English professor Brian Daly is finally able to live openly with the love of his life, local weatherman Jay Tanner. Jay has ended his sham marriage and come out of the closet, and he and Brian now share a condo in the city. But there’s trouble in paradise. Brian’s best friend Olivia can’t seem to get along with Jay. The two bicker whenever they’re together. In addition to trying to broker peace between his friends, Brian is busy fending off Sean, an infatuated student who wants Brian to be his first lover. When Brian spurns his advances, he threatens to accuse the professor of sexual harassment if the two don’t sleep together. Just when things seem like they can’t get any worse, Brian discovers Jay has been cheating on him with a woman. And not just any woman -- Olivia, who is now pregnant with Jay’s child. Brian’s world crumbles as his relationship with Jay falls apart and his friendship with Olivia is destroyed. While he works to try and put his life back together, Brian is relentlessly pursued by Sean. But this time Brian doesn’t turn him away, and the two begin a relationship that helps Brian get over some of the heartache he’s suffered. After a while, Brian also reunites with Olivia, and becomes a kind of surrogate father to her newborn daughter. The baby helps him hold onto Jay in some small way. Even though he and Jay are no longer a couple, Brian still longs for his former partner. But when Jay reappears in Brian’s life, Brian discovers he isn’t quite ready to forgive and forget. While he still loves Jay, will he ever be able to trust the man again?

Collusion

??I can??t fucking believe it??s raining again,?? he complained Wednesday morning.


On Thursday, he snapped at me for buying a brand of toothpaste that he didn??t like and practically jumped down my throat when my response was for him to buy his own toothpaste. Clearly, something was going on with him and when I asked what was wrong, he denied anything was amiss.


??Then why are you being such an asshole??? I asked. ??Have I done something to you??? I knew I hadn??t done anything, but I needed to hear him say it.


??Look,?? he said, cutting me off, ??there??s nothing wrong, okay? If I??ve been short with you, I??m sorry. I??m just a little stressed right now, but it??ll pass.??


Unfortunately, whatever stress Jay was under wasn??t passing fast enough and I was the one forced to endure his wrath pretty much on a daily basis. The ground seemed to have shifted beneath my feet overnight and I had no idea why.


Chapter 16