Wayne Gray

History. That's why. Everyone there thinks they know what happened, and didn't really question that. It's hard to break free of the past. Lee is a prime example of this. Thanks for reading. There's more to come on Friday.

Aww, I'm sorry! Just three more days. 😉 Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you're eagerly awaiting the next installment!

Tony is a clever one. Hell, there are a lot of clever readers here. Sometimes they come up with better, more interesting plots than I do, and I'm like "Well ... damn it!" But that's all right. I love all of it. 🙂 Thanks for reading!

Love will make us do crazy things. The need to belong and be held in high regard ... that’s powerful. And Vance is certainly not a wholesome sort. He could use some ass kicking. Thanks for the comment!

Well, right now Greg and everyone else thinks Lee got the drugs, then pressured Avery into taking them. And that’s not what happened at all. Avery got them. He convinced Lee to take them. Lee even gave him an out. There was an “are you sure” moment. The person Lee is now is very different from when he first arrived. But he’s being judged for something he didn’t actually do. There’s more coming. Thanks for the comment, and I’ll see you Friday.

Sometimes "the real" is pretty messed up. It can be ugly, and painful, and just ... dark. But there's a lot of beauty possible too. I do promise that I am going to tell a story, as real as I can, and yet it's one filled with people who, though they are fallible, they try to do the right things. Because they truly do try. Stick with me. And thanks for reading.

Those author-types. They're wordy! Hahaha. Thanks for the comment and for reading!

You'll find out if you keep reading. 🙂 And you'll come to understand Lee a bit more too. Thanks for reading and for the comment!

Camping, and so so SO much more. 🙂

I suppose time will tell how safe everyone stays, eh? 🙂

FYI - the data shows they're not necessary. Like ... a staggering preponderance of data. I realize it's a scary thing, but after doing the research, I'd be doing exactly what they are and feel reassured that I'd be safe doing it.

Thanks, molly. you're absolutely right about the hard part. And I'm happy you feel it was well done. 🙂 More to come on Friday. See you then.

Sometimes life is brutal. I've watched things like this happen; a combination of an incomplete story, a bad decision made from a place of love, and hasty reactions from people doing their best culminate in drastic and sudden change. Life, recovery, trust ... these are all precious because they're tenuous. And I wanted to show it. Thanks for reading, Kitt. More to come.

It is a wreck! And things are certainly a mess. FYI - if you knew what a horrible stretch of road that is leading back to town if you're on foot, and walking in the dark and rain, you'd be even more worried. It'd be terribly easy to fall, or be hit by a passing car. But since I called it out here, now you know you don't have to worry about that. There are plenty of other things to worry about. This is a capable and loving group of guys, though. At some point, we have to have faith. Thanks for the trust. See you next week.

That was pretty much the moment where my beta readers and editor started commenting things like "Ohhhhh no. no no no." At some point we writers tip our hands. It's not about outsmarting readers, it's about telling a story. And this one is worth telling, I think. Stick with me. And thanks for reading.

For me too! Man, the next chapter is intense too, but it also resolves a few things. How that resolution comes will be revealed on Friday. Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm happy you find the story engaging.

I believe you're right - lots of good things are possible, but that all will take effort and work. All you mentioned is valid. I wanted to add something specifically around Greg. Greg needs help getting past how much this has hurt him. Right now we see him running on adrenaline, getting through the crisis at hand because that's what is needed from him. And Greg is "the steady one". He is not allowed to break. He is never allowed to freeze up, to be indecisive, he can't take a moment to think. Not when so many depend on him. That's how he feels. So when this happens, he shoves aside his needs and plows forward into some kind of resolution - no matter how much it hurts. Avery and Lee aren't the only ones who need counseling and/or some sort of therapy. People find therapy in different places, and it's not always called that. But they all need something. Thanks for the comments and for reading.

See, that's what I asked my editor and beta readers too. "Could you see this happening? Does it feel real?" And all said yes. They said it impacted so heavily because it felt possible. That's the goal. I don't want it to feel forced, or unrealistic. And ... I do think I got very close to the real. Thank you for commenting and reading, Jeffrey.

Thanks for the comment, Chris. It didn't take long for it to all go to hell, and it feels pretty crappy. One mistake. One. We'll see what happens here. There are still a lot of possibilities - some including Harlan, some without. But none without more effort and communication. There's more on the way next week.

".. the hard work of the truth" I like it all, but I really like that bit. The truth is hard. But it's also worth the effort. Thanks, tim. Nice pieces.

Probably. 😝 But a good cry is therapeutic.

I know. Avery is a mix of innocent, yearning and eager. He knows he's not "supposed" to buy drugs, but he also really likes Lee. So ... here we are. There's more to come. And I am glad you managed to finish the chapter, Dave. Thank you for the trust.

I'm glad too. 🙂 We all screw up. In this case, Avery's eagerness to make Lee happy, and Lee's momentary weakness paired with the desire to share an experience with Avery send them careening down this cliff. They need help. All of them do. Thanks for the trust. We'll get there.

Brilliant? Excellent?! Why thank you! 😛 No, seriously - thanks, tim. I'm glad I got my words back too. It took a rather long time, and I was not the most patient when it came to waiting for them. Thanks for encouraging me. That means a lot. And there's nothing supposed about your being a writer. Time will prove me out.

Harlan? Up to something? He and Bailey spent Monday in Colorado Springs, unrelated to Corbin's operation, then went on to see Corbin afterward. I wonder what business Harlan had there. And then there's this comment: "Don't worry - there's no danger involved." Harlan pursed his lips. "Well, almost none. Boy, that'll make a fella wonder, won't it? And of course the Houseboat is still floating. Horny werewolves, sex zombies, shocking plotlines. Wouldn't have it any other way.