Eight short contemporary stories celebrating gay love in its many forms. From falling in love for the first time to mending a broken relationship to spending a lifetime shared, each of the stories in this collection offer a glimpse into the lives of gay men who live and love together. While a few of these stories are available in anthologies, they are collected here for the first time. Contains the stories: Afflicted: It's hard to understand why some people feel the need to hurt themselves, especially when they seem to have everything they need or want out of life. So how do you help someone bent on a path of self-destruction? And what can you possibly do when it's someone you love? Caught Off Base: Ange Echevarria takes an instant liking to the young hitchhiker he picks up who reminds him of an old friend. Unfortunately, so does his friend, Lamar. Why can’t Ange keep this one for himself? Henry and Jim: These two men have spent a life in love, from the very first date arranged by Henry’s sister, through the rocky times they worked to make ends meet, and into their twilight years. His Song: Dane is destined for greatness, his boyfriend Krish just knows it, but first he needs to break into the local music scene. When local musician Randy Blake asks Dane to stop by for a private jam session, Dane is ecstatic. But it seems Blake has something other than music on his mind. Krish doesn't trust Blake, but a more pressing question, though, is can he trust Dane? Love in the Library: Johnny's job at the campus library isn't as glamorous as it sounds. In fact, when the wheels of the returns cart get stuck in the gap between the floor and the elevator, he's ready to just quit right there. But a stranger's kindness leads to chance encounter that improves Johnny's whole semester. Maybe: Josh blames himself for the strained relationship he has with his ex-lover, DeMar. Just when he thinks they’re through, DeMar shows up and wants a second chance, but Josh isn’t so sure DeMar’s the one to blame for their break-up. Can they somehow find what it was they had together in the beginning before they lose it all? Skaterboy: CJ is a skateboarder who can’t hold a job now that he's officially “grown up.” He lives with his lover, Richard, who wears a suit and tie to the office every day. Together they make an unlikely pair. This Christmas: A new take on a familiar holiday classic. Ned Matthews is a college student haunted by his last boyfriend’s infidelity. Ned would rather wallow in self-pity than spend Christmas with Bobby, even though they’re the only two students on campus for the holiday. Can Bobby show Ned the holiday is better with someone to love?

So In Love Box Set

Retrieving his skateboard, he heads to the front of the bus. As he starts down the steps, though, people are already pushing on and he stands back to let them pass. The first onboard is a young woman about Richard’s age, late twenties, with a baby in her hands—she glares at CJ and clutches the baby closer as if afraid he’s going to snatch it from her. What the hell would he do with it? The man in a suit behind her turns his back to CJ as he digs into his wallet for his bus pass, like he doesn’t want anyone to see what else he might have in there. Then a couple of girls from the college climb on amid giggles, their gazes like butterflies fluttering around CJ and never quite landing on him, never really seeinghim.


Finally the bus driver starts to close the door, and CJ jogs down the steps. “This is my stop.” Before the door can shut in his face, he shoves it aside and jumps to the curb below. Out,he thinks, taking a deep breath as the bus shudders behind him. Free.


Chapter 60