Schoolteacher Julian Reynolds is disillusioned with the seedier side of gay life in New York City with its self-absorption, vanity, and preoccupation with sex. When his long-time relationship with his high school sweetheart ends, he returns to his hometown and vows to live a simple life free of the extremes of the gay lifestyle and romantic entanglements. With that end in mind, he rents the carriage house next door to a large Tudor-style home.<br><br>Tate Butler, a former student of Julian’s, lives in the big house with his mother. Tate is bitter and withdrawn after losing a leg while serving in the Marine Corps during the war in Afghanistan. Fearing rejection from his mother and blaming himself for his father’s death, Tate stays firmly in the closet and punishes himself by refusing to learn how to walk again.<br><br>Can Tate and Julian help heal each other’s pasts and forge a real and lasting future together? Or will the driveway that separates their houses prove too wide a gulf to cross?

The Marine Next Door

“I…I guess so,” Tate replied, apprehension showing in his voice.


“Hang on a minute,” Julian said. He walked over to a rack in the back of the cabana and took off two long terry robes. Thinking these might help Tate, as well as ease his own discomfort, he walked back to Tate and held one out.


“No, I’m good,” Tate said. “I might as well face the music all at once.”


Julian felt for him. He was still struggling with the notion that he was less of a man because of his leg.


Well, he’ll see how wrong he is in just a minute,Julian thought as he hung one of the robes back on the rack. Julian, however, slipped on his robe.


Julian walked back to Tate, who took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and said, “You go first.”


Julian smiled at Tate. Julian put a hand behind the young man’s neck and pulled him close. Resting his forehead against Tate’s, he said softly, “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.” Then, reluctantly, he led Tate out of the cabana.


Chapter 27