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

He stared out in front of him, his mother’s laughing eyes staring back at him lifelessly from her twisted head, blood trickling from her nose. He placed his hand over Matt’s face, trying to protect him from the image, from the sounds of his father’s weeping as he cried, looking at him in the rearview mirror, and making him promise to look after his brother.


Brian allowed his brother to let it all out, not soothing him, not making promises, or telling him everything will be alright. He just kept his arm securely around his shoulders and rocked him quietly.


Jake didn’t even go searching for Matt in his own room. He walked directly to Brian’s room and stood at the entrance. His nephews lay cuddled on Brian’s bed, Brian’s arm protectively draped over Matt’s frame. Matt lay curled up in the crook of his brother’s neck, but wasn’t asleep. From the rhythmic breathing of Brian’s chest, it was clear his one nephew was, even though his features were troubled.


Chapter 69