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

“I don’t mind talking about it on principle. It’s just that in my experience, most people who ask only want to know what’s wrong with me and why I don’t fix it.” He needlessly smoothed his hair behind his ear.


“That’s not what I’m getting at. I was hoping maybe I could understand you a little better.”


For instance, if I wasn’t always saying lovey-dovey stuff, would you worry that I didn’t care?


Chapter 18