Fred Munson likes his job as a traffic cop. He’s good at it. It’s his personal life that could use some improvement. With no friends, and being too shy to talk to anyone while out of uniform, when Fred is forced to use some of his vacation time, he has nothing to fill his days. At least not until he comes home to find his driveway blocked by a stranger with car troubles. A month after losing his father, Zen Zeppelin Cave has also lost his place in the world. The only thing holding him together is focusing on a charity junk car race to raise money for cancer research. And he's crossing that finish line even if he ends up replacing every part of the car along the way. Zen had planned on completing the race on his own, but a spur-of-the-moment decision changes that when he invites the adorable, blushing police officer whose driveway he’s blocking to tag along. Going with a stranger on a road trip is completely out of Fred’s comfort zone, so when he accepts the invitation, no one is more surprised than himself. Together, Zen and Fred head south. But will the old junk car hold together long enough to reach their destination? And will crossing the finish line mean the end of the road for a budding romance, or will they find there’s more to their journey?

Banger Challenge

“What?” Zen threw his hands in the air. Were they going to stand in the rain and argue about…something?


“Or he me, depending on what we’re in the mood for.” Zen was not, however, in the mood to explain anything to Jayden. Justin was laughing so hard Zen feared he’d hurt himself.


“Oh my God, this is the best day I’ve had in ages.” Justin kissed Zen’s forehead before hopping into the car next to Fred.


Jayden shook his head. “I never really believed Justin, I guess I thought better of you.”


“Better how? What the fuck are you talking about, Jay?”


Jayden shook his head. “I like you Zen, but I can see your dance card is full.”


“What? What the hell are you talking about? Fred and I are together, we’re moving in together. Justin is my best friend and has been since we were teens.”


Jayden nodded. “Yeah, and that answers it, right? You’re taken.”


Zen stared. He’d always figured Jayden liked Justin. “Yes, I’m taken.”


Chapter 36