Quiet and imaginative, Derek O'Reilly spends a lot of time watching a movie in his head. His fiancé Nathan wonders why Derek hasn't taken any interest in their wedding planning, and Aunt Fran -- his spiritual guru -- would like to know when her guilt-tripping nephew became a kept boy. When she drops Derek's childhood journal on his lap, he's forced to remember the name he's been trying to forget since he was twelve years old. Nicolai Lund. Nick was Derek's neighbor ... and first love. Weeks before Derek's engagement party, a chance meeting with Nick catapults Derek into the past. But Nick isn't that seventeen-year-old rebel anymore. He's a man hardened by invisible scars. A man struggling with grief. As Derek reads through his childhood diary, he realizes what Nick was to him, still is today, and yet might be ... NOTE: This edition has been expanded and substantially edited.

Split

I burned from within, but walked slow, to the edge of the mantle. I wanted to pick the picture up to study his heartbreaking face more closely but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to let it go.


“That’s Nico,” Boone whispered, standing behind me. “In case you didn’t recognize the cocky son ofa gun.”


All of Hell’s temptations, and some of Heaven’s expired offers.


Boone bent to my ear. “Take a breath, Red.” He pinched my side. “Mr. Roboto’s watching you.”


“Who?” I asked under my breath, still gazing at Nick’s smile. “Stop it. Nate is—is okay, just co—comes off as a jerk sometimes.”


“Whatever you say, man.” Boone’s voice dropped to an almost inaudible whisper. “Just hope your boyfriend loaded up on KY, ‘cause he’s gonna be hurting when that stick comes out of his ass.”


This time, a loud, unpolished laugh shot out of my mouth.


Chapter 48