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

In front of them was Angel, lying in a pool of whitish blood. The Monk’s body rose and fell as it continued to breathe, but the act looked labored, and he suspected that Angel didn’t have long.


There were cuts along the left side of its body, culminating in a deep gash where its biggest eye belonged. A small group of humans had come to Angel’s aid, trying to hold the cuts closed and apply pressure to the wounds. Cillian told Henri to stay put and rushed over to the alien’s side. He pushed the others away, took off his coat and pressed it against the eye. “Oh God, Angel, what happened?!”


A flourish of clicks and buzzing came as its only answer. He had no idea if Angel even knew he was there. “Go get Zoe! Go get the doctor!” he ordered the others. One man took off in the direction of the medical center. But Cillian knew she couldn’t get there fast enough. Behind him, he heard Henri crying.


Chapter 24