To choose a job and ambition over love is something Gus Atchison might never forgive. When his boyfriend, Seb Paddington, decides to move to New York and leave their relationship behind, Gus is heartbroken. But two months later, Seb shows up and tries to get close again. Gus isn’t having it, though, despite Seb’s persistence, and they end up in a fight on his front porch.<br><br>Once they make peace, of a sort, Seb goes back to New York. However, four months later when he returns, Gus is alarmed at how unhealthy and thin Seb looks, and realizes he still has feelings for the man, in spite of it all. They start up a tentative friendship, and Gus sees another side of Seb he’s never known while helping with his new company. Will Gus take him back? Or will they remain friends forever?

Take Me Back

“You been eating while you’re working those crazy hours on the way to VP? Scrawny isn’t a good look on you.” And it alarmed me, despite myself.


He rubbed a hand over his forehead. “I forget, sometimes. The stress is so high, and everyone plays hard up there, to make the grade. It’s very competitive. But I don’t suppose you’d understand, as laid back as you are on the job.”


That sounded a bit snide, didn’t it? “Now whose ego needs a pin in it?” I shook my head and stood. “Go visit those fancy friends and family of yours and leave me in peace with my boring, laid-back job.” Which I wouldn’t even have anymore, in a little while, but he didn’t need to know that either.


I walked around him and opened the front door as he said, “Wait, Gus, that’s not how I meant to…” I slammed the door in his face and locked it.


Chapter 8