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

After Steve had left, Brock confessed he’d been surprised at Steve’s news. Calvin had smiled and said he’d suspected all along that Steve was “family.” 


JJ had marveled that someone else had picked up on Steve’s gayness, whereas he, Steve’s best friend, was clueless.


“That’s because you’re straight,” had been Calvin’s immediate reply.


“Here’s Milton,” Maggie said, snapping JJ back to the present. She stood and began to wave. “Over here.”


Milton approached their booth. “Hi. Sorry if I’m late.”


“You’re not late.” Maggie smiled and gestured to the bench opposite. “And Steve isn’t here yet anyway.” 


She smiled again at Milton, took a drink from her water glass, and then picked up her menu and began to scan its contents. JJ didn’t know why she was bothering because they’d eaten at the Starlight many times, and the menu hadn’t changed. And beside, she almost always ordered scrambled egg whites on rye toast with a side order of turkey bacon.


Chapter 17