Dan Holstrom is a middle-aged widower who spent the past year wallowing in grief. His daughter is determined to get him out and socializing again, and to that end, she enlists her boyfriend, Bruce, a personal trainer at a gym, to coach her father. Bruce decides to involve his own father, Luke Fraser, to get Dan back among the living. Luke Fraser is a gay man, a gym aficionado, and an all-around nice guy. When his son Bruce explains he has a new client who is a non-active bisexual man who withdrew socially after the death of his wife, Luke is intrigued and willing to help. An attraction grows between Luke and Dan which slowly morphs into something more. However, Dan’s insecurities cause the budding relationship to cool, and Luke is seen out and about with another man. Reluctantly Dan agrees to accompany Luke to Calgary, where the mystery man in Luke’s life reappears. Dan’s ready to give up and go back to his semi-reclusive life. When a misunderstanding jeopardizes their relationship, is it too late to rebuild things between the two men?

Love, Again

We left the credit union and drove to the gym. It was second nature now, and I was as helpful spotting Luke as he had been with me. The companionship was warm and I couldn’t help but wonder when the other shoe would drop. I sensed that Luke wanted to take things further. I haven’t been with a man for almost forty years, and even then it was only mutual hand jobs. I wondered if I was being fair to him, or worse, leading him on. He hadn’t complained, but he’s a man and likely misses the physical part of a relationship.


Luke coaxed me from the treadmill to run on the indoor track. We started out easy enough, but I was getting winded. Glancing at Luke I said, “Don’t hold back for me. Do your usual pace and I’ll catch up, or not.”


Chapter 8