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

“Why did I invite him? I was drunk,” Mitch answered.


Craig’s jaw twitched, and he kept his eyes on the road. “I know that. But why did you invite him? What did you say to him?”


Mitch shrugged, going for nonchalance and knowing he was failing. “Who knows why I did it. Like I said, I was drunk.” He turned to look out the window as they drove in silence. He wasn’t really sure why Craig was so upset anyway or why he’d insisted on it just being the two of them. Yes, they were best friends and it was a way to say goodbye, but didn’t he know Mitch couldn’t say goodbye? That Craig was taking his heart with him when he moved to California?


Last night, when Craig had asked Mitch to go with him to California, he’d known Craig hadn’t meant it. He was just going to miss their friendship. But Mitch had images of sharing the apartment, their life, together, not as roommates, but as lovers—even husbands someday.


Chapter 23