Even though I'm a mess and I still don't think I'm good enough for him, I want to date him. I haven't managed to scare him off with my panic attacks, mood swings and no touching rules so I don't think that if I tell him about what happened that night he will stop showing interest. ****** Shy, broken Chase wonders if he'll ever be able to love and trust again, if he'll ever get over the trauma of what happened, if he'll ever be happy again. He was a content 24 year old, rooming with his fraternal twin brother Jesse. They literally could not be more different. Jesse is blonde, confident and straightforward; Chase is brunette, shy and innocent. But when tragedy strikes, Chase becomes a shell of the man he once was and Jesse is determined to protect his twin and help him heal. However, will it be at the cost of Jesse's own blossoming love life? Will Chase actually let Jesse help him? And will Chase finally be able to overcome his trauma and accept the love of the man of his dreams? If healing, family and romance are themes that interest you, then this book might be for you! WARNING some themes of depression, suicide and rape though I don't go into graphic details. Thank you to anyone who decides to give this book a shot, I really appreciate it and I hope you'll have as much fun reading as I did writing it. All comments and opinions welcomed. Started December 27, 2020 Completed September 12, 2021 Highest Rankings #1 in trauma 2021/02/18 #1 in family 2021/12/02 #1 in gayfiction 2022/05/15 #1 in healing 2022/05/15 #2 in gay 2022/09/23 #2 in support 2022/05/12 #4 in heart-warming 2021/05/28 #24 in lgbt 2021/10/17 #60 in romance 2021/07/06

"Colby?" Avery asks, his voice wavering only slightly. I turn to him, cursing at myself for hesitating, if only for a minute. "Yeah?" "Do you have a crush on me?" My heart shatters, but I can't lie. Not to him. Not about this. "Yes, Avery. I've had a crush on you since that day you got drunk and stumbled into my house. Every time I look at you, I can't help wanting to touch you and craving you." I pause, taking in a shuddering breath. "This doesn't have to change anything. You don't --" He snatches my hands. "You wanna touch me, Colby?" His sudden boldness stops me in my tracks. I nod slowly as he nears my face, his cheek brushing mine. He whispers in my ear, a raspy murmur that sends electric shocks through my entire body. "Do it. I fucking dare you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Avery Thomas and Colby Beck are best friends; thick as thieves, but polar opposites. Where Avery is energetic and social, Colby is closed off and selects very few people to really know him. Their relationship has always been simply this: best friends. That is, until one drunken night like all of the others; Avery saunters into Colby's house, seeking help in his state. As he assists Avery, Colby realizes that he is beginning to become attracted to him in more ways than best friends should be. *WARNING* Mature sexual scenes and some homophobia. Chapters marked with "M" contain adultery or some sexual interaction between heroines. All scenes have consent, and characters are over 18. Be warned. Your mental health matters. DON'T COPYRIGHT! This is an original work.

"We can't do this." I whisper as our lips re-connect, a tingling fire surging through my body as his hands ravage unexplored lands; my innocence dissipating away with every peck he trails down my neck. "I know we can't. That's why it's so exciting." He replies through kisses. His effortless charm intoxicates me; drowning me; hunting me; devouring me. "What if my brother finds out?" The perpetuated patter of the rain unable to subdue my groan as he digs his nails deeper into my skin. "Who cares." ********** Welcome to my story, where an innocent boy finds a not so innocent boy in his bed; where they do not so innocent things. - YOP