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

He got up and walked slowly back to the ship. The creature bounced back and forth inside the box, but he kept a good hold on it.


As he rejoined the group, it occurred to him that the fern might be another hallucination. He stared at it. But he couldn’t tell. It seemed real. But then, so did everything else he’d been experiencing. There was only one way to know for sure. He approached the engineer and the scientist, who were busy talking, and held up the box. Carefully constructing his words, “Were you two as successful as I was?”


They turned to look at him. They’re faces immediately changed to ones of joy. “Oh, wow! You did it!” said the scientist. Cillian breathed a sigh of relief as the two rushed over to him and began inspecting his captive. “This one’s even bigger than the first. This is amazing!”


The Monks were equally thrilled. “Good job, Cillian,” said Rapunzel. “Let’s bring it to the laboratory. We can continue exploring later.”


Chapter 36