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

I caught Dad’s gaze and gave him a little smile that I hoped conveyed my appreciation for all he’d been for me over the years. He wasn’t perfect, but he did love us all. His efforts to do the right thingby me had been misguided. Hell, downright wrong. But he’d never have gone that far off the rails.


His mouth quirked up briefly in return. I still couldn’t quite read him, but got the impression there was some remorse gnawing away below the surface.


The party busted up soon afterward. Greg left for a while with Marie. I gave Wes a call and filled him inon what had happened since our earlier conversation—he’d probably end up hearing about it from Marie,anyway—then I rejoined Mom and Dad to watch movies on TV and act like it was just another evening at home.


Chapter 41