Mike’s life is carefully compartmentalized. He’s deep in the closet to his family back in Kansas, but lives life honestly and openly in Austin. He’s unnerved when Wes, his old university crush, turns up at his door in answer to a roommate advertisement, but quickly sees the potential ... benefits of the arrangement. Wes has never doubted nor denied his sexuality. With the support of his family he’s an out and proud LGBT activist.<br><br>On the scale balancing his self-esteem on one side, and the love of his family on the other, Mike has to decide which weighs more. Is Mike being fair to his parents by not giving them the chance to know his real self? When the delicate balance of his life is disrupted, he decides he’s tired of living a lie. Will Wes understand his concerns, or will their fledgling relationship crumble under the strain of Mike’s uncertainty?

Closets Are for Clothes

We sat at my little dining table with the short roommate agreement I’d found on a legal website.


He took a few minutes to look over the form. “This looks reasonable. How soon can I move in? I’m set upin temporary quarters at a motel right now.”


“Anytime is fine. I’m working tomorrow, so if you want help we can do it this afternoon.” I was a structural engineer—which Wes knew since the topic of our respective jobs had come up during our pre-interview phone call—so I worked regular business hours, plus the occasional Saturday.


“If you don’t mind, yeah, that’d be great. I don’t have much stuff to move, but enough to appreciatethe offer. Boxes of books, my clothes, some linens, computer stuff.”


Wes signed the bottom of the agreement with a flourish.


One trip was all it took using both our cars. “I need to introduce you to the concept of e-books,” I huffed as I lugged the last of five boxes of books up the stairs.


Chapter 4