What should a straight high school junior do when he learns a gay guy in his grade has a crush on him? When JJ Brockwell stops a group of jocks from bullying comic book nerd Milton Katz, he finds himself the object of Milton’s misplaced affection. JJ wants to be his friend, but Milton wants more. JJ has a girlfriend named Maggie, who wants to wait before having sex. JJ respects this, but he’s 16 and cold showers only go so far. Maggie thinks Milton’s crush on her boyfriend is cute, but that doesn’t help with JJ’s problem. All Milton wants is JJ, and all JJ wants is Maggie. How can they find a solution to this impossible triangle?

Milton's Hero

“It’s okay, your secret’s safe with us,” JJ said, sneaking up behind Steve and plucking the Batman comic out of his hand. 


Steve jumped and turned around. “I, uh…what are you two doing here?”


“We were just passing.” JJ smirked.


It was true; the comic shop was next to his local subway station. 


“Never saw you read a comic before.” Steve shook his head.


“Could say the same about you,” JJ said. “How long have me and you been buds?” 


“Since freshmen year when you moved to New York.”


He and Steve had connected almost instantly. Steve was the catcher on the baseball team and JJ was one of the pitchers.


“And like I said.”—JJ stared at the comic—“I never knew you were into Batman.”


“I prefer Superman.” Steve took the comic from JJ, put it back on the rack, and picked up one with Superman on the cover. “And what about you? X-Men?”


“It’s a birthday present. For Milton.”


Chapter 5