Heartbroken after the death of his beloved Nana, Hannes, the family outsider, finally allows himself to grieve. The legal battle over Nana’s quirky old house -- the only place he’s ever felt accepted and loved -- is over, and he moves in and finds a sense of peace. ... And a rabbit. An adorable bunny with a huge personality moves in, too, and refuses to leave. Hannes instantly falls in love with the sweet animal who helps heal his heart. But one morning, Hannes’ view of the world changes when the rabbit transforms into a man. A man named Mattis. After the initial shock, Hannes and Mattis discover a connection between them that runs deeper than it seems. Will their newfound feelings survive unraveling secrets and meddling families, and grow into something real? Something deep and everlasting?

9 Willow Street

“If you’ve never told anyone before, why me?”


“I…” He sighs. “It’s a long story.”


“I’ve got time.” I might not throw him out of my house, but I’m not letting him worm his way out of answering my questions. And I have lots of them.


My stomach rumbles, taking this moment to remind me I haven’t eaten since lunch, and that was only an apple and a granola bar. “You hungry?”


“Come on then. You can tell me your story while I fix us dinner.” Without waiting for him, I move to the kitchen, where I grab a bunch of vegetables from the fridge. I’m making us Nana’s carrot soup, the special one with ginger she always made when I was especially upset about something my parents had said or done. I figure if it’s good enough to cheer me up in situations like that, it’ll probably work for the kind of story Mattis is about to tell me. If it doesn’t, nothing will.


Chapter 16