Brad can’t believe his luck when he finds the perfect place to live at the perfect price. It’s a pity his new landlord Douglas is such a miserable grump. It isn’t long before he wonders if it’s a good idea to be living in such close proximity to such a moody ogre.<br><br>Fortunately, his life at work is looking up with the arrival of a new employee named Enzo. Brad falls immediately in lust with the hot Italian. They start dating, though it soon becomes apparent there are going to be problems. Enzo starts exhibiting some unlikeable traits and, while Brad finds himself slowly falling in love with the man, he also realizes Enzo has problems not just with commitment, but also with his sexuality.<br><br>Brad has a dilemma. Does he persist with Enzo, tolerate his bad behavior, and pray for a miraculous, happy ending? Or will the love he seeks come from an entirely different direction?

The Grump

Brad felt a flash of panic. “But I think it was brave of you, and very decent, to come up here and tell me all this.”


Douglas nodded, valiantly fighting back tears.


Brad wracked his brains for something to say. Words of comfort. Anything. “It must have been hard carrying all that around with you.”


Douglas swallowed another mouthful of beer. “Not really. Eventually it becomes a part of who you are. People reckon it eats away at you. Didn’t eat away at me.”


“But it separated you from everyone else.”


“I was never very social. I’ve got this house. I work out every day. I go for walks. I’ve got my job.”


“What is it that you do?” asked Brad, latching onto the opportunity to change the subject. “You work from home?”


“Writer. Reviews, mainly. DVDs and music. I have regular gigs from all around the world and make just as much as I would in a nine-to-five job. Plus the rent I get from you.” He swallowed another mouthful of beer. “And you?”


Chapter 8