Craig and Mitchell have been friends for years, but each of them reached a point where that camaraderie became ... more. Mitchell’s kept his feelings close to his chest. So has Craig, but now that they’ve graduated from UMKC, he knows it’s his last chance to show Mitchell they’re meant to be before their careers take them to opposite sides of the country.<br><br>He insists they can’t leave Missouri behind without one last adventure. Mitchell agrees to a road trip to visit all the touristy spots and say goodbye to their home state.<br><br>As they spend their days and nights together, buried feelings rise to the surface and hope blossoms. When their journey ends with a dance beneath the Branson stars, will they find love and a future together at the end of the road?

Gateway to Love

Mitchell shrugged, clearly letting his friend off the hook for now. “Where to first?”


Craig looked at his phone. “We’re less than a mile from Mark Twain’s boyhood home. We could just walk over right after lunch.”


Mitchell grinned. “Sounds great.” He dug into his French toast.


They ate in silence for the most part, enjoying the retro-homey feel of the restaurant. Craig wasn’t sure what was going through Mitchell’s mind, but he was just trying to keep himself from reaching across the table and circling Mitchell’s wrist with his fingers. He wanted to touch him. He alwayswanted to touch him.


And then Mitchell’s foot bumped his and stayed put and Craig bit back a grin. Maybe there was hope.


They walked back out into the sunshine, the temperature higher than when they’d arrived. Mitchell opened up a paper map he’d grabbed from the restaurant, showing Craig they were only a block or so from the home.


“Hey, the place is actually a museum,” Mitchell added.


Chapter 8