Patrick Donovan has spent the last three anniversaries of his lover's suicide getting drunk at Josh Stevens' bar. It's at the bar he feels closest to his lover and to the man he has loved since high school, Josh, his dead lover's cousin. The summer after he graduated high school, Patrick spent one hot night with Josh. When it was over, Josh maintained it was a casual one night-stand, breaking Patrick's heart. Troubled by Patrick's annual visits to the bar, Josh encourages Patrick to move on from his grief. After a disastrous near-encounter, Patrick decides maybe he should move on and forget his love for Josh. But Josh changes his mind when Patrick decides to date other men. After nights of scorching sex, Patrick wonders where he stands once more, but Josh pulls back as he did the summer after high school. Josh doesn't want to be a substitute for the man he believes Patrick still loves.

Pieces

Josh went to the door of the bar, taking out his keys. “Here, I’ll let you out.”


Patrick walked to the door and stood beside him. He had this almost overpowering urge to kiss Josh until all doubts, all thoughts flew out of the man’s head. His lips tingled anticipating just such a kiss.


But the door opened, letting in the blinding sun from outside and the moment, not the urge, passed.


“I’ll see you Wednesday,” he said instead, stepping outside.


“Take care of yourself, Patrick.” And Josh closed the door in his face. 3


The bastard wouldn’t dare stand me up.


Patrick checked his watch for the fourth time since he’d been seated at a corner booth at Bristol’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant. Fifteen past the hour.


The waitress stopped by his table with a sympathetic smile. “Did you still want to wait for the other person?”


Memories of his hangover were still too fresh. “Iced tea, please. Thank you.”


Chapter 6