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

“Are you sure? You’ve definitely given enough already.”


“Yeah, I’m sure. I want to help.”


“Well, we’d appreciate it. The Monks haven’t had any luck, and most of us are too afraid to look with any sincerity.”


He laughed, genuinely this time. “Thanks.”


It took two weeks of pestering to get the Monks on board with his plan. He insisted that he was healthy enough to make the trip, that he knew what to look for, and that he was uniquely prepared to catch another fern. He didn’t need any special training to retrieve one, and they were desperate, weren’t they? Why not send someone who had experienced the creature up close? Though Zoe’s antipsychotics weren’t working, he acted like he was feeling better.


Chapter 35