Abe Cooper is starting over. For fifteen years he's lived the life that was expected of him, but not anymore. He's packed up his things, bought himself a cabin in Northfield, and managed to secure a job at the local high school teaching gym and coaching the football team. But his new beginning didn't include running into Crazy Joe on his first trip to the grocery store.<br><br>Jonas Raghnall has everything he needs -- good friends and a job he loves. He's worked hard to get over what happened sixteen years ago, but one run-in with his past and all the memories come flooding back. Seeing Abe Cooper, The Abe Cooper, sets everything out of balance.<br><br>Abe had pictured a fresh start with no ties to his past, but now that Jonas is there, he wants nothing more than to be close to the man who had butterflies filling his belly when he was in high school. Jonas doesn't want to come face to face with his past, but if he sees Abe every day, it's not really meeting up with your past, is it? It's more like a date with your future.

Crazy Joe

“I liked you, in high school, I reallyliked you.”


Jonas snorted. “You didn’t even know my name. The day before yesterday, you called me Crazy Joe.”


“I…” Abe pursed his lips, a crease appearing between his eyes. “It wasn’t easy.”


Jonas laughed and went to drop the pizza boxes on the kitchen table. “Oh no, poor Abe Cooper. Football star of the school, had more girls than he could keep track of, and didn’t have to do shit to pass his classes. I can see how it was hard for you.”


Abe crowded him again, and Jonas questioned his sanity. He shouldn’t provoke Abe. He might not play football anymore, but he was built like a linebacker. He didn’t look angry, though. There was regret written all over his face.


“It wasn’t like that.” Abe’s voice was deep and low and a shiver skidded over Jonas’ skin.


“How was it then?” The wall was coming up behind him. For each backing step he took, Abe took one forward.


Chapter 11