Tom can’t catch a break when it comes to his love life. He isn’t good with romance, as his exes told him in uncharitable terms, and he’s starting to wonder if there’s something wrong with him. So when he finds himself attracted to his temporary roommate, he’s afraid of being called inadequate all over again.<br><br>Alex has serious anxiety which make his life a challenge and his dating prospects slim to nonexistent. He assumes Tom isn’t interested in him because men never are. It’s a pleasant surprise to start a friends-with-benefits relationship, so Alex goes out on a limb in an attempt to impress Tom. When it backfires spectacularly, he thinks all hope is lost.<br><br>Both men are held back by past rejections. Will a minor crisis bring them together ... or tear them apart?

Acts of Service

So he was, though he hadn’t realized that he was even tapping his feet, let alone transferring the motion. “Sorry. I get antsy when I can’t run.”


“Nothing you can do here will help?”


Sex would, but Tom hadn’t gotten the impression it was an option. “I’ll try not to bother you.”


“Oh, that came out all wrong,” said Alex. “I’m not saying you’re bothering me, and anyway you’re in your own apartment. I mean that I understand how it feels when you have too much energy and no outlet. It’s nervous energy for me, of course. Sometimes I feel like I could crawl out of my own skin if only it meant I’d get to rest afterwards.”


Suddenly, Tom’s run-of-the-mill fidgeting didn’t seem so bad. “That sounds awful.”


“It’s not a common occurrence any longer, thankfully. What’s Plan B, when you can’t run?”


Chapter 15