Twenty-five-year-old TV producer Jared Greenfield loves his big city life -- job, friends, and shopping -- but even with all the fun of big city life, he feels a longing for something, or someone, more. Then, on the very first night of Hanukkah, he spots a handsome, sweaty basketball player at the Jewish Community Center.<br><br>Tall, dark, and Orthodox, the young and athletic Shai Goodhart strikes up an easy friendship with Jared, only to discover Jared has very little appreciation for his own Jewish heritage and religion. Determined to enlighten this “Bad Jew,” Shai invites him over for a family Hanukkah celebration.<br><br>Then Jared discovers Shai’s deepest secret and the biggest threat to his future. Over the eight days of Hanukkah, deep emotions pull them closer and closer together. Can they ever reach across the divide of their shared culture and fall in love?

Hanukkah Gifts

Jared realized he was making it all up now. There was no specific thing he wanted to show Shai; he just wanted to see him again. He waited three minutes before his phone buzzed with a fresh text.


SHAI: I’m at 53rd and 5th. You coming?


What? He got off the subway for me? Jared checked his watch. 5:38 P.M. Traffic in midtown would be hellishHe jumped in a taxi going north on 10thAvenue, then texted back—


After twenty-five blocks in the cab, Jared hopped out on 50thStreet and began running east across midtown Manhattan. Leaping and sprinting, he dodged commuters and shoppers on the sidewalk, ignoring the cacophony of car horns and angry taxi drivers pushing through the tight streets of the city. When he finally reached the corner, his green and purple plaid shirt was untucked, his tie loose and crinkled, and his styled hair now crazy and windblown. Jared could barely breathe after running so hard.


Chapter 19