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

He sat in the kitchen and watched as I cooked spaghetti. “Woody…Serge said you stopped talking for a couple days after I acted like a turd. I…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be the cause of a setback, and God, I felt like such a shit heel when he told me.”


I groaned. “Jesus, can Serge ever keep his mouth shut?”


Rafe gave me a tiny smile. “He loves you like a brother and would do anything for you, and you for him. It was always the two of you, wasn’t it? Thick as thieves. I was a little jealous of that special relationship you both seemed to have, and then later…”


“Nothing.” All of a sudden he wouldn’t look at me. “I should go. I’m on shift tomorrow and I’m tired. Being sober wears me out, funny enough.”


“Not so fast, man. We’re talking now, so let’s make the most of it.”


Rafe stared at the table as he tapped the side of the can. “I was fighting feelings for…someone.”


Something occurred to me as I shared out our meal. “Have you had sex with a guy, Rafe?”


Chapter 12