Woodrow “Woody” Anker is an 28 legend -- the boy who lived. Orphaned at the age of three due to a car accident that killed his parents, Woody is taken in by the Zumpano family. He becomes best friends with Serge, the youngest boy, and looks up to Rafe, the oldest. As the years go by, Woody’s feelings for Rafe change into something else entirely. Except, Rafe is straight. And in denial about his alcohol abuse.<br><br>Rafe Zumpano, now the town Sherriff and Lothario-extraordinaire has been a heavy drinker since his teens, and it’s getting worse. He’s got a secret that he drinks away every night, but when the truth finally comes out, it ruins everything.<br><br>It will take a lot for both men to move beyond alcohol-fueled vitriol, self-doubt, and internalized homophobia to get to the part where they stop throwing punches and have their happy ending.

Norwegian Woody

“I really don’t see why I have to come in here to tell you something that was clearly explained in a succinct text,” I said.


“I’m a control freak. You know that,” he growled, running a hand over his hair as he leaned back in his chair. The ends stuck up. He needed a haircut.


I coughed into my fist while saying, “Overkill.” He glared at me. I smiled back at him, innocent as the day I was born.


“Serge is coming in tonight around eight. He talked at super speed ‘til he hung up the phone on the way to catching a plane.” I snagged a paperclip from the pile on Rafe’s desk. “You have anything aside from beer in the house?” I knew the answer before he gave it.


He had the grace to blush. “You know I don’t. Marianne said she’d bring something over tonight, but I guess I’ll tell her not to worry. And don’t give me that look or start in with the nagging about drinking. I’ve got it under control.” Right.


Chapter 3