When Michael Knapp brings his lover Dan Biggs home to meet his parents, he doesn't expect things to go smoothly. His mother's been trying to marry him off for years, and sometimes he isn't even sure his father knows he exists. He has always felt like the shadow son, competing with his terminally stupid older brother and smart-mouthed little sister for his parents' attention. Coming out to them over dinner seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally get noticed.<br><br>But an unexpected phone call interrupts his announcement -- Aunt Evie, the family matriarch, is dead. With Dan in tow, Michael follows his family to Sugar Creek, where he spent his summers growing up, to prepare for the funeral.<br><br>Amid an overabundance of memories and relatives, Michael's world begins to slip. His dysfunctional family, Evie's death, and an old friend's confession all threaten to smother him. Worse, in his grief and confusion he seems determined to inadvertently push everyone away, including his lover. Can he and Dan move beyond his family and his past to a new life together, before Michael's insecurities tear them apart?

It's All Relative

To be honest, I don’t want to talk about it. “Nothing,” I mumble. I sit on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands, and tell myself I have a headache. Only it’s not my heart that hurts this bad. I don’t want to believe that I just lost my oldest friend.


I’m not up for it. “Not now,” I snap.


My fingers dig into my cheeks—I don’t need to look up to know that now I’ve hurt him, too. I should really go back to bed, start this day all over again, maybe it’ll go right this time. Or hell, redo last night while I’m at it, keep away from that rum and stay out of the living room and damn, never leave the side of the creek or the safety of my lover’s arms. I want him now, I want him holding me, I want his kisses and his hands to tell me everything’s going to be alright. Why can’t someone tell me everything’s going to be alright?


Chapter 79