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

“You claim to hate Miley Cyrus,” D’ante said, “even if you know all the words to ‘Wrecking Ball.’ Don’t deny it; I’ve heard you singing when you’re sweeping the porch.”


“And you like sour gummies from Mrs. Collin’s shop, and chocolate covered coffee beans,” Scooter finished off, and then whispered in his ear, low enough to not be heard by anyone else, “and you like itbest when you ride me.”


Oh, God. Oh God. They all knew him. They all knew him. They knew him, not a mouthy brat or a flirty party-boy or a malleable pet. When was the last time anyone had seen through all the walls and the masks? When was the last time he’d let himself be genuine—and when was the last time someone had actually wanted him that way? Not Nick for certain, not even in the early months when things had been so good between them.


His hands were shaking too hard to hold the ice cream. He had to put it down on the table and curl into Scooter’s chest, overwhelmed and balanced on the edge of tears.


Chapter 87