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

“No, of course not. I was just worried. Father Whalen is a bad man. He could have hurt you. I don’t want you to see him anymore, okay?”


“Okay, Dad.” After a minute of walking, “What did he do that’s so bad?”


He took a moment to decide what to tell her. Cillian went with a vague answer. “He lies to people who care about him, and he hurts them.”


She hugged him. He patted her on the head, and changed the subject to her day at school. They walked the rest of the way with Henri talking carefree about the lessons learned and the finer points of her friends’ lives. Cillian didn’t bring Whalen up again until Jack got home.


“What?!” was his initial response. Then, “This is—this is dangerous, Cillian. This guy thinks he can get away with anything. What are we gonna do?”


“I have no idea. I don’t think he had any plans to hurt Henri, but—”


Chapter 26