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

“Help me get him into the operating room,” she told the Monks. They pushed the table across the medical center and into the only white room on the ship. Zoe stripped out of her suit and donned gloves. She picked up a plastic mask and pressed it over his face. “Time to sleep.”


Cillian looked away from her. In the air above him, small birds flew in a circle as though to reassure him that everything would be all right.   7


When he woke up, he was back in the main room of the medical center. Gauze had been taped to his face. He opened the damaged eye, but could see nothing out of it. He groaned.


The noise alerted Zoe to his conscious state. She walked over and shone a light into his working eye. Moments later, she picked up a device Cillian didn’t recognize and began moving it over his body. “What are you—?” But he couldn’t finish his sentence.


Chapter 30