Middle-aged teacher David Grover is traveling home from a conference, but fatigue and bad weather force him to stop at a motel for the night. Unfortunately, the Marine ahead of him at the counter snags the last available room. But despair soon turns to elation when the studly Master Sergeant Bud Williams offers to share. Sharing a room also means sharing a bed, and their one night together turns into much more. Only later does David discover Bud is keeping secrets from him. Once these secrets come to light, their regular weekend trysts end, and David finds it hard to move on. Then David learns Bud volunteered for a tour in Iraq, only to be returned stateside after suffering extensive injuries caused by a roadside bomb. Forgiveness and healing doesn't come easily, but just as things start looking up, Bud's past threatens to pull them apart again. Both men face painful decisions if they hope to find a life together. It's a rough road to happiness -- as much as the rest of the world struggles to keep them apart, all Bud and David can do is battle to get back together since neither is complete without the other.

Rough Road to Happiness

“You showed me that you have a vulnerable side. Something I bet you don’t allow many people to see, in case they use it against you.”


Bud nodded. “Everyone expects someone who is built like me, and does the job I do, to always be strong and in control. I am most of the time, but…now and again I just want to—”


“You want someone else to do the looking after.”


“That’s not a sign of weakness, at least I don’t see it that way. It shows me that you’re human, more…real.” 


Bud stood and took David into his arms and gave him a tight hug. “You’re special, Mr. Grover. Those kids are real lucky to have a teacher like you.”


By unspoken agreement, the pair joined hands, David leading his man to his bedroom, where the two undressed before climbing into bed. David wasn’t surprised when Bud wanted to be held, a duty he was more than willing to undertake.


Chapter 8