Robert Rex

Good start to what I'm gonna guess will be an interesting tale filled with plenty of plot twists and turns! You've got the set up here for some wildly diverse characters. I'm looking forward to more!

From the "flight or fight" response to a proposal all in one chapter! What a nice turn of events. I'm not sure of all the legal implications of marriage in this context, but it's certainly a romantic touch, and adds a feel-good component that we've seen little of in Andy's life. Now I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop--and can't wait for the next chapter. Superbly done implicit cliff-hanger, damnit...but a good job! (Btw, great to hear Zander's perspective on all of this; either things really are that trouble free--other than his jealousy--or he's a little oblivious to some of the drama around him. Thank god his running buddy helps ground him, and get over his jealousy!)

There's an interesting book that talks about some of the difference in being Southern, "The Southern Belle Primer". Even goes into what the selection of silverware paterns says about the personality--almost like an astrological prediction. Funny, funny!

Well....Craig's sister truly IS a piece of work! Devious doesn't even come close. But, at least now the air is cleared between Jared and Craig. But I really can't wait for the fireworks when Craig confronts his sister....I'll have popcorn ready for that show! Fine writing job here!

Thanks for the kind words, Zenith! It's a remarkably direct relationship that Clayton and Ryan are building--both seem comfortable in just diving in, hitting issue head on. As for the other characters, they DO feel like old friends that we're catching up with; this story is giving us a chance to see a different perspective on their personalities that we didn't get to have in their stories. THANK YOU for reading/following the tale/leaving your comments. I appreciate it!

I'm late to this party...but loving the start....can't wait till I get caught up! Good job!

Glad ya liked the chapter! (and sorry for the delayed response...it's Mardi Gras weekend here, so.... ) It really is great to see how Clayton and Ryan have clicked. Perfect example of "when it's right, it's right". The Bens, on the other hand, seem to be the exact opposite--really feels at this point like it's an out-of-control relationship. Thanks for following along, and for the nice comments!

My first reaction was that Toph was being far to hard on Gary...he's not made the connection of Toph's mom being an employee--until that formal, distant Christmas invitation from her arrived. Who else would have released Toph's address BUT Gary? Grrrrr.... And, I'm thinking there's far more going on with Gary's dad that first appearances would show. Despite their protests, Toph is being steamrolled/manipulated into the new position. And I'm not at all certain that the sudden $50k isn't somehow connected to this--while the money MAY be from Toph's mother, did Gary's dad have something to do with it all? Too damn many coincidences! I'm also suspecting more from Steve--he somehow knows more about what's going on than he's admitted. Isn't paranoia a wonderful thing? (Grin) A totally juicy, delectable chapter with plenty of setups for future plot intrigues. You've done well here!

The return back home is gonna be far tougher than CJ (or Owen) want to admit. There's too much of a connection between the two of em for it to be viewed as just a vacation fling. We'll see. Enjoying the vacation trip with the guys!

Nice story wrap--love it when an author cares enough about his readers to let us see what happens to his characters after the main story ends. Thank you for a satisfying tale!

I suspect the fact that you've mixed feelings about the end of this story really means that there's more of the story to be told. Unfinished business, so to speak. And whether that's a sequel with Devin and Alex or another story, doesn't matter; the unfinished business is you and the continuation of your voice here. Now, take a brief break, then get back to work! (Grin) You're needed here!

Damnation! What a great plot twist with delightful characters, all in story with solid writing. Fun, fun! You did well with this totally charming tale--good job!

Ok, ok, you got me...I was totally convinced Trevor and James would get together, but it was a nice turn of events to have Tom end up as not just a date, but more. It's an interesting and fun tale you've crafted ... glad you put it here!

You've done a great job here of building characters that immediately elicit emotional responses. Brad is a bastard, Denny is a good guy, Avery is great a keeping a secret--and Gabe? Well, not a big fan--he's far too desperate, far too willing to put his emotions out there; perhaps that vunerability is what makes him someone worthy of a happy ending. Thanks for telling an involving story that had me wondering who the secret admirer really was--good job!

This is a different perspective on telling a story--it's almost like having "dateline" or "20/20" tell the tale. Our lead character has had it tough, but took a chance that worked. And the ending is a "happy for now" which leaves the future open for follow up. Glad this tale got told--a solid story here!

It's a nice change of pace from the "happy ever after" of many stories. You've painted an emotionally diverse--and likeable--character in Mike, and despite his melancholy (or because of it) he touches a chord in all of us. A complex tale well told! Thanks for the solid writing!

Colin comes across as a realistic great guy; hell, I'd love to grab a drink with him! Kenneth is the somewhat shy, thinking type, who's definitely "other directed". You've done a masterful job of creating great, intriguing, involving characters! AUGH! You've made my choice of favorite story a challenge, durn your hide! Good job!

Like Lisa, I'm not really into historical fiction, but you've done a superb job, and sucked me into a vivid, movingly-told story ... And made choosing my favorite among this group that much more difficult, damnit! Really solid writing, and the ending was gratifying. THANK YOU!

You've torn headlines from today's newspaper and made 'em into an interesting and believable story. Quite frankly, I wasn't prepared to enjoy this story, and what turned out to be its twisted/turning plot lines as much as I did! Talk about a "secret admirer"! This story screams for a sequel, all told from "Casey's" point of view. An interesting and involving tale. You've done well! More, more!

Hate to see this story end...you've created some great characters here, and the plot line allowed both plenty of action as well as growth of the characters, plus the growth of Devin's and Alex's relationship. It might be fun to catch up with both of them after college is done, and they're starting out in the professional world (whether as a couple or alone is your call.) You've done a damn fine job with this tale--congratulations! We're looking forward to more from you!

Like everyone else, Andy included, I believe we've not heard the last from CPS. The situation you'd described with the shadow CPS agents was uncomfortably close to kidnapping! I'm grateful Andy didn't run away from such a great family/school situation, much less leave his boyfriend. I'm also curious to hear from Zander. Admittedly, this was more Andy's chapter, but the impression I'm left with is that Zander's forced outing had little impact on him, regardless of Bruce's behavior on the track. I guess that means I'll hafta wait till the next superbly written chapter appears.... (Grin)

Damn, damn, damn! You made me cry like a kid with this one... Just ...brilliant. Moving to the point of overwhelming. And a story so well told, it crushed my heart before I knew it'd grabbed me. Absolutely incredible.....

Great story...the premise of Cupid and guardian angel is genius! You did well!

What an enjoyable story! Nicely done characters, with enough details on them to keep us interested. And don't we all wish we had a boss like that! Good job!

The battle-scarred ’97 red Ford Ranger listed to the front passenger tire, a victim of a leaking shock absorber. Inside, Terry Daniels pounded the cracked steering wheel. Although we can’t hear what’s said, we can see his mouth form the words, “shit, shit, shit”. Terry has just discovered another “gift” from his secret admirer. This one is a Beany-Baby, a floppy-eared hound dog holding a sign in one paw that reads, “Be My Valentine”. Appropriate, since the lover’s holiday is only five days away