Patrick Holt is lonely. A bad breakup with his boyfriend has left the forty-year-old ophthalmologist reluctant to get involved with another man. When his neighbor sets him up with her brother-in-law Eric, Patrick prepares himself for disappointment. But Patrick quickly finds himself surprised and charmed by Eric, and Eric, who’s had relationship problems of his own in the past, falls hard and fast for Patrick.<br><br>On the outside, Eric seems like a great guy: young and attractive with a promising job as an assistant manager at a Chicago hotel. But Eric has a dark side he and his family are hiding from Patrick. When the truth is finally revealed and Eric’s secrets are exposed, will Patrick be willing to go the distance with Eric? Or will he run as fast as he can from the new man in his life?

Baggage

“Mom,” I said, reaching for her hand across the table, “you know I love you and I’ll support you in whatever decision you make, okay? But promise me you won’t do anything hasty that you’ll end up regretting.”


With tears welling in her eyes, she told me, “I just want to be happy.”


She squeezed my hand before releasing it and wiping the tears from her eyes with her napkin. We parted ways in the restaurant parking lot after brunch, promising to speak by telephone later in the week. As I watched my mother climb into her Honda CR-V and drive away, I hoped she and Wayne would be able to work through their issues and stay married, but I had a bad feeling that wouldn’t happen. 6


Eric and I had been invited to Greg’s house on the Fourth of July for a party to celebrate his and Gary’s birthday that fell on the same day.


Chapter 22