Hollis is done with hanging around the bar on Valentine’s Day. He’s going to stay in -- alone -- and watch some movies. At least, that’s the plan. But his coworker’s half-brother’s cousin, better known as Ryan, is new in town. And although the lunch they shared was more levels of awkward than a house of cards, fate must want them to become friends, because on his way home after picking up his Valentine’s Day dinner, Hollis runs into Ryan again. The nice thing to do is to invite him up for dinner -- who wants to be alone in a new city on Valentine’s Day, right? The night leads to a dinner offer in return, a night bowling, a dinner party. When Ryan is relaxed, he’s a lot of fun, but he’s also a lot of work, facing off panic and anxiety in waves. But that isn’t a problem, because friends are there for each other. And they are, after all, friends. Just friends. Right?

Holding Hands

Ken saw them first, and stood with an even brighter smile before engulfing Debra in a hug. Hollis prepared for the same treatment—Ken seemed the type—but he was just offered a firm handshake.


“Ken, this is my coworker Hollis Fletcher. Ken, Hollis.”


“Nice to meet you. This is my cousin Ryan Wilde.”


“Nice to meet you. Wilde like Oscar?” Hollis asked as he held out his hand. The young man flinched back, then reached across the space he’d put between them to take Hollis’s hand. Surprisingly, he received a firm grip and not a flopping fish. But Ryan’s initial reaction was still on his mind. He tried to brush it off with his smile. “Sorry, guess you get that all the time.”


“Um, yes.” Ryan took his hand back, practically tucking it away as they all took their seats again.


“Got teased about it all through high school,” Ken said, earning a daggered glare from Ryan.


Chapter 3