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

Too anxious, wired, and worried to head home after my conversation with Sean, I drove to Olivia??s apartment. Since I didn??t want to talk to Jay about my situation with Sean, I decided to spill my guts to her instead. I needed her clear, level-headed advice to help me deal with my rogue student. She and I hadn??t seen each other since our trip to the zoo a little over a month ago. We kept making plans to get together for dinner or drinks, but they never seemed to pan out. Either she was too busy with work and school or I had something going on.


Olivia seemed surprised to see me when I showed up at her front door. She was wearing baggy sweats and she looked like she was putting on weight. Jesus, she and Jay both are packing on the pounds, I thought.


??What brings you here tonight??? she asked after letting me into her apartment.


Chapter 17