Will a decade-old family feud and long held secrets stand in the way of love? Auden Whipple is searching for a bit of peace and quiet from his loud family when he stumbles across the neighbor, Porter Eldin. Porter is scorching hot on a freezing Christmas Day, and nothing like Auden expected. A moment shared by the creek begins a relationship that surprises them both. As the Christmases pass, Auden and Porter’s relationship deepens. But the obstacle of the unresolved conflict between the Whipples and the Eldins makes Auden worried. Worried to tell his family of his new-found love, worried that the conflict will come between them. Can two men truly in love help mend fences that have been broken for too long? Can the holiday spirit help Auden and Porter find their happily ever after?

Four Christmases

I inhale the spiciness of the tea and take a careful sip so I won’t burn my mouth. I finger my phone, re-reading yesterday’s goodnight messages with Poe, trying to decide whether to text him now or not. He’ll be awake, getting ready for the gym. He never misses his six AM workout, not even on Christmas.


But I turn off the screen. I didn’t expect it, but I enjoy this moment to myself. It gives me time to reflect on yesterday’s events.


As I thought, my family didn’t take the news about me and Poe well. Dylan stormed out of the house without a word. My parents wore pinched looks on their faces and snapped their mouths shut more than once so they wouldn’t say anything they might regret later. The only one taking everything in stride was Granny.


Chapter 14