PrivateTim

I'd forgotten all about Jason, but not Joaquin and certainly not Alejandro. He is one of those peripheral characters I always really liked. Maybe he will make some cameos along the way.

Let's face it, if Matt and Wade are to stay in the story as lead characters, and I believe they will, shit is gonna happen....

I had a friend who was the ultimate wolf. He wasn't bad looking, but neither was he amazing, yet he could charm almost anyone into bed, including straight guys. I was never there to hear what his pitch or style was but I saw the results. I was really new at picking up strangers, but my friend told me it wasn't about looks, it wasn't about your car or anything like that, it was about confidence. To prove his point once, we were in a mall in the middle of summer and he asked me who the cutest guys around were. I pointed to a group of three or four very cute guys, I didn't know them but I pegged them as water polo/swimmer dudes; they had the look. So anyway, my friend goes over, talks to them about five minutes, comes back and has the phone numbers of two of the guys, both of whom he later wound up sleeping with, one of whom he 'passed on' to me. Both of these guys were straight, or at least identified that way, and my friend charmed them into bed. One of the two he would see periodically for a couple of years and it was mostly to hook up. The one he passed on to me, we hooked up several times and went out a bit more as friends and he was a Darius type with the ladies, but his initial walk on the wild side with my friend convinced this straight guy that he could be straight and still 'fulfill his needs" in other ways. It was crazy. It is nice to see Lou figuring things out. And I remember Acapulco! 🤐

OMG, name a rich, successful 50 year old man who'd choose to be with a 50 year old woman when he could be with a 25 year old woman. I know I shouldn't....it goes completely against my philosophy and beliefs.... but I really like Lou. Maybe it is because he is French and I have low expectations... but I do like him. I hope he gets his act together and keeps it together.

Bah.... 142', that isn't even 45m. The circles Stef travels in a 100m yacht is the bare minimum. Their neighbors down PCH, Paul, Dave and Larry, all have 100m+ ships. Good news for now, but this is CAP.

Loneliness is huge driver in relationships. I know a lot of people who 'settle' just so they don't need to be alone. I had one friend who got dumped by his boyfriend of 4 or 5 years; he was completely blindsided. I would have been a basket case unable to even think about dating for a year at least, yet he was dating a new guy in less than two weeks. Insecurity is the currency of Hollywood. It doesn't matter how big and successful you are, you constantly fear failure, humiliation and being replaced. There is no one in Hollywood more successful or insecure in Hollywood than.... oh I won't name him.... let's call him Dom Bruise.

I don't think the Grangers would have. It would be inconsistent with how they have been in the past, trying to get Lark out of Max's life. I certainly don't think Janice would stand by and see her son raped by someone she can't stand because Max wouldn't wear an orange polo shirt. But I understand the literary need for something dramatic to make the break complete. I just don't quite buy it. Despite that, this has still been a marvelous, if too short story and time with Marcel. It is nice to see Lou getting some self-awareness, it is nice to see Max and Marcel doing well and it is to see Greg relaxing a little. I do hope if there is a future rewrite of this story that it would be a dual narration with Brad and Marcel. I'd love to see 8 year old Darius, 6 year old Jeremy and 5 year old Will.

Have you ever been a parent or seen Toy Story 3? OMG, the Grangers are NOT bad news, they are good, loving parents who raised a great young man. It is Max's fault he didn't assert himself sooner with them. My mother stopped trying to dress me when I was 13 when I told her in no uncertain terms I was not going to wear the "back to school" clothes she was picking out for me. With my father, it was when I made it crystal clear I was not going to major in finance and join his investment firm after graduation. Part of Max's problem was they saw his bad decisions in always going back to Lark and they knew he still needed some parental guidance. Part of growing up is knowing when to listen to others, and when not.

If I was in a new relationship with a guy, the LAST place I'd take him would be a gay club in Boystown. Oh, and if I was Marcel, I'd call Brad to clue him in on Lark and his antics. Lark is sure to turn up back in CA and try to get what he can out of Brad.

So for five or more years Marcel obsessed on John Paul, finally got to be with him and less than three months ago he was so despondent over losing the ultimate love of his life he could not function, but now after four or five dates he loves Max more? I think Max is right to be worried. Having a partner who fucks around on you just because he is mad at you is not a good thing. It is good that Marcel was honest with Max about Moscow.

Uh, I think it was Chapter 1 of Be Rad. Lark has ALWAYS been an asshole, ALWAYS been a user, ALWAYS been bad for whomever he was with. He did treat Brad the same way; Lark was "straight", but was always jealous when Brad liked someone and treated that person badly. When Lark didn't need something from Brad, he'd blow him off. Very poor judgment from Marcel on taking a drug he knew nothing about. He had unsafe sex with multiple people, lost his Rolex and Mercedes and is lucky to be alive. The one good thing from being mugged is he is reconnecting with Max.

Marcel pushed faster and further than Max was ready for. Marcel is a slut, Max is not. Marcel should have respected that. I do know where this winds up, but that doesn't excuse Marcel's behavior. Max does have to own letting himself get drunk enough to do something he would not do sober.

I think even in 1991, no meant no. When Max basically told Marcel he wasn't interested, that should have been enough. Whether or not Max "really wanted it" or enjoyed it isn't the issue. People need to respect boundaries.

Lark is one of my least favorite characters in all of CAP. He isn't fully evil like Neil, but he is a succubus.

Marcel is one of the few Hayes I actually like, but this chapter he was an asshole, immature, selfish and petulant. Oh... and a fucking pussy. He knew the relationship was going to end. Marcel is the one blowing it with his behavior. If he had showed more maturity John Paul might have agreed to be friends with benefit over holiday periods. All Marcel has shown him is he cannot handle adult situations.

Marcel was pushed out of his family. I have an idea between Stef and Marcel's new financial position, Marcel's siblings have a brighter future.

Too much sex. Can't someone die, get kidnapped or have a riot??? 😝

I prefer Carlin to Shakespeare, "it is okay to prick your finger just don't finger your prick".

I've pretty much for gotten everything about this book.....

I can't say what I want without it being a spoiler, but this chapter brings a lot of joy and some sadness. Thanks for this new take on an old story.

There is a great movie about surfing in the Great Lakes, Unsalted. It is amazing these guys are so dedicated that they will go out in January to surf.

Brad will when he becomes a Cal Dad. Will will too.

I am guessing the last chapter was split in the rewrite of this story?

I find it odd that fiction can effect me so, especially fiction I've read before, but Marie's passing caused me to shed a tear. She led a remarkable life, had her share of love, heartache and was central in so many ways. I hope as CAP moves on beyond Gap Year that Will and Marie never lose their connection to France and the de Grand-Pré family, despite some unhappy moments in Paris.

If I remember, Lark has already met the son he didn't know.