Rick R. Reed

Gregory seems to have it all: youth, good looks, a beautiful wife, a job he loves as an elementary school teacher, a quiet house on the beach ... So why is Gregory so miserable? Why is he unable to control his lingering gaze on his neighbor, Jake, the handsome truck driver who lives just down the way? Why does Gregory spend his private time keeping a secret journal that details fantasies and memories of him locked in embraces with other men? It’s summer, and the peaceful lake belies the turmoil in Gregory's heart. His wife wants to start a family, while Gregory wants to start something with Jake, but doesn’t dare. Climbing out of the closet is never easy, but it’s even more difficult when doing so might shatter the lives of those around you ...

Through the Closet Door

The creak of Jake’s porch swing interrupts Gregory’s reverie. He tenses and stops walking, unsure if he wants to be observed. He has watched Jake so many times without the other man knowing. This time, he isn’t so sure he wants to be a silent observer, someone hanging around in the shadows, struggling to thwart the desire that rises up within him whenever he sees Jake, a sensation both queasy and delicious.


Chapter 9