By Kevin Snell, in Fiction. 10/09/2026 (Updated: 10/13/2026)
Owen has never met his best friend.
For four years Xavier has been a voice in his headset. Xavier knows about the dog Owen lost at nine. He knows which voice Owen uses when he's lying about being fine.
Xavier lives two thousand miles away. That's what Owen believes.
At midnight, when a man appears under the tree across the street and won't leave, Owen calls the one person who always picks up.
Xavier tells him to breathe and stay away from the window, and promises he's safe.
Xavier means every word.
He's lying about almost everything else.
Keep in touch with what's going on at Gay Authors and get emailed story recommendations weekly.
