Easy-going Sebastien divides his time between working as a cleaning technician, caring for his widowed father, and running off to the park for soccer practice. Coasting through his existence, he's convinced he doesn't have much going for him.<br><br>That isn’t what his best friend Jack thinks. Quick-witted and passionate, Jack is fascinated by art and history, but the greatest book or painting could never compare to how he feels when he's alone with Sebastien.<br><br>In the last five years, Seb and Jack have shared everything, sometimes even a bed. Yet though their chemistry is smoking hot, Sebastien keeps Jack at a safe distance. But when the two move in together to lower their living expenses, that distance gets smaller and smaller, until Sebastien and Jack are standing so close, they can't see what's right in front of their eyes ... the love of their life.

Auguries of Summer

I wouldn’t let him off so easy. “Maybe it’s ‘cause you never show me your true colors,” I said. “Every time we get serious, you crack a joke or turn sarcastic on me.”


“Because I have to fucking protect myself!” he almost yelled. “Ever think of that? Ever think that maybe I’m scared, huh? Like, fucking terrified.”


“Of the expression on your face right now,” he breathed. “Of how traumatized and turned off you look. Of having this stupid, fucking pointless conversation with you again, after I spent the night convincing myself not to.” He rubbed his face with both hands and straightened his shoulders. “Okay,” he said, for himself it seemed. “I’m sorry I brought it up.”


“We shouldn’t have had sex,” I said, without thinking of the impact my words would have on him.


The blood rushed up into Jack’s face and he glared at me. “You’re right. And that part is over now. Over.”


“Just like that? Thanks for being of service, Sebastien, now go fuck yourself?”


Chapter 18