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

“Aren’t you leaving?” Since Abe was in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, Jonas assumed he was off the clock. Karen had always been dressed in gym clothes unless she was leaving for the day.


“You’ve already said hi, so…” Jonas widened his eyes.


“Just watching you walk through the corridors. I love watching you walk, always did.”


“Abe,” Jonas said it in a scolding tone, but his heart refused to calm down.


Some of the playfulness bled away from his face. “Right. I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a nice afternoon, Jonas.” Then he turned around and walked toward the copy room. Jonas swallowed a moan.


Chapter 14