Cane23

I remember a Mexican telenovela from the early nineties called Madres Egoístas. The title perfectly reflects the mothers in this story.

I’m honestly saddened by some of the comments. Let me remind everyone that authors here are not paid for sharing their stories on GA. Reading is completely free, so the least we can do is be civil and show respect for someone’s effort. Writing is hard - believe me, I know. There are many authors on this site, many styles, many genres. The quality of writing varies, just as tastes vary, and that’s perfectly fine. There is something here for everyone. But whether or not it’s a written rule, we’ve always tried to maintain a basic level of civility and respect - toward each other and especially toward the authors who invest their time and creativity into their work. When a story hasn’t held my attention in the past, I simply stopped reading. I didn’t feel the need to offend the author or belittle readers who enjoyed it. I’m always open to constructive discussion, to hearing different opinions and arguments, but disrespecting someone’s work crosses a line for me. Because of the tone in some of the comments, I won’t be leaving any feedback or analysis on this chapter. It just doesn’t feel right. The author deserves better than this.

Agree. I sympathize with Marvin and understand the challenges he’s facing, but you can’t always walk away when things get tough. Creek needs real support right now - someone who will stand by him and for him... and Dailan has proven to be the right person for that.

Completely understandable - I feel the same way most of the time. It’s no longer just about reading and analyzing the story... it’s become a kind of game, encouraged by @Laura S. Fox herself, to uncover what exactly Brad’s issue is. I also want to believe our instincts are right and that Alexander and Lyn are genuinely moving toward a romantic relationship. But like in a good detective story, minus the murderer and dead body, we’re left eager to discover who’s really behind Brad’s mask, and, even more, what Brad is going to do at the end of the story.

You’re absolutely right - I somehow completely missed that it was a message from Woody! Thanks!

I did the same 😁 - I went back to the first chapter to remind myself who Woody was, and in the process I noticed that same scene with the mother. It really stood out this time - she comes across as quite conservative, definitely not someone who’ll be easy to handle. Meanwhile, Woody seemed supportive of Creek getting out more and having some fun, though he did mention “ladies,” so we still don’t really know his stance on gay people. The father’s remarks were interesting too. He said Creek should be with the right person who supports and understands him, and notably, he never specified that this person had to be a woman.

Somehow I had the illusion that Dawn would support her brother. Alas, it seems Creek’s family has decided to smother him with their ‘good intentions.’

Honestly, can you really imagine Brad and Alexander kissing? I mean… anything’s possible, but at this stage in their relationship? Not likely. Maybe if it had happened earlier, somewhere near the beginning of the ‘Memory’ chapters...

Lyn tries very hard to conduct the money conversation as if he is pragmatic, responsible and emotionally neutral. But the truth is he feels shame about needing the help, feels deep affection for Alexander and feels fear of seeming dependent. He overthinks every line, every silence, every look. As usual, Lyn intellectualizes instead of allowing himself to feel. Lyn's loyalty to Brad makes him blind so, he instantly defends Brad’s sensitivity - he cannot see the brewing tension between Brad and Alexander (even though it’s obvious). He is the last to know anything. Alexander continues to be steady, dryly humorous, hyper-controlled, quietly possessive and deeply devoted to Lyn. The money is not charity - it is intimacy. His refusal to accept repayment is not arrogance - it’s vulnerability. He wants Lyn to need him. Not financially - emotionally. Alexander 'humiliates' Lyn just enough to provoke reactions, because reactions are the only way Lyn expresses emotion. Alexander understands this...he knows how to get past Lyn’s mask. Alexander stares at Brad with suspicion and rivalry...he already senses Brad’s double-messaging to Lyn, even before Lyn sees it. Brad's “jokes” are biting: “What were you two girls doing…” “You scared them with your straightness” “Somebody needs to save you two schmucks…” These are signs of discomfort, defensiveness, and jealousy. Brad running his hand through Lyn’s hair is intimate but keeping it there is extremely intimate. Only removing it when someone else appears is telling Brad is possessive, insecure and aware of Lyn’s affection but refusing to define his own. This emotional instability mirrors the Brad of the present timeline He's impulsive, sexually undisciplined and a man with two selves (mask vs. desire). The Quinn and Joe moment, actually, exposes Brad. The “straightness” comment is too pointed. He’s protesting too much. Given that in the present Lyn sees Brad with Luke, this line retrospectively rings like a lie to himself. Brad’s attraction to men is slipping through the cracks already. When Lyn tells Alexander he “doesn’t know them,” (Quinn and Joe), Lyn is technically avoiding the truth, but more importantly - he is withholding a significant emotional experience from the one person he feels closest to, while pretending nothing happened. Lyn’s sense of guilt isn’t moral - it’s relational. He feels like he is betraying the emotional intimacy with Alexander, even though they weren’t lovers at that time. Alexander is the person who sees through Lyn’s masks the most, so Lyn instinctively avoids exposing something vulnerable. But that avoidance triggers guilt and guilt comes from this unspoken truth - he wanted Alexander to be the first person he told. Even if he denies it consciously. Finally, I dare to make a conclusion about this moment... When Lyn wonders, “Why did he feel as if he was lying to a stern parent?”, the real answer is that his body already recognizes Alexander as someone he’s emotionally entangled with - someone whose opinion matters too much. And on a subconscious level, he’s already in love with Alexander. He just hasn’t realized it yet.

No, I don’t think Bradley and Alexander ever did anything sexual. I mean, we should define “experimenting,” but I doubt there was even any light petting between them. Alexander has said multiple times that what happened between him and Lyn was his first sexual experience with a man - and Alexander doesn’t lie, at least not about something that big. Looking at the three of them right now, I’d say Lyn is gay, Brad is bi, and Alexander is basically “Lynsexual.” I’d call him demisexual, but he did enjoy sex with women before… it’s just that, emotionally, it’s Lyn and only Lyn.

Theodore reminds me of some characters from your Misaligned story. His instincts, and his wolf are clearly telling him who his mates are and what he needs to do, yet he keeps insisting that Jack and Vince simply cannot be what he already knows they are!

Amazing first chapter! I really enjoyed the introduction to the main protagonists. Dennis is such a professional badass - an absolute beast in business, yet someone who genuinely appreciates good employees and loyalty. And then, on the flip side, he’s a complete wreck when it comes to his personal life and emotions. He really needs to let go of this knight-in-shining-armor fantasy, trying to save poor husbands from toxic marriages (probably rooted in some unresolved daddy issues). Klebber’s drunken moaning at Adam’s grave was almost funny to read. Maddy’s dramatic “Adam, WHY?!!!” followed by Klebber’s methodical, almost clinically emotionless response - “because he had terminal cancer, that’s why” - was such a perfect contrast that I had to laugh. Also… I had to Google Lindsay Lohan! 😁

What struck me most in this chapter is how firmly Creek stands by his beliefs - by his friend, and ultimately by himself. He’s truly growing up, becoming a strong-willed, brave young man with integrity and principles. What worries me, though, is his parents’ reaction… and what Sky’s parents’ reaction will be. I just hope this doesn’t spiral into an ugly custody battle within the family. Something like that could break them apart forever.

For those of you 'crushing' on Quinn and Joe, this was their last appearance. They did their job They did their job - and judging by Bradley, the job isn’t quite over yet! 😉

Let’s just hope it’s only a stick to pull out, because with the way he keeps calling Creek “innocent, naïve, good,” it sounds like Arthur might be thinking of putting something else up there… 😜

I love how you picked up on Alexander's vulnerability here. He’s often portrayed as this stoic, almost impenetrable figure, but just like Lyn, he wears a mask to hide his pain. The moment when Alexander asks, “How would you know?” with that soft tenderness in his voice is telling. It’s a crack in his usual emotional armor, a rare glimpse into the hurt he’s been carrying. Lyn’s response, “You’re right. That’s why I want you to know that I’ll always be your friend,” is a powerful reflection of his own avoidance. He never directly asked Alexander about his feelings, just like he never confronted the emotional complexities of their relationship before.

The parallel between the mirror and the photo speaks to Lyn’s internal journey of self-discovery and emotional healing. The mirror forces him to confront his vulnerability and the absence of Brad in his present life, while the photo reflects the past and shows how he has overlooked Alexander’s role in his emotional life. Both moments symbolize Lyn’s gradual realization that Alexander has always been a part of his emotional world, even when Lyn was unaware of it. The emotional tension between these two scenes drives home the core of Lyn’s conflict - his struggle to reconcile his past pain with his present desires, and his ultimate movement towards fully acknowledging his feelings for Alexander. Lyn wants to shield his blossoming connection with Alexander from any sort of contamination or judgment. The fact that he doesn’t want Brad to know about his growing feelings and physical relationship with Alexander makes perfect sense. He doesn’t want to "filth" it by exposing it to someone who has already deeply wounded him. There’s also the fear that Brad’s reaction could overshadow or undermine what he’s building with Alexander - he wants to keep this connection pure, untainted by the history with Brad. Lyn also seems to be emotionally protecting himself by not acknowledging this new relationship in front of Brad, as doing so would bring the pain of their past to the surface. Lyn’s refusal to answer Brad’s calls is a defense mechanism, not just against Brad's presence, but also against the emotional wreckage he knows would come if he confronts Brad. By avoiding Brad, Lyn is trying to maintain some semblance of control over his feelings and the situation. Answering Brad would bring the unresolved anger, guilt, and frustration from their past back to the forefront - feelings that Lyn is clearly not ready to process. This avoidance serves as a barrier, allowing him to maintain emotional distance and focus on the moment with Alexander instead. The physical intimacy between Lyn and Alexander is both an escape from the past and an act of emotional healing - something that Lyn hasn’t fully processed yet. His vulnerability is layered with emotional complexity... while he is afraid to be exposed emotionally, he is also learning to let go in new ways with Alexander, who represents a form of emotional and physical security that Brad never did. "Staring at him. Back then, had Alexander felt—no, no, that was ridiculous." And there it is - the very essence of Lyn we’ve been talking about throughout the story. It's the same instinctual hesitation that he had at the beginning of the story, when he wondered about bracelet, "Is it the same... no, it couldn’t be." Lyn’s first thought is always the truest reflection of his feelings, unfiltered and raw...but he instinctively masks it with overthinking and rationalization. The truth, as always, is exactly what his gut tells him, but he can’t allow himself to face it. Could it be that Alexander had feelings for him even then? No. Ridiculous. It’s easier for Lyn to deny the possibility than to confront it, even if deep down, he knows that his first instinct was right all along. After all - “You’re not afraid to feel,” Alexander whispered against his lips, “you’re just afraid to be seen while you feel.” What Alexander is gently calling out is that Lyn's real hesitation isn't about feeling emotions or intimacy, he wants that, but he’s afraid of what might happen if those feelings are exposed. It’s a fear of vulnerability, of losing control, of being seen in a way that forces him to confront his truths. “I hope so,” Alexander said playfully while slowly washing Lyn’s ass. “I won’t stop at friendship, though.” Alexander is sending Lyn constant, albeit indirect, messages about his deeper emotions. But Lyn, in his self-protective mode, either doesn’t fully recognize them or dismisses them as too risky or complicated to acknowledge. Finally, I now understand why the sex scene in the previous memory chapter between Lyn and the two jocks, Quinn and Joe, is lacking in detail. It wouldn't have fit within the context of the present chapters, where Lyn’s connection with Alexander is far more intimate and passionate. In this chapter, we see Lyn letting down all his walls, fully embracing the depth of this intimacy for the first time. The contrast between that detached, almost impersonal encounter with Quinn and Joe, and the raw, emotional connection he shares with Alexander now, makes the latter moment even more powerful. It’s not just about the physical act; it’s about Lyn finally being able to enjoy intimacy, without the emotional distance or hesitations that once held him back.

Agree - Lyn is emotionally overtrained, psychologically armored, and internally divided because of how he grew up. His "problem" is human (psychological), not neurological.

This was the first @kbois' story I ever read, and it was such a great experience. I really hope she’ll return to these characters someday. Though… she is a cat person now, so who knows!

I respectfully disagree! Why do you think so? What exactly changed? I’m genuinely curious about your view. Back in ch. 36, Lyn himself called Brad his bodyguard, his pit bull. This moment with Quinn is simply the first time he’s ever heard someone else describe Brad as his husband. Of course it plants a worm in his head, it makes him pause but, as Lyn usually does, once he starts thinking too much, he reframes it as friendly teasing rather than any serious reflection on Brad’s feelings. And honestly, Brad is the king of double messages. I’m confused by him, so Lyn definitely would be too. In the span of a few minutes Brad mentions his girlfriend, insists Lyn is “straight as an arrow,” fishes with that “did I interrupt something?” line, then turns around and acts like a possessive protector. It’s a lot… especially for someone like Lyn, who is already emotionally entangled. Also, we as readers have a huge advantage - we’re forming our impression of Lyn through both timelines... past chapters and present-day chapters eight years later. Lyn doesn’t have that omniscient perspective. In the “past,” that was his present; he could only interpret things based on his instincts and the limited emotional vocabulary he had at the time. And speaking of instincts - Lyn’s are razor sharp. Even if he was confused about Brad, he absolutely sensed that if anything came out, everything between them would shatter. And we already know he was right. Whatever happened on that last night of college didn’t just misalign them - it completely broke them for eight years. So, for me, Lyn’s reaction makes sense - the denial, the rationalizing, the refusal to take Brad’s mixed signals at face value. It’s classic Lyn... defensive, perceptive, and terrified of the truth that could destroy everything.

Oh, so we’re gearing up for a spectacularly messy wedding? Excuse me while I get my popcorn and front-row seat for the impending disaster. 😂

The Alexander confusion - the first signs of attraction... presents one of the most revealing parts of Lyn’s psychology! For me, this was the real surprise of the chapter - not the sexual exploring and awakening. Lyn dreams of arguing with Alexander, which transforms into asking Alexander to kiss him. The logic of the dram is: argument equals intimacy; intellectual combat means foreplay; Alexander’s ruthlessness is erotic ignition; Alexander’s calm dominance vs Lyn’s passionate fire represents complementary desire. Lyn, of course, explains it away logically: Alexander is handsome, people want to be him, Lyn is gay - therefore the fantasy makes sense... But this is more than fantasy. It’s the first moment we see Lyn’s unconscious longing for Alexander long before the present chapters. Alexander is the person who challenges Lyn. He is the one who sees him, the one who funds him without asking, the one he can’t outsmart... the one whose opinion Lyn is terrified and thrilled to seek. Alexander is the object of both fear and desire, which is exactly how Lyn experiences intimacy. This is the root of their future chemistry... Lyn wants to beat Alexander but also wants to be conquered by him. Aware that Lyn is a fictional character, I still felt happy for him after his first sexual experience. For a character like Lyn...repressed, anxious, perfectionist, self-doubting, hyper-controlled - his sexual debut could easily have been frightening, humiliating, emotionally damaging or something that reinforces shame - instead, it’s liberating. And that is incredibly important for his character arc. He gets sexual validation from two attractive guys They find him hot; they chase him, they flirt with him boldly - for a young man who doesn’t see himself as attractive, this is life-changing! What is very important - Lyn is not used, hurt, or exploited. In fact, he negotiates, pushes back, handles the danger and then participates on his own terms. It’s one of the few times young Lyn doesn’t lose control to fear. He experiences pleasure without emotional stakes - this is a blessing for him at 21. If his first time had been emotionally charged, with Brad or Alexander, it might have shattered him. Lyn is not emotionally ready for intimacy yet; he is ready for experience. It becomes a clean memory instead of a wound. Hereby, I agree with @Timspfd that the scene could sustain more explicit detail because this isn’t a traumatic scene, explicitness wouldn’t cheapen it, it would underline the liberation. This moment is the one time in his life when sex is uncomplicated. It becomes symbolic... his first time was free; his later sexuality becomes imprisoned - until Alexander unlocks something in him years later. The club night is NOT the cause of Lyn's intimacy shutdown. Brad IS the cause. The club experience is actually a beautiful contrast - a glimpse of what Lyn could have been emotionally if Brad hadn’t broken him. Brad - “his jealous husband”. And this quote plants the seed for Brad’s future confusion, Lyn’s lifelong unresolved longing and Alexander noticing the unspoken thing between them. The triangular jealousy that shapes all three men. That moment years later, watching Brad with Luke, who would become his brother-in-law - was the collapse of everything Lyn had buried - shame, longing, and the deep wound of being replaceable. It’s the same trauma re-triggered in the same symbolic space. Brad didn’t just confuse him; he shaped the very wound Lyn carried into adulthood.

Ahaha, whether it’s a prank or just teasing… You’re publishing these chapters like a Russian doll - unpacking piece by piece until we finally reach the story itself. By the way, huge thanks for the larger font size! It’s so much easier to read on my phone!

If God created the Earth in seven days, one day was enough for the characters in this story to face their deepest fears as parents, experience revelation, and understand that love for God and love for a child is never in conflict, but flow from the same divine source. In this new installment of the Land of Lincoln series, @empath once again delivers an emotional masterpiece. We meet familiar faces - Marcus and Joshua, on the day of Marcus’s graduation. As they wait for Marcus’s estranged parents to arrive for a family dinner, a powerful drama unfolds next door. Elisha, weighed down by religious dogma and personal demons, struggles with self-acceptance. Yet through pain and doubt, and with the help of an unexpected companion - a stray dog, loyal and noble, this story takes a path toward healing, hope, and redemption. Deeply emotional and beautifully written, this tale touches the heart and moves the reader to tears, something we’ve come to expect from @empath's stories. Another little gem in the author’s collection - powerful, sincere, and unforgettable.

A charming rom-com wrapped in @vanalas' signature soap-opera style! Engaged by Zayn, River steps into the Monroe household to play the role of a pretend boyfriend - but what begins as a simple business arrangement quickly turns into a tangled web of emotions, secrets, and unexpected connections within the family. Caught between love and hate, River leaves an unforgettable mark on everyone he meets. But the question remains - will he find true, lasting love… or, when the curtain falls, will the carriage turn back into a pumpkin and River wake up to reality? A delightful, emotional, and witty story - definitely worth the read!