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

After everyone was ready, the backs of the ships opened, and they began to leave. The moment Cillian set foot on an alien planet, he forgot all about how annoying the suit was. The Monks began celebrating. They danced in place and chatted in their language while the scientists gazed at their surroundings in pure wonder and astonishment.


They were situated right at the edge of some kind of forest. Behind them, gray rocks stretched out as far as they could see. There were trees. Or rather, something very like them. Instead of bark, the whole plant was green, and the leaves encircled the trunks. There were no branches, just one large stem that twisted toward the sky, which was white and overcast. Wind whipped the tops of the “trees” back and forth.


As they approached, Cillian noticed that the smaller plants were just baby versions of the big ones. There were no differences. Moreover, the leaves all had black spots, and the trunks were bumpy and smooth like gourds.


Chapter 29