Art teacher Stone Larrabee dreads parent/teacher conferences. One following Christmas break becomes especially awkward, when a man with whom he shared a hot anonymous hookup and a nasty argument afterward walks in. Edison Watts.<br><br>The moment they’re reunited, sexual sparks reignite. Too many conflicts force Stone to decree there can never be anything between them but the one night, though, even as fate keeps throwing them together throughout the school year, and developing feelings become hard to ignore.<br><br>Some problems are easily solved while others, including the reason for Edison’s initial attraction to Stone and the chip on Edison’s shoulder bigger than the high school’s football field, prove more difficult. Stone can teach, but he decides must also be willing to learn and grow. When Edison promises to do the same, can they find a way to make one and one equal two?

Substitute Teacher

“True. I won’t be chased from here, anyway. North Carolina is home, one with mostly wonderful, kind, and accepting people. I’m grateful for that, and I’m truthful, because why shouldn’t I be? If it helps someone else, I’m glad.”


“Maybe we’ll get there someday, Mr. Larrabee.”


“I had a gay teacher,” Edison said, watching Stone’s jiggling foot. “I’m pretty sure he was gay. I told him I was. Then he made my life miserable for the next two years, sent me to the school psychologist, who told me I was going to hell.”


“Yup. This wasn’t that long ago, either. Well, ten years…or more. I won’t say how many more.”


When Stone smiled, he almost got one back. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”


“Being in this building, it all comes back. I never had much use for school after that…or before, really.”


“You said that already.” Edison stood, so Stone did, too. “You get with the other two gay teachers?”


Chapter 8