Fox McHardy leads a charmed life. Puget Sound penthouse, gorgeous boyfriend, jet-setting job -- everything he’s ever wanted, he’s gotten, including the heck out of the small Iowa town he grew up in. Even the trip he takes to Miami to surprise his boyfriend Jeremy is something of a long-shot wish fulfilled. Until he arrives in South Florida. Once things start to unravel, they do so with alarming speed, and he finds himself riding shotgun in a rented convertible with his new sworn enemy faster than he can say, “I want my old life back.” During an unscheduled stop on the cross-country road trip From Hell, Fox passes up a perfectly good opportunity to keep his mouth shut and finds himself planning the town’s first legal gay wedding -- his own, to a man he’s pretty sure he should hate. But someone needs to set a positive example for the queer and questioning youth in this corner of Middle America and, after creatively arranging certain of the facts of his life more attractively, he is proud to offer himself up as a role model. Small Town, USA, steps up; the grooms are widely celebrated, and generous offers of food, flowers, and picture-perfect venues pour in. The only real challenge will be keeping the lies straight and the truth under wraps until they can get out of town.

Crazy Like Fox

Think, Fox, think. “Okay, what about this,” I said, figuring that maybe if I started talking, the perfect plan would formulate itself and tumble out of my mouth. I stalled for a second, then proposed, “Can we hold this reservation? I know you worked hard to figure it out, I’m a little embarrassed. I don’t want to lose it if this is my chance to go home.”


She nodded. “I can hold it for you. Maybe call your bank? I’m sure you’ll straighten it out, then come right back to see me. Don’t get in line again, don’t go to anyone else. Come back to me and we’ll get you squared away.”


Yes. Call the bank. Of course that was the answer. Good job, Carmen. “Thank you,” I gushed. “Let me call them and I’ll be right back. What time is that flight to Boston?”


I dug in my pocket for my phone, but Carmen flicked her wrist to consult her watch and beat me to it. “Eleven thirty,” she said. “You’ve got plenty of time. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”


Chapter 19