GENRE: Gay Romance
LENGTH: 23,250 words
RATING:

Loneliness and his caretaker Sebastian have been Liam’s only constant companions ever since he can remember. Surrounded by every kind of luxury money can buy, Liam soon learns the privileges he’s so used to can only be enjoyed when shared with friends and loved ones. Until he meets a man who, with every interaction, changes the course of his life.

Adrian lives in a world where financial struggles and health issues are part of everyday living. Putting himself through school and earning an income to support his family, Adrian has no time to play. A stranger does him a good turn when he’s most in need of help, and Adrian, unknowingly, returns the favor years later.

Their lives have touched so many times, and every time they turned away. Will Liam and Adrian realize they shared moments in their past? Will they meet again and strike up a treasured friendship? More important, will they find love?

EXCERPT:

Liam had already exchanged gazes and small talk with a few girls and a couple of guys, but his heart wasn’t in it. Not that they weren’t attractive -- not that it mattered -- but somehow he felt disheartened that night. Everything and everyone were just so tedious and the dynamics were the same, every single time.

His blue eyes landed by chance on the entrance of the small club not too far from where he was, where someone was just arriving.

Blond eyebrows shot upwards. There was a guy about his age coming in, and he seemed to be by himself, wearing some plain jeans, a red t-shirt, and a stylish but worn out black jacket.

Whoa, was Liam’s first thought as he straightened his back, his hand gripping his bottle of beer a little tighter. The guy was stunning, with gorgeous features, feral dark eyes and equally dark hair carefully styled to look messy. Liam thought he had seen that face somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember where.

Mr. Handsome didn’t seem to look for anyone as he just took a brief look around and then made his way to the bar, Liam’s gaze following him.

From looking at the other, Liam couldn’t tell at all if the guy was potentially not straight. He fidgeted a bit -- he wasn’t usually shy, and while he had been moping about no one catching his interest just a minute ago, he was completely unprepared towards being so instantly attracted to someone at first glance.

But, damn, the guy was fine in every sense and Liam wanted to talk to him and see if he was as alluring intellectually as he was physically.

Hesitating, Liam watched as the guy asked for a drink. A beer was immediately slammed on the counter in front of him and he took a relaxed swig, vaguely looking around again at nothing and no one in particular.

Was the stranger waiting for someone, or was he there alone just because he felt like it? Liam liked to consider the latter because that would make the guy even more interesting.

Gathering up his courage, Liam took a step towards the guy, intent on making conversation, buying him a drink and checking his tastes, but was stopped as two attractive girls shamelessly approached the other, who seemed a little surprised. They started talking to him, so he ended up smiling and shaking his head -- and heavens, that smile was as beautiful as he was, full of perfect teeth.

Heaving a sigh, Liam leaned back against the wall, defeated. He could see a few people checking out the guy already. Of course, they would. Who wouldn’t? He looked like a model, or even a celebrity straight out of a born to be beautiful magazine.

Despite knowing he was attractive, Liam felt strangely insecure suddenly. What chance did he have with such a perfect human being, and with so many other people around already hungry for him? The stranger seemed nice, too, if that smile was any sign.

Liam felt unworthy for reasons he could not explain -- it was a feeling that overcame him completely, and with such force, it rendered him powerless.

He hated it and had never talked about it with anyone, not even Sebastian, afraid that the man suggested he needed therapy, which he did, for many, many reasons.

Rubbing his face with his free hand, Liam tried not to moan pathetically. Where were his friends, anyway? The night was going downhill already, and he felt his mood quickly deteriorating.

Biting on his lower lip, he made his way to the bar where the guy still was, talking to those girls without even noticing him. Liam asked for another beer, and as he waited, a distinctive scent filled his senses, overpowering all the other terrible scents surrounding him. It was clean, nostalgic, too, but he didn’t know why. It was a homely cinnamon scent, similar to incense. Instead of calming him down, though, it only made him sadder, but he pushed all his emotions away. Everything was becoming troublesome inside his head again, and he didn’t like it.

Dealing with emotions was something he hated to do, something he avoided at all costs, and something he had mastered throughout the years.

Liam couldn’t let himself falter. He knew it was stupid of him to feel like shit so unexpectedly, yet he couldn’t help it. Was there even a valid reason for him to feel this way? Maybe, or maybe not -- it made no difference.

As soon as he got his beer, Liam made his way to the dance floor, to try and find his friends. He didn’t look back at the beautiful guy he had wanted to meet, too scared that his disappointment would consume him.