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

It could have been worse. Romeo’s was a neighborhood joint. Big enough for a decent dance floor, but itwasn’t a huge establishment. I recognized most people there, even if I didn’t know all their names.


Point being, it was on the tame side as gay nightclubs went. But still, I wanted—needed—Greg on my side. Would his opinion change when the existential concept of his brother being gay became in-your-face real by watching him—me—bump and grind on a dance floor with other men? And if I sat it out with him at our table, he’d surely realize I was holding back on his account.


Once again, I got myself all in a twist. Was anything uncomplicated anymore? Maybe it was, and I was simply over-thinking everything.


We approached the tall table where Craig, Bob, Brandon, and Isaac sat. I introduced Wes and Greg to the new faces. “Where’s Randall?” I asked, raising my voice to be heard above the music. “He coming?”


Chapter 18