Can two broken men build one life? Ten years. That’s what Makai lost for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s been exonerated, but the abuse he suffered in prison isn’t so easy to leave behind. He heads to the one place he remembers being happy: Acker, Wisconsin, where he spent summers with his grandpa. Unfortunately, not everyone wants Makai there. Ten days. That’s how long Emil, now twenty-one, was held prisoner as a teenager. The mental and physical injuries he suffered at the hands of a drug trafficking ring still haunt him. Nightmares, anxiety, and PTSD challenge the connection forming between Makai and Emil, though together, they might find a way to move beyond their pain and into a future -- and a relationship -- that both had thought impossible. Now they just have to convince Emil’s father, the town sheriff. It won’t be easy with danger closer than they know ...

“Hi, I… uh, I had Mom drop me off before she went back to her baking.” Emil was fidgeting, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, and not looking at Makai.


Makai realized he was nervous. “Come in. Do you want coffee?”


“Yeah, sure.” Emil followed him into the kitchen.


Something between them was a bit… off. Well, not just something, Makai knew he’d made this happen by asking for the break.


Once they both had more caffeine, they went to sit on opposite ends of the couch.


“Look, it was a lot,” Makai said thoughtfully. “Talking about it all was…. It made me feel more than I thought I would, afterward. More memories popped up. Nightmares.”


Emil was frowning at his mug. “Maybe this isn’t—”


Makai’s heart started to beat faster. “No. Emil, no.” He waited until Emil finally looked at him before continuing. “This is worth it. You’reworth it. It’s going to be a learning curve, but I want to have a chance to be us.”


Chapter 48