The Man Club. It’s the electric place where gay gents pick up one-night stands, hot male dancers work for big tips, and fresh bachelorettes have their steamy, pre-marital parties. Running The Man Club is a crazy job for middle-aged Gyles Beare. Between hiring and firing dancers, keeping wait staff in line, and paying the bills, Gyles tries to have a love life, but it isn’t easy. Not at all. Enter Car Tate. Car lives with Gyles, and has been a solid tenant for the last few months. Handsome. Charming. A good head on his shoulders. Car sometimes works at the club to help Gyles out. He always has Gyles’s back. Lately, though, Car’s been over-the-top nice to Gyles. The sweet and romantic things Car’s been doing for Gyes are oddly pleasant. What’s going on? Is Car in love with Gyles? Is it time for Gyles to confront his hidden feelings and land the man of his dreams?

The Man Club

I stay behind. I take a shower. I drink a hot cup of coffee. I…


There’s a magenta-colored envelope on my bed. It sits on the left pillow. It says my name in script. I pick it up, slice it open with a thumbnail, and pull out a light blue note card. The note card has a personal message on it:


Gyles, thanks for everything you do for me. I’m very appreciative of your friendship. Car.


It’s not the first note card he’s left for me. It probably won’t be the last. He’s creative with this game, if it can be considered a game. I have approximately forty note cards from him in a shoebox in my bedroom. They say different things. Chin up, life is sweet. You look good today. Keep smiling. Be all you can be. Spread the joy. You’re losing weight, let’s have ice cream later.Don’t forget to be thankful.


I’ve told him to write a book with his warm slice-of-life anecdotes. Something short and sweet. Something that can make the world better.


Chapter 4