Tory Cuthbert is the owner of Misty View Motel, and he’s mostly satisfied with his life. He rarely thinks about the time, fourteen years ago, when a boy he loved -- Wheeler Ridley -- left him behind. Maury Landrum, one of Tory’s employees, is a tempting morsel, but Tory can't seem to bring himself to take the next step, even though he knows Maury would be more than willing.<br><br>Then Wheeler turns up at the motel and doesn't even recognize Tory when he hits on him. After Wheeler’s repeated attempts to get into Tory’s pants, Tory reveals that they knew each other and what happened when they were kids. Wheeler remembers things differently, however, and Tory realizes he’s actually been wrong -- all this time.<br><br>When Maury abruptly resigns, Tory finally wakes up to what’s been right under his nose. And he has to get Maury back, no matter what.

Love, Love Me Dude

“Uh, Leonard Novak was there, too, and I think he and Sheila are getting close. They get along very well, and the kids really like him.”


“Huh,” was my response. There was more to this conversation. I just had to wait.


“Tory…” he began, and then stopped. I chose a Punisher flick and put it in the DVD player.


“Since you don’t seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere, why don’t you sit down and watch this with me? I’ve seen it many times, so I can pause it whenever you’re ready to talk, okay?”


Maury sat beside me, and I pressed play. Five minutes later, he grabbed the remote control and paused the screen.


“Tory,” he began, “I’m sorry for acting like a spoiled brat the day I told you I was taking the job with Mr. Murray. I…” He paused, then started again. “I try so hard to be the adult Sheila and the kids need me to be, but I’ve never had a boyfriend before, or a serious relationship.”


Chapter 10