Ten years is a long time to have a crush. Their high school reunion is Luke's chance for a shot at Alexander, whom he adored in high school. In training for the past eighteen months to shed the extra weight he'd always carried, he's ready to show Alexander he isn't the boy they called Podge anymore. As the big day draws nearer and the summer days get hotter, Luke continues running with his next door neighbour Max to stay in shape. But everything is blown apart though when Luke almost faints in the heat, falls into Max's arms, and straight into 'no strings attached' sex. Suddenly Luke is torn between the man who's there when he needs him and a man he liked years ago but knows very little about. Would it be madness to throw away what he has with Max for a chance with Alexander?

Summer Madness

“I shouldn’t have pushed you.” Max was scowling again. He had a good line in scowls, but this was a worried one. He knelt beside the couch, laid one hand on Luke’s forehead, and then touched his cheek. Luke’s eyes closed at the contact.


“Are you eating enough?” Max said after a moment.


Luke dragged his eyes back open. “Huh?”


Luke screwed up his face. “Toast this morning, soup at lunch…that’s pretty much it.”


“You can’t run on soup and fucking toast.” Max had his hand anchored in Luke’s hair, keeping him still. Luke didn’t know what to say. They stared at each other for a moment, then Max stood and walked up and down, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll make us something.”


Luke was mesmerised. “Okay.” What else could he say?


Max disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a pint glass of water. “Sip it,” he said, putting it on the floor by Luke and then heading back to the kitchen.


Chapter 3