Mark is a man on the horns of a dilemma. He's in the midst of a five-year affair with a married man and he wants out ... but isn’t sure he can give up his lover.<br><br>Austin, who lives in the apartment building across the street from Mark, has his own problems. Two years earlier, the man he loved died in a horrible auto accident. Austin is still trying to come to terms with seeing it happen, and dealing with the aftermath.<br><br>After watching Mark from his balcony, making up stories about what he sees, Austin decides to meet him. Will the meeting help the two come to grips with their problems? And if it does, can they move on to something more than possible friendship?

The Man on the Balcony

“Leaving me to decorate the front window. Thanks a lot,” Norma grumbled.


“Yep.” Mark laughed. “Holler if you need help.”


Mark looked at the Caller ID, debating whether to answer when he saw Todd’s number. He hadn’t the previous two times his lover had called—once right before he left the shop for the day, the second while he was driving home.


“I can do this,” he said under his breath, putting the phone down on the kitchen counter before going back to fixing supper. It finally went silent, after five rings—the number Mark had programmed in before a call would go to his voicemail.


He waited until after he’d eaten before checking to see if Todd had left a message. He had. It said, Why aren’t you answering, Mark? I’ll be in town tomorrow for a two-day meeting, so I’ll see you tomorrow night. Miss you.


Chapter 8