Andy Howard dropped out of college to get away from his abusive father. When his longtime boyfriend reveals similar tendencies, Andy refuses to endure another moment of it, running away with nothing more than the cash in his pockets. He makes it to Virginia, where he's taken in by Scooter Stahl, a restaurant owner looking for an extra hand who's willing to be paid cash under the table.<br><br>Scooter's been struggling for years: to keep the beachside restaurant he inherited from his parents above water (both financially and literally); to live down the fact that he's gay in a small southern town; to get over the man who's owned his heart since he was fourteen. But he's never had to struggle as hard as he is now, to keep his hands off Andy.

Nights in Sandbridge

“I’ve been to baseball games before,” Andy said.


“Not like this, you haven’t,” D’ante promised. He leaned out the kitchen door. “Scooter! You need to go have some fun, man.”


Faintly, from Scooter’s office, came the response, “Fun? What’s that?”


Kat leaned around D’ante. “Andy hasn’t been to a Tides game yet! You will take him.”


“So you want me to torture the poor guy?” Scooter appeared in the office doorway, hair sticking up in all directions as if he’d been shoving it back repeatedly. “The Tides are terrible. Like, horrible, horrible baseball. D’ante’s nephew’s T-ball team plays better.” He brightened a bit. “Is it dollar-dog this week? That’s always worth it.”


“So next time I owe you, I’ll bring you tickets to one of Jody’s games. Tides is what I got right now,” D’ante said. “Man up and go watch some bad baseball, yell insults at the third baseman, and eathot dogs that are guaranteed to give you heartburn.”


Chapter 17