Boy Mercury X

I've been really fascinated by the response, because some of the comments about Diane and about Cal really surprised me. I'm not saying anyone is wrong, but I don't see some reflected in the story itself. Most of my stories are about couples who have a connection that in retrospect seems inevitable. In this story I really was try to go for a very grounded story about two guys who plainly like each other, and have a little life experience too, and it's only been three weeks. For what it's worth, my impression is that Nate isn't planning to break things off or he wouldn't have gone to Cal's the night they got back. Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate both.

Also, I could toy with the reveal that it was never Diane who killed he ex, but Cal.

In my comic-horror version, Nate and Diane reach an accord - Nate showing he can be as nuts as she is, resulting a sort of truce.

Buddy, I have to say that based on reader comments, this story has turned out to be an interesting bit of a Rorschach test. I've been surprised by some interpretations. That's not to say they're wrong or less valid than mine, just different and therefore surprising to me.

There's def a comic-horror alternate universe version of this story, more of a showdown between Nate and Diane in which she murdered her husband (Cal's dad) and Nate thinks he's next, but dating is so bad and Cal is so hot that's a chance he's willing to take.

Awesome! Glad to hear it! Of the stories there, the most non-jerk big, thick man story is probably Love, Death & Lattes, or for an even bigger man, A Two-Man Job (both of which are also here on GA).

My one thought here is that Cal seemed to have turned out pretty well.

@Doha, I'm really glad that story landed well with you, especially since it felt like a bit of a departure for me. For anyone interested, this story is also available as a free ebook at my site, josephmercury.com.

Thanks, buddy. Many of my stories are about guys falling for each other in a way that by the end feels inevitable, a few are long term couples. I wanted to try a few guys who have a little bit of life experience, have been having fun for a few weeks, trying to see where things are going.

Chapter Eight: Sunday Morning When Nate woke, the upstairs room was gray. The slider to their deck was locked from last night. Cal’s pillow still had the dent but was cool. Down below, on the main deck, voices—hers, and then his laugh. The club had already assembled. Seven o’clock. This time, Nate stayed where he’d been told to stay. He went down when the house had been quiet long enough to mean they were on the sand. He poured his coffee and didn’t drink much of it. They cam

Who hasn't wanted to linger just a little bit with a guy they like?

Thanks, Chris. I hope you'll stick around for the Sunday conclusion.

Chapter Four: Saturday Morning Nate woke to an empty bed and the sound of the Pacific working the shore. The upstairs room was gray. Cal’s pillow still had the dent from his head, and Nate’s chest still had the ghost of Cal from last night if he felt for the patches. The hallway beyond was quiet. The smaller rooms in the back were nobody’s. Nate walked out to the deck in yesterday’s shirt. They were already down there. There was a long wet shelf of low-tide sand and scattered

Thanks, Chris. Glad you enjoyed it.