront those very questions. After two years of living with his lover Dennis "Denny" Christopoulos, a charming flight attendant, the man starts taking on extra flights, making excuses for not coming home, and receiving private phone calls. During this time, Jesse also meets Nick Warden, a new neighbor. He immediately sees the contrasts between the two men and finds Nick attractive on so many levels. Meanwhile, Denny has growing reservations about his relationship with Jesse, especially once a new man comes into his own life. Yet Denny isn't ready to give up the good thing he has going with Jesse since he isn't sure about the new man's intentions, or his own feelings. Nick also struggles with his growing love for Jesse. While he would like nothing more than to claim Jesse for himself, his integrity prevents him from playing the home-wrecker. His hesitation to step in, however, nearly causes his undoing and a missed opportunity at love. Each man has his own second thoughts. But who will act on them, and what will be the consequences?

Second Thoughts

Fall in Ann Arbor. Nick had almost forgotten how much he loved it. Now he was here, the memories of those years at the U came back to him. But tonight it was even sweeter. Tonight he was here with Jesse.


The two men walked along the quiet residential street. The air was crisp and cool. The stars twinkled in the clear October sky. The dry leaves crunched under their feet as they walked. Clyde and Shelby shuffled and snuffled through them as the two canines scooted back and forth across the sidewalk, taking in all the excitement of the smells in this new environment.


Nick was tempted to take Jesse’s hand. It all seemed so natural to be here with him, so perfect. He almost could forget there was a guy named Denny to contend with somewhere out there, but in the end, he didn’t. He contented himself to walk by the side of the man he hoped to claim for his own at some point.


Chapter 40