Thom Baron has been struggling with social anxiety his entire life. He's taken the medications, gone to the therapists, followed the programs, and concluded his best life is a solitary one. When he comes across a dog in obvious need at his local market, it rekindles the desire to have some company around. It may come with a dishevelled coat, a notched ear, and a refusal to respond to anything but its given name "Ugly," but it could still be a friend.<br><br>However, Thom's new fur buddy has no such need to keep to itself and immediately befriends the man Thom has secretly coveted since he moved in -- Justin, Thom's gorgeous, bright-eyed neighbour. No matter how Thom tries to evade the man, the dog keeps drawing them back into each other's lives, and it doesn't take Thom long to recognize it's simply pursuing the demands of Thom's own heart. With the dog giving him the courage to try, Thom reaches out to return the love being offered.<br><br>Until a stranger shows up insisting the dog is his and demanding its immediate return ... a loss Thom knows will take all of his efforts and newfound confidence with it.

But by the Grace of Dog

“I can…I don’t even…you’re not, and I’m not, and this is…”


“Um,” Justin lifted both hands, cupped them, and then mimed weighing the air. “If the answer is both, then you should probably say ‘yes’ to both options. Not ‘no.’”


“I’m…I don’t know.” Thom pushed Justin’s hands back into Justin’s lap. “I’ve never actually had sex with another man, okay? I’ve barely had sex with women. Awoman. I’ve almostsort of, not really, had sex with her and—” he paused, considered “—only almost, and only like two times. We kissed. We did…well, we didn’t even really do anything beyond that. We…never mind. It doesn’t matter!”


Justin tilted his head. “But you aregay?”


Chapter 30