Julian Junk was often teased about his last name and his father's occupation as a garbageman. Mackensie Keller grew up privileged and spoiled. As teens, Junk and Mickey make plans for their future, but when Mickey is sent off to boarding school, he tells Junk their parents are probably right -- they just don't belong together.<br><br>Back in town ten years later, Mickey is all grown up. He and Junk reconnect as adults, but so much was said, and so much has changed. Though he asks for forgiveness, which Junk grants, though old romantic feelings are quickly rekindled, Mickey is reluctant to bring a new man into his young daughter's life after his last relationship's failure. He's also harboring a secret, one that threatens to spoil upcoming Thanksgiving plans.<br><br>Once Junk discovers the source of Mickey's dilemma, he devises a crafty plan to make everything right. Will it work out? Will Mickey accept his help, and can the two of them make a go of it with so much stacked against them?

One Man's Junk

“I…I don’t know what else to say, Mickey. Are you interested?”


“Interested? Come on, Junk, I think it’s all I ever wanted, ever since I was sixteen, even if I didn’t really know it until a few weeks ago.”


“Absolutely. It’s a plan…a…a hope for now, but, yeah.”


“I did. Then, I hugged him, and he told me to keep both hands on the wheel.”


“Some pretty massive baby steps, but, yeah.”


We walked quite a distance, one hand on the reins, one in each other’s. The quiet darkness around us, the magical dance of snowflakes in intermittent beams of light, there was a dream quality to it all, and I was half afraid I’d wake up and none of it would be real.


“Shh.” I patted S’mores’ side, in case Mickey’s outburst frightened him.


“Why did you pinch me?” he whispered.


“To make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”


“I don’t think it works that way.”


Chapter 37