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

“No reason, I suppose. Still…” Austin handed him a flyer from a local greenhouse.


Setting his cup down, Mark looked at the cover. “Neither of us has a yard,” he pointed out.


“Yep. Vegetables, like tomatoes, snap beans, carrots, maybe squash. We’d have fresh salads all summer, if we start now.”


While he wasn’t certain how to take Austin’s saying ‘we’, he had to admit he liked it. Although he wouldn’t tell him, he had begun thinking of Austin as more than a friend. The problem was, he didn’t know if Austin felt the same way about him.


Yes, we said we’d give things time and see what happened, but so far he hasn’t acted as if he sees me as anything other than the buddy he hangs out with.


“You don’t like the idea?” Austin asked.


“Then get off your ass and let’s go shopping,” Austin said, pulling Mark to his feet.


Chapter 25