Wayne Gray

They really do. This is very odd for me, in that I'm seeing the numbers move a lot faster than I ever have before. Four pounds in two weeks isn't much for many people, but my body steadfastly resists change ... so this is huge for me. 🙂 Thanks, Reader.

Thank you, Mike. It got a lot easier when I began to focus on eating the things I should eat vs not eating what I shouldn't. There are still things I limit, but it's far simpler to say no to bacon when my belly is full of oatmeal, apples and Greek yogurt.

So far, yes. The really important bit is how good I feel. 🙂 Thanks, tim.

Hehehe. True. One that gets to retire (eventually), hopefully!

Holy crap ... I'm a geek.

Thank you very much for the time spent to comment on the story. Troy's situation, or one very similar, is one many of us could find ourselves in with just a single stroke of bad luck. It's disturbing how quickly our fortunes could change. In comparison, Grant is living in the lap of luxury. I mean, he has to work and he does his own chores and such ... but the comparison is still stark. Thank you again. I hope you continue to enjoy the work.

I now have two weeks under my belt, and I'm beginning week three of my workout/meal regimen. I'm still getting used to some things, but it's a lot easier to roll out of bed at 440 than it was when I started. So far I've lost four pounds and gained strength on the bench and under the bar. It's rare for me to do both at once. I am enjoying this combination of routine and meal planning. If you're interested at all, here's what I'm doing. I hid the details behind spoilers ... because, frankly, most just won't care. lol Meals Workout What I'm doing is working. It means going to bed early, getting up before the sun, closely monitoring my meals, and working really hard, but it's moving the needle in the direction it needs to go. More important is the fact that I can maintain this approach. I'm looking forward to the end of the week when I weigh in again. I've not been below 205 lbs in a while ... and I might hit that mark by Sunday.

Thanks, Parker. Yes ... that's a good way to put it. What the future holds for these guys is still unknown, though we can sort of see a potential path taken. Will they take it? Tune in next week! 😄

Shhhh ... don't tell anybody! Because she's right. To make it in many businesses as someone other than a straight white male you have to be tough. The guys do seem to be swapping things around, don't they? With Ike and Devin it seems mostly physical, while Ben and Frank are linking their lives emotionally. We'll have to see how that all goes. Thanks for commenting!

Half an hour repeating. Some shows are on more often than others according to demand. I also imagine that many of the actors play in wildly different soaps too. This is a soap opera empire with Gail at the head. “All Soaps, All the Time!”

Jessie is definitely a wild card when it comes to ... well, everything. Lol Terrence? Action? He gets plenty enough action. Or do you mean the between the sheets variety?

Hehehe. Yes. She is a bit of a softie. Though, she doesn't let that particular side out very often.

Ike and Devin had quickly cleaned up and thrown on some clothes. Frank heard them whispering in the hall after they exited the shower and both finally entered the kitchen. Frank and Ben were seated at the small table; Ike and Devin sat down across from their men. Ben stared at Devin. His voice was cold when he spoke. "You broke our agreement. I believed you. I’ll never do more than oral if I’m tempted, Ben. I hated that you’d be fucking tempted, but okay. I love … loved you ..." Dev

He's hanging on by his fingernails. You know it's bad when a strange, auditory hallucination is the only thing keeping you going. And think about it ... when John died, Troy went from in a loving, committed relationship to immediately fighting to keep his house. Then, on losing the house he was kept busy trying to survive on the streets. He never really even had time to mourn. Not truly. He was just moving from one crisis to the next, and then attempting to power through it. What will Grant do concerning the journal? Back when it was a simple book, with no obvious connection to anyone, it was easy for him to just read it. But now, Grant has spoken to the man who wrote it, and he is about to meet him. What will he do? We'll see. Thanks, Parker.

Yep, you were right about T = Troy. He and Grant are definitely going to meet. Despite his wishes, it seems fate conspired to leave poor Troy no choice on the matter. Grant has a lot going for him that Troy simply doesn't. We'll see if he's able to help the guy in any way ... if Troy can accept help, even if it's offered. I'm glad you're excited. 🙂 There are quite a few chapters to this one, so you will have quite a bit to read ...

Thanks, Tom. Grant's just out there living his dream, while Troy is mired in a nightmare. Grant's aware of it, though. The journal gives him an insight into Troy that he otherwise wouldn't have. Maybe that will smooth the way? Or, maybe it'll make him overstep and drive Troy away. With Troy's emotions running on overdrive, just from being near the house again, it has to be hard for them both. We'll see how the meeting goes in a few days.

Thanks, Chris. Life is unpredictable, and it took a tragic turn with John and Troy. Often, those left behind in a situation like theirs are left scarred, withdrawn, and bitter. We'll see what, if anything, Grant can do to help him.

Thanks for the great comment, Danners. It's never a bad idea to remind those who have meaning in our lives of that fact. Actually ... I'll be right back. Aaaaand, thanks to you, my husband got a nice kiss he wasn't expecting. 🙂 It was really painful for Troy. What will help him heal from a wound like losing the love of his life? Perhaps ... knowing the house is in good hands will help. We'll see. Grant does have a lot of empathy. He is a provider, naturally caring, and he's in a unique position ... he knows what it is that Troy has suffered. He doesn't realize how difficult life is now for him, but ... that's likely to come out if they spend any length of time together. Thursday is coming. Till then.

Thank you, Sweetlion. I love how this story turned out. I appreciate the great words.

12 November 2018, Monday 5:12 p.m. "See you tomorrow, Grant," the bespectacled, grey-haired man said with a smile. Grant nodded and picked up his laptop bag. "I'm looking forward to it, Dr. Petrucci. Thanks for your help today." The man made a face. "Call me Russell." The two of them walked down the hallway to a door. Russell pushed the external door open. "And you did a great job today. You had good questions, and the patients were all very comfortable with you. Made it a pleasu

This made me grin, thank you, Kitt. There will be changes here and there. Tighten up a few things, perhaps add a scene or two to better "show" some stuff I "told" the first time around. I think there's something weirdly appealing about the journal ... a tiny bit of mystery to start the story off. I think that gets people interested and reading. The hope is that they stay for the rest of it. 🙂

Thanks, Tom. I wanted the lives these men are living to be at extreme edges, without either feeling out of reach for any of us. Grant is doing well, but so could anyone who had the opportunities he had. Then on Troy's end ... many Americans are three months of unemployment away from being homeless. It could easily happen. Troy's position isn't one that's born solely from my imagination; it's one that people I know people have faced.

This sounds like a rapper. I can assure you, that performance would not be pretty. 😳

Don't let fear of losing you hold you back from finding what you could become at the side of someone special. You won't lose who and what you are. Will you change? I hope that you would. I hope whoever you invite into your world pushes, challenges, and lifts you up. I hope they make you smile when you otherwise wouldn't. Any relationship that requires you to lose yourself to follow in it's wake isn't worth exploring. But, this doesn't sound like such a thing. If he's willing to step into the unknown with you ... take the leap, Fae. 🙂

Thank you, Parker. I had hopes that, with time, my father would come around, and we could have a real, honest and complete relationship. It wasn't to be. He loved me ... I know that. It was flawed, but he loved me. At least I had that.