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

“How did it get them with the door closed?” he asked no one in particular.


Rapunzel spoke up for the first time since the mission started. “He must have closed it. Which means—oh no…”


Shouting began. When the camera swiveled, a reaction to a metallic sound, Cillian saw Whalen, pieced back together and still in the nude. The face had a seam down the middle, and the lips were not perfectly aligned. One of Whalen’s eyes didn’t move right. The mouth opened, showing missing teeth. The noise that came out wasn’t human: a combination of screeching and roaring.


Bullets and blasts barely cut into it. Some seemed to bounce off, leaving small marks behind. It closed its mouth, shutting off the sound abruptly, and gave something like a grin. It bolted toward them. The closest soldiers had their heads smashed together. The firing continued, but the voices of the men and women were frantic, calling for reinforcements.


Chapter 72