When Sam goes on a gay website looking for romance, he finds more than he bargained for. Rejecting all the usual requests for hook-ups, he searches for something more sincere. And he finds it in the most unexpected of places, as he is drawn to the profile of a man in a faraway place. Amir, an Algerian descended from desert nomads, has posted a profile looking for the love of his life. Sam finds it amazing that a gay man born in the Algerian desert has the bravery to not only declare he is gay, but also to admit his dream is to find a husband to spend his life with. While Sam doesn’t consider himself the marrying kind, he starts chatting with Amir, telling himself he just wants to learn about another culture. His friends laugh at him, saying this man just wants to use him to emigrate to the west and take him for his money. But he refuses to believe it, sensing a sincerity he has never seen with anyone else. The two begin a dialogue that moves to weekly Skype sessions, discussions of religion and world politics, assistance with life challenges and, finally, a declaration of love ... and an invitation. Can these two men from vastly different worlds and cultures meet and find common ground for a romance? The challenges are great, and spending a life together seems like an impossible dream. While Sam’s friends continue to discourage him, he knows he cannot give up this man. Is Amir sincere, or is Sam being used? There is only one way to find out if Amir is really sincere. And Sam knows what he has to do.

Not on My Bucket List

“Let’s just stay in Algiers tomorrow without being away from the apartment for the whole day,” I told him. “I haven’t slept in thirty hours, and I have a feeling I’m going to want to take it a little easy tomorrow, not to mention get to know you a little better.” I struggled at this point not to put my arm around him as I might a boyfriend back in the States. “How far is Tipaza?”


“It’s a two-hour bus ride,” he confirmed. “It is a major tourist destination. Many people from many countries go there,” he added, perhaps sensing my trepidation. “We would leave early so as to go through the ruins and be on our way back before it gets too hot.”


“Then let’s do that the day after tomorrow,” I acquiesced. Here I was just a day into my trip and I was already breaking my own rules. But with Amir at my side, I would be fine, right?


Chapter 28