Blurb
Ethan Sutton had come to the stunning revelation that he2527d fallen in love with his best friend, Sebastian Young. Although friends since childhood, Ethan vowed to keep his feelings for Sebastian under wraps and live the rest of his life with this one secret between them rather than risk a lifelong connection and never see him again. But when they move into their own apartment at the start of their third year of college, can Ethan keep his feelings from showing when they live so close together?
Sebastian Young had an epiphany about Ethan at the end of last year and arranged for the shared apartment he2527d found over the summer to be closer to Ethan and see if a relationship could develop between them. But as they settle into their lives in a new place with such close quarters, ex-girlfriends, nosy downstairs neighbors, and Sebastian2527s own doubts, their relationship could be in jeopardy before it even begins.
Can two best friends admit their feelings and fall in love?
Ethan kept his eyes on his phone during the entire trip. It wasn2527t as though he didn2527t want to speak to Sebastian, who sang under his breath at the song coming through the speakers of his older SUV. But whenever he2527d been in an enclosed space with Sebastian, he caught his scent of pine and cedar mixed with a hint of mint, and each time he moved, it drifted over to him and drove Ethan crazy. Even from the other side, Sebastian2527s body heat surrounded him and he wriggled in his seat to adjust himself before his desire for his best friend became clear.
For years, the closeness he shared with Sebastian had been enough. It was he and Sebastian against the world throughout high school, and Ethan understood it would be the same in college.
But when they started their freshman year, Sebastian decided he would make up for lost time by dating his way through the female student body at the University of Oregon. Sebastian still made time for him, but it was rare during their first two years of college for Sebastian not to have at least one date on the weekend.
Ethan hadn2527t understood what the churning emotions were each time Sebastian talked about a new woman. Later, he recognized the feeling was jealousy.
There had been a time during his sophomore year, driven by those feelings of jealousy and his newfound awareness he was gay, he2527d gone out. Most of the time, with a frequency that matched Sebastian2527s frenzied dating life. Ethan resolved to find someone and forget about the man he most wanted, his best friend, so he headed to a well-known bar off-campus.
Although he2527d gone home with guys, nothing progressed past blowjobs. For one, it solidified the fact he was gay. Despite knowing, Ethan had no clue what held him back from going further with the willing men he2527d met, but something stopped him.
After his break-up with his long-time girlfriend, Sebastian became a constant in Ethan2527s life again. Their friendship had never strained during their first years of college, and they grew closer when Sebastian found himself single.
During the summer, they decided they wanted to rent an off-campus apartment and live together. Ethan believed they would request a room together in the dorms, but Sebastian wanted to ditch the dorms and find their own place. Their parents had agreed to it although it would be more expensive.
More than once, Ethan had wanted to look for a place before they were all rented, but Sebastian said he would handle everything.
“Don2527t worry. I2527ve got it covered.”
And now they were moving in together, Ethan found himself nervous about having his feelings show at the most inopportune moments.
Their freshman year, they were assigned separate rooms in different buildings. And being so far apart from each other became a pain in the ass. More often than not, Ethan would stay at Sebastian2527s place, or Sebastian2527s at Ethan2527s. Unless Sebastian had a date.
It had been easy to hide his feelings then. He wasn2527t so sure his desire wouldn’t show in such close quarters. But when Sebastian brought up living together, there wasn’t a reason not to, and he agreed. Hundreds of excuses became plain as they drove closer to their destination but Ethan didn’t voice them aloud.
But his eyes kept being drawn back to Sebastian, his heart kicking in his chest as he took in Sebastian2527s tanned arm draped over the steering wheel. Each time Sebastian caught Ethan looking at him, he would give him that easy smile. The smile made every man want to be his friend and every woman fall in love with him.
Although their friendship was an easy one, Ethan sometimes wondered how they grew so close when they were so different.
Why do you write romance?
What2527s the best advice you have ever given?
What is your favorite day of the year and why?
How do you define romance?
Do you believe you only fall in love once? Why?
Valerie writes paranormal and contemporary M/F and M/M erotic romances. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab. She’s addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character-driven romances.
Social Media
