Cherish Him

My girlfriend shacked up with my drummer. Where does that leave me?In an Airbnb rental run by the Gay Grinch of Honey Bay, apparently. From the moment I walked in, he was complaining: about my limo, about my guitar, and especially about the music I make. Ted is only my landlord. We share some beers on the patio and he's not so bad to talk to. I start noticing other things about him. Like his devotion to his business and his cat. His grudging kindness to me. And his obvious musical talent, though he won't admit it. And I start noticing his smile and the way his calves pump when he walks and how perfectly his muscled arms hold those racks of CDs. Why am I even thinking that way of my landlord? I've never been attracted to a man. Not until now. He coos at that overfed cat of his every morning. Would he ever coo like that at me?I'm not gay. Or I didn't think I was gay. Or I didn't really know what I wanted. But I can't stop the music. That poofy-haired pop star parks his limo on my lawn, scratches my hardwood floors, and insults my cat. I'm a perfectly reasonable guy. But my kindness and generosity are not an invitation for some self-absorbed pop star to walk all over me. That bubblegum pop Dante sings isn't even real music. And my cat is just big-boned. I never did relationships. There's nobody who can put up with me. And there's nobody who's as passionate about music as I am. Except maybe -- no, impossible. He's not even gay. Until one heated argument changes everything. Cherish Him is a 42,000-word enemies-to-lovers opposites-attract gay romance. Two sweet, silly guys feed each other tapas, listen to Muddy Waters, and research male anatomy on their way to a feel-good HEA.