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

The plane taxied down the runway and took off, and I turned my gaze to my book. I’d brought Andy Weir’sThe Martian because I’d read it before and loved it, and I’d figured I might be distracted, so it’d be best not to try to follow a new story.


I opened the book, read the first three lines with the character thinking he was “pretty much fucked,” and closed it again. I didn’t believe in omens, but that summed up how I felt. It was just a question of degree.


The beverage cart rattled down the aisle with the two flight attendants working together. I was near the back, so it didn’t take long to reach me. I got a ginger ale, hoping it would settle my stomach. My seat partner got a beer, and thankfully didn’t do or say anything rude. Apparently, he was more of a behind-your-back bigot rather than in-your-face. Not that he deserved any honor for that.


Chapter 28