It’s not easy being a gay man in Utah, but it’s even more difficult when you’re young and overweight. Jay has never fit in with the general “club culture” and he knows he’d never be attractive enough to catch a one-night stand, much less a boyfriend. Losing himself in books and school alleviates his loneliness, and he doesn’t waste time dreaming about what he can’t have. Until he meets the new director of the GLBT Center on campus and promptly falls in love -- against all common sense and logic.<br><br>Hoping to catch a few glimpses of Stephen outside of the Center, Jay decides to start working out at the university gym. The plan turns out to be too successful as Stephen volunteers to be his workout buddy, then invites Jay out to lunch, and finally, kisses him. Jay wants Stephen more than anything, but he can’t bring himself to trust Stephen’s intentions. Not when he knows he’s disgusting and Stephen is so perfect ...

From Behind that Locked Door

Rapunzel left him in the equivalent of a lobby and scampered off to perform some other task. Cillian took a seat and waited, watching the doors where transports docked to the ship.


While the portals opened fairly often, to reveal Monks reporting for duty, it took two long hours before he saw another human, and an additional hour before he caught a glance of the ones he cared about. Henri came running out of the transport and embraced him as he got up. She carried a pink backpack, wore a matching blue uniform, and her thick hair was neatly tied back with colorful plastic hearts. Moments later, Jack appeared, pulling two suitcases and hauling a duffel bag. Cillian rushed over to him and took the luggage so he wouldn’t have to carry it all by himself. Jack held him by the back of his neck and kissed him deeply.


“What happened to your eye?” he asked after having a long look at him.


Chapter 8