During a golf tournament in Virginia, American golfer Reggie Weston meets Russell Lee, the British former world champion in the sport. The two men hit it off when Russell takes Reggie under his wing, teaching him the tricks of the game. As their friendship deepens, Reggie finds himself falling in love with the Englishman, though he knows Russell doesn’t feel the same. He’s painfully aware of the fact that Russell isn’t gay. But there’s more to Russell than meets the eye. He’s a troubled soul, plagued by monsters in his head telling him who he should be. He’s spent most of his life hiding his sexuality from the world so he won’t disappoint his homophobic mother. Is seven days enough time for Russell to break through the years of hurt and accept the new direction fate has in store for him and Reggie?

Seven Days

He closed his eyes, forgetting everything around him and focusing on his breath just below his belly button.


He felt Russell’s arms around him again, cradling him. Finally he forgot the pain he’d felt in the past few hours. He pushed everything else aside, wiping the slate clean, exactly as Russell had suggested he should.


The ball rolled along the descent, elegantly heading toward the hole. Carlos removed the pin, inviting it to enter. And it did: the ball ran the external border of the hole and then jumped in, like a bride into the loving arms of her husband.


He held his breath as the crowd let out a chorus of enthusiastic “oohs” and a thunder of applause.


On weak legs, Reggie bent to retrieve the ball before stepping aside to allow Russell a turn. Then he crossed his arms and went to stand by Carlos. He was so close, he could hear his caddie’s breath—fast, a clear sign of tumult, almost the same way he felt.


Chapter 32