Twin brothers Brian and Matt Walker went to live with their mother’s brother after the death of their parents at an early age. Brian is still wracked with the guilt he carries around from a young age and sees the world through a distorted lens of self-loathing. When he meets a sexy and interested college-aged guy at the beginning of his senior year of high school, he may have finally found someone who can help him escape his mundane existence.<br><br>Matt has his life all planned out -- he longs for a solid career in journalism after graduating college. But his tenuous hold on family life threatens his dreams of independence, as does the attentions of a closeted new transfer to their school.<br><br>Can Matt pull away enough from his family to come into his own? And will Brian finally get to grips with his past and allow his twin to chase his own happiness?

Twice the Hands to Hold

“Do you ever think you can ever be honest about who you are to your parents?”


James kept his gaze on the table. Eventually he looked over to Matt and smiled quietly. “Eventually, I guess. I want to be. It’s a bucket load of pressure. I’m more worried about my dad than my mom.”


Matt resisted the urge to push him further and just sank back in his seat.


Eventually James continued. “As an only child there’s all this pressure they place on me. All their expectations. Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning.” The euphemism landed, and the desolation in his voice weighed Matt down. He placed a palm over James’ hand on the table, not caring who saw them. This was West Hollywood, after all. James’ arm stiffened, but he didn’t pull away.


“You’re normal, James. Did anyone ever tell you that? What you are—what we are. We’re normal. Don’t ever think there’s something wrong with who you are.”


Chapter 47