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

Patrick picked up his iced tea just to give himself something to do. He finally got it. He was slow, practically had to be hit over the head, but he got it now. “Okay.”


“You aren’t interested in me.” Patrick shrugged. “You agree I should move on from Andrew, just not with you.”


Josh looked uncomfortable, but he didn’t bother to deny it. He picked up his napkin from his lap and readjusted it.


Pushing aside his sadness, Patrick said, “It’s fine, Josh. Don’t worry about it. I’m not expecting you to be my salvation or anything.”


“I’m really sick of talking about the other night. I got drunk and I attacked you. Fortunately for you, I passed out before I took advantage of you.” Patrick rolled his eyes.


“More like you passed out before I took advantage of you.”


Chapter 7