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 set my purchases on a section of the table that wasn’t packed with detritus, and got to work. It took me forty-five minutes to clean everything and toss all the beer bottles. After that, I headed outside to prepare the grill. Ribs with baked potatoes, salad, and dessert ought to do it for all of us. I made my secret sauce, which I would never share with anyone, no matter what Rafe threatened, then basted the ribs to my satisfaction.


While I worked, Rafe arrived. “Honey, I’m home!” he called. To him it was funny to say that. To me, it made me wish for unattainable things. I needed to get laid.


“I’m out here, you ingrate,” I yelled from the back of the house. I checked my cell phone. It was almost eight o’clock. “Why don’t you shower and be nice and fresh so you can terrorize your baby brother when he gets here? You know he expects it.”


“You make me sound so mean,” he replied from right behind me, making me jump.


Chapter 4