While celebrating the Supreme Court same-sex ruling, Josh hides his deep aversion to marriage. He lets his lover Adam believe they’ll eventually marry. But when his wedding-planner mother pushes him too hard to take that step, Josh declares in anger he won’t ever marry Adam.<br><br>Adam overhears and flees. Crushed at having been led on, he takes refuge at his old hangout. There he runs into his ex-boyfriend, who tries to take advantage of Adam’s vulnerability. Things go from bad to miserable, leaving Adam struggling to get through the worst night of his life.<br><br>Frantically searching for Adam, Josh is forced to accept he could lose him forever -- a prospect he just can’t face. Can he overcome his fears and propose marriage to save their love? That might work, but only if he can somehow convince Adam to trust him again.

I Do, I Don't

“Marriage didn’t seem to give youany protection. Either time.” As soon as he said it, he was sorry. She’d always maintained the fiction that she was over the pain of her divorces. But the wounded look on her face spoke the truth.


She recovered from his barb and straightened. There was an edge to her voice as she said, “Don’t use my mistakes as an excuse to avoid taking a chance. I’m not saying it’s easy—marriage isn’t for pussies. But you two are made for one another. Let the past interfere, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. And trust me, I know what lifelong regrets feel like.”


Heat rose in his cheeks. He hadn’t meant to hurt her—it had just come out. Trying a rational approach to put an end to this, he said, “It’s not that I’m ungrateful to have the option. But I’m also free not to exercise that option. Adam understands. He doesn’t want to be married.”


Chapter 4