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 had it on good authority,” said Alex. “The instructor told me that I couldn’t take right of way for granted.”


“What the hell?” There was a time for lessons on the importance of defensive driving, and right after a newbie driver was in an accident through no fault of his own wasn’t it.


Alex shrugged. “He had a point, lack of tact notwithstanding. I might have been able to stop in time if I hadn’t been too busy checking the speedometer to make sure I wasn’t going over the speed limit.”


Tom had no words to express how screwed up the situation with the shitty instructor was and how sorry he felt that Alex had carried the guilt for so long. He couldn’t just sit there, so he moved over and gave the guy a hug. Then, when he let go and Alex just looked confused, he tried the words thing. “That sucks. It wasn’t your fault someone drove into you.”


Chapter 23