Danners

Eh, I’m selfish in that I hope Hank and Chase work out their differences and end up together — if not right away, then later in life. They both thought they found the perfect partner in the other, never able to recognize their faults. Once they have — and I hope they will — they’ll be able to appreciate each other as real people with real flaws and real issues instead of the idealized archetypes of the steadfast protector and his fragile prince.

See, that’s where we disagree. Hank talks a big game but his actions and reactions speak of a certain level of hesitation. Every time he claims his relationship with Chase is over, I think he’s trying to convince himself it’s true. The same goes for being unable to forgive him. If he truly considered it was over between them, he wouldn’t be as contemptuous of a potential relationship between Chase and Dawson. Who knows, maybe Hank agreed to join Kevin at the cottage to finally prove to himself, once and for all, that he’s moved on. It’ll certainly be the final nail in the coffin of his relationship with Chase.

I’d agree except it goes against everything we know about Hank’s character so far. His mom’s indiscretions tore his family apart, so cheating was never an option for him. Also why his reaction to Chase’s kiss was completely blown out of proportion. Hank blinded himself to Chase’s insecurities while giving in to his own. He knew it was too soon to propose and now that we know some of the details of said proposal, it sounds like he bombarded Chase with choices he wasn’t ready to make.

From what we know, Hank isolated himself from their friends or at least the ones Stacey talked to. We don’t exactly know why. (*cough* Kevin. *cough*) Many of their friends were staying out of it, especially those couples whose loyalties were divided.

Personally, I think he took Rex as a means of twisting the knife. Maybe not entirely on purpose, but I suspect that was part of the goal. Despite what he claimed, he had time to email Chase while he was on the phone with Kevin, both saving him a trip and sparing him the knowledge of going to the cottage with Kevin. Instead he announced it offhandedly like it was no big deal that Chase was so easily replaced. Or Kevin suggested it. My money’s on Kevin.

Aaaand I’m on a roll, apparently. Kevin and Hank going away to define their relationship status implies there’s already an emotional attachment in place. It implies they’ve at least kissed, maybe more. So, while Chase couldn’t kiss Dawson without thinking about Hank and feeling like he was cheating, Hank clearly didn’t have the same issue sucking Kevin’s face. For some reason that has me seething. While we’re talking about Kevin, I’m more positive than ever that he’s fed into Hank’s delusions. Maybe Hank reached out but I bet Kevin made the first move. Kevin isolated Hank. Kevin discouraged Hank from even considering hearing Chase out. Kevin, I bet, is pushing for a relationship with Hank and sprung the trip on him as a means of driving a bigger wedge between him and Chase. At this point I’m ready to burn Kevin at the stake. Dawson, on the other hand, I’m pleasantly surprised by. Instead of being the distraction and rival for Chase’s affection, he proved to be the friend Chase needed. He became Chase’s advocate for himself against himself — if that makes sense. The self-doubt, the self-deprecation — whatever voices were telling Chase to give up, Dawson drowned them out. I wish Hank had someone like Dawson around to talk him out of his nose dive, instead of having a mite like Kevin infesting his thoughts.

Okay, took a breath and unclenched my butt. Methinks Hank is a patient or Dr. Chorney’s and the good doctor is skirting the limits of HIPAA to set up that confrontation by giving Chase a little inside information. He knew about Hank and Kevin’s upcoming milestone because it was discussed in therapy. Maybe the comment was a stamp of approval like Chase thought but I don’t think so. Dr. Chorney would’ve praised him directly but instead chose to implant the idea of Chase standing his ground with Hank. While I’m glad they finally had it out and Chase got to tell Hank his side of the story, I’m more than a little peeved that Hank was so flippant and downright outraged by the man’s pigheaded hypocrisy. How Hank could deny the lingering effects of his mom’s adultery and then claim how Chase felt after Christine’s death was a convenient lie, it boggles my mind. I wanted Chase to literally knock some sense into him. Hank gave up after that first night and then took every opportunity to avoid Chase. That’s the definition of running and hiding. No benefit of doubt was given, no room left for an explanation. He shut himself down and shut Chase out. He may have convinced himself Chase wanted something or someone else, but it was an assumption he never bothered to investigate. One simple question would’ve cleared the air: “What do you want from me, Chase?” Kevin is a rebound but he’s a rebound that’s going to do irreparable damage unless Hank wises up. If he doesn’t cancel his trip to the cottage, there’s almost no hope for him and Chase reconciling. If he goes to the cottage and sleeps with Kevin, there’s absolutely no hope of that and no hope of them so much as speaking to one another. I wouldn’t blame Chase for hating Hank at that point if it was in his character to hate anyone at all. Fuck, man. Chase may feel that he already made the biggest mistake of his life, but Hank is actually and quite literally about to do just that. And I don’t know if I can live with that.

Again with the mixed feelings and a cliffhanger. Damn it, Gary!

We’re curious too. (And I wanna know if my hunches are correct, damn it.) So post the next chapter already!

Sabrina’s dad isn’t one of the Z Brothers, he works for them. I think. Also, Jett changed April’s appearance pretty dramatically with the haircut, bleach job, and contacts.

You know, I kind of hope the Theo thing does come out. Jett will be hurt and rage initially, sure. However, after the realizations he came to these last few chapters, I’m positive he’ll quickly come to his senses. Jett loves April for April and not because he’s reminded of Theo. He may not understand April’s hesitation at first but he will eventually. April is under the impression Jett hates Theo, that Theo was a boy who means nothing to Jett and who Jett wants to forget. Lies that Jett told. When they first met, April was in no position to reveal the truth either. Jett had him over a barrel labeled by the Z Brothers. By the time they got to know one another, Jett’s memories of Theo had already been denounced. April was both scared of rejection and afraid he’d be handed over to Jett’s employers. Once the truth comes out, and especially if he falls into the Z Bros’ clutches, Jett will have no other choice but to fight for April.

The strengthening connection between him and Grant is definitely part of it, but I credit a lot of it to their juxtaposed positions. In this, Troy is secure, stable, knowledgable, while Grant is the one who needs to be comforted and guided. I think the fact he can provide what Grant needs, and that Grant readily accepts what Troy offers, does wonders for him.

Like Jett when he sees April wiggling his ass, the plot thickens . . .

That about sums up my reaction to this chapter. John’s ghost may be at rest but that ole journal is still lurking in the shadows and Brian may just be the person to find out about it. EDIT: Stuck the gif under a break to shield innocent eyes.

This chapter was the hardest for me to read. Despite the sex being technically hot, like Aubrey in the shower, it left me feeling dirty. Like Andrew, I didn’t feel anything for those insipid IG models — not even sorry they were being used. Andrew being in such a dark place, given over to pain and despair, dominated my thoughts. He was Nelson, teetering on the precipice, until Aubrey’s engagement shoved him over. Andrew is an addict on a binge, and it’s usually the one they overdose on. I just . . . I don’t know. Aubrey is the only one who can do something about this, but he’s so deluded by his own vision of the perfect relationship that it’ll take something drastic to snap him out of it. I mean, clearly he knows he’s with the wrong man and the sense of security he’s feeling is false, or he wouldn’t have to scour away the self-loathing and doubt in the shower. If Andrew were anyone else, I’d expect him to give Aubrey the cold shoulder at the Foundation launch party — Aubrey wrote the article, his attendance is mandatory — but knowing it’s hot headed and impulsive Andrew, what I expect are fireworks. Or atom bombs.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say Sathriel was almost tender with his pet. I’m as surprised as Kiorl. Part of me wonders what the king wants, but he takes what he wants and he hasn’t taken anything beyond the norm (for him). This new side of Sathriel is refreshing, if disconcerting. If there’s a snowflake’s chance in hell of it sticking around, I’m praying for it.

Blame the lazy woodchucks.

Maybe tucking into a couple of Troy’s delicious buns will ease Grant’s throbbing head . . .

What a wholesome chapter! Grant coming to the realization about Troy’s re-emergence as T was nice to see and so was his acceptance of and by Troy’s group of friends. They see in him the companionship Troy needs. I’m thankful that the boys are thankful for each other. I couldn’t help thinking that Grant retreated to the restroom not to use the facilities but to collect himself after his outburst. I think, even in his happily drunk state, his dudebro reaction embarrassed and confused him. Ah, the quiet contemplation of a good piss. Like others, I hope Grant remembers that flash of jealousy followed by contentment in the harsh and hungover light of day, but more so I hope he doesn’t pull back. Waking up with Troy in his arms will feel right even though his muddled head says it’s wrong. Whatever happens in the morning, Ben’s summation of the night before was absolutely right: the truth is in the wine.

Tom, Kat, or Kat’s brother are my guesses. Alternatively, it’s Kat’s inside source.

Some of us are just gluttons for punishment.

Shoot, I’d poke Hank. The makeup sex would be almost violent.

It’s all you, man. I wouldn’t have anything to say if your writing didn’t move me. Even though it’s a bummer of a chapter, it’s another good one!

Aubrey is guilty of doing to Andrew what Tom did to him in some convoluted attempt at self-preservation. He let his fears justify Kat’s advice of all things. He’s clearly incapable of letting go of Andrew’s past, only to prove his own hypocrisy by actually thinking about reconciling with Tom. What. The. Fuck. Let’s say he talks to Tom, who predictably lies, saying Kat was a one time mistake and he’ll never stray again. What then? They move back in together and get married (when Tom guilts him into accepting his proposal), and Aubrey lives happily ever after, blissfully content with a husband who saw the error of his ways? Sure, that could happen, but it won’t. Someone like Tom will use Aubrey’s intimate relationship with Andrew against him, lord it over him, and use it as a means to ridicule and control him, while continuing to fuck Kat and probably others on the side. Aubrey, meanwhile, is once again bereft of artistic inspiration without his quarterback muse and stricken with writer’s block, and finds himself holed up in his home office, alone and miserable. Tom and Kat will have him dangling over a barrel both personally and professionally. I understand that Aubrey felt his personal life was in a shambles and so put all of his integrity behind his professional life, but that newspaper article wasn’t so damaging that his all-important reputation couldn’t be salvaged. His story about Andrew’s public persona allowed Aubrey to get to know his private one, where he is loving, generous, and kind. That journey alone would’ve made for a series of articles for crying out loud! Instead of toughing it out with someone who clearly thinks the world of him, Aubrey sabotaged it. More than sabotaged it, really — he lit a match to it and dumped it at Andrew’s feet. Andrew didn’t deserve that and has every right to be hurt, pissed off, and whatever other emotions he’s feeling. After a statement like “that’s not you; it’ll never be you,” I don’t know if there’s even the smallest shred of hope for Andrew to cling to. How do you show your love to someone who is incapable of receiving it? How do you prove to someone that you’ve changed because of him — for him — when his low opinion of you is seemingly set in stone? As much as I want Andrew to fight, as badly as I want them to end up together, right now I have to agree with Wesley: Aubrey and Tom do deserve each other. EDIT: I left Andrew out of Aubrey’s dream scenario accidentally, then realized it was on purpose. There’s no room for Andrew in that scenario and even if they tried to remain friends, Tom would never allow it. So Aubrey would never have the great pleasure of seeing the hollow, broken shell that he left in his wake, nor could he follow the tragic end of a once sought after quarterback’s career.

Enough to serve it up twice a week? Eh? Eh?