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

“Speaking of the worst, how are your hallucinations?”


“No. In fact, they’ve gotten a bit…apocalyptic. Dead bodies, messages to kill people—horrifying experiences all around.”


He laughed again, this time out of discomfort. “Oh, you know, just a capybara telling me to off Whalen.”


After a long pause, “It seems like you can’t be rid of him, even though he’s gotten rid of you.”


“Did he give you any reason to think otherwise?”


“No. I just have a feeling. He was so obsessed with me. And then, nothing. Apparently, I haven’t moved on, if my brain is insisting that I interact with him more.”


“I wouldn’t call killing him ‘interacting.’” After a minute to think it over, “Does what Dante said have anything to do with this?”


He shrugged. “I honestly have no idea. It’s weird though, right? My subconscious agrees with his warning on some level.”


Chapter 55