Bridges Barfield is a man of rigid standards and stern demeanor. He finds it hard to relax and accept new things, though he gives it his best. He’s still recovering from the end of a bad relationship, but he’s not letting it stop him from searching for love. Then he meets Trenton LeDoux and they hit it off, despite their differences. Meaning, Trenton’s magenta hair, lip ring, and free spirit.<br><br>Trenton is forthright, refreshing, and not afraid to go after what he wants. But the fact that he can’t seem to get past his grief and possible guilt over his husband’s death makes it difficult to move forward. It doesn’t help that Bridges suffers from foot-in-mouth syndrome, which earns him a slap across the face when he says the wrong thing to Trenton. Which is often.<br><br>When they finally get beyond the angry words, will their union be truly heartfelt?

Heavy Metal Heartfelt Blues

“I thought we’d been getting better, but then he’d do something…” Trenton leaned forward, pushing loose hair behind his ears and worrying the lip ring with his tongue. “Look, before we tied the knot, Kelly and I had an open relationship. He’d always had a wandering eye, but I didn’t mind an extra in the bedroom if it meant I got Kelly, too. Maybe that was my mistake, thinking we’d be able to truly be a couple somewhere down the road, that he’d change for me. He swore to me that being monogamous would be okay, that getting married was okay. He broke that vow a month after our wedding. He told me right away, and we fought about it. We did some counseling. All was well for about a year, and then he did it again. Each time it happened, a piece of me would die. The night of the heart attack, I’d had about enough of his faithlessness and empty platitudes.”


Chapter 8