Wayne Gray

I think this chapter is, really, where Nate begins to truly show how much he has grown, and what he's capable of. Love does crazy things to people, it really does. Thanks for helping me polish it up, Thorn. 🙂

If it makes you feel any better, it makes me cry too. Thanks for coming on the journey with me.

Thanks, Chris. Yep. Now we and Nate all know what's wrong. We'll have to see how Nate deals with it - and Chris too.

I can see that. Chris and Tad both circle one another - emotionally at least. They can't help it. It goes back to that fundamental truth - they still love each other. There's no escaping that, not when it's as strong as it is between them.

Yeah. Yeah, I know. This chapter is a keystone of the book. It's where the central struggle is revealed - the singular thing which defines the story, and what is to come for all the characters in it. Tad is more than his condition, though. Stick with me. I'll do my best to make it worth the trip.

Thanks for the additional information. 🙂 Languages are weird, wonderful things.

The Monday shift was a more relaxed time for Kent at work. He didn't have to deal with Nate, as the redhead had the day off. That meant Kent could just do the job and not think about anything else. It wasn't that Nate tortured or actively tried to make things worse for him. Simply seeing him was still difficult for Kent, though he was slowly working through his issues with both Nate and himself. On some level, Kent knew that Nate was a reminder of his unresolved struggle with his sexuality.

I managed to squeeze a page and a half onto the screen. 😳 I'm trying! lol

Here's another one. This one is for you low carb/diabetic folks out there. I am doing this one tonight. 🙂 Cauliflower "Fried Rice" with Cashews and Chicken Ingredients US Customary 1 medium head of cauliflower — cut into florets 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons sesame oil — divided 3 eggs — beaten 1/4 cup cashews 1 lb chicken skinless/boneless thighs ½ cup white onions — diced 1 cup carrots — diced 2 cloves garlic — minced 1 cup frozen green peas 2 tablespoons soy sauce fresh black pepper to taste 6 green onions — minced, for garnishing sesame seeds — for garnishing Instructions Pulse the cauliflower florets in a food processor for about 25-30 seconds until it's a rice-like consistency. Cut chicken into small chunks. Saute in olive oil. A minute into cooking add cashews. Set aside once done. Into your hot skillet, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil over medium heat. Add the eggs, and stir them until they are cooked. Set aside. In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil, onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook until the veggies are fully cooked. Add the cauliflower rice, green peas, soy sauce, black pepper, and the cooked eggs. Mix everything well to combine. Do not overcook. Otherwise, the cauliflower will become soggy. Before serving, top with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading and commenting, tim. I'm happy you're reading along. There's more to come on Thursday. 🙂

That's so wild. Thanks for the additional info on orgasms. I write erotica, I need to know this stuff. Yeah, I felt like Markus needed more "screentime" for things to really make sense. I'm glad you like them, Fae. 🙂

He is, and he doesn't really even know what's happening. Tad is interested, but he's assuming Nate just wants to play. And Tad is down with that, thanks to what you pointed out, how well they fit sexually. Chris seems pretty sure, doesn't he? We'll see if he turns out to be right. Thanks for reading, Timothy. 🙂

Nate wasn't looking for "the one". He ran face-first into someone who inflicted a lot of emotion on him effortlessly. But, that's how it often happens - just, "BAM". I realize at this point, that particular mystery of Tad and Chris is intriguing to some, and grating to others. Stay tuned. I won't leave you hanging long. Thanks for reading and commenting, Mac!

I had NO idea orgasms were called "the little death". That's... strange. lol Thanks for commenting, Thorn!

He did, and he wasn't even trying. As for Tad getting upset... there's apparently still a bit of rawness there. And yes... Nate is jealous. Many emotions he is not used to dealing with, and that's one of them. Thanks for reading, Chris!

Yep. lol Wouldn't that be a fun twist?

Heya. Probably not until I’ve finished posting Fleeting Eternity. Having trouble plotting this one, and I’m focusing on making Fleeting Eternity as polished as it can be. I’ll come back to it though.

It’s possible that Tad has inspired something in Nate that he has never felt before. Time will tell. Sometimes we make choices that are impossible. Choices that don’t have a right answer. Tad made one, and it was something Chris couldn’t accept.

Maybe a bit of both. But I remember what it was like just coming to terms with being gay. It was raw for me. Just as it is for Kent. Thanks for commenting!

NATE is indeed a player. He doesn’t pretend to be anything else either. Thanks for giving this story a read!

The food and experience at Brick and Fire were always superb, though potentially expensive. Additionally, the process of getting through ordering told Tad a few things about Nate. "Uh," Nate looked over the menu, "how much was that bottle of wine?" "$49 for the bottle." Tad watched as Nate flinched a little. "Oh. All right." He bit his lip and frowned worriedly at the items on the paper menu in front of him. "I will probably just get the mushroom cobbler." "The appetizer? That's it?" Tad

This is far gentler reminder than I had recently. It’s a lovely poem. Thanks, tim. Much love to you.

Goodnight, Thorn.

Nicely done, Parker! I love this, I really do. Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks for reading and commenting! Yeah, there's definitely a mess of characters, emotions and desires. They are destined to collide in some way. What the fallout will be from that remains to be seen. 🙂