Each time Paul and Evan meet at another same-sex wedding, they're interested...but the timing is always wrong because one of them is involved with someone new. They try to make do by falling in and out of the beds of several different men as they search for their own Mr. Right, and along the way, they learn new skills, like the secrets to Tantric sex, or the moves required to succeed at lube wrestling.
Yet all through the hot summer months, they flirt and eye each other by the buffet tables and open bars of reception halls crowded with men, even though they never get a chance to take their relationship to the next level. When the summer draws to a close and their two best friends are about to marry, the stars might finally align for Paul and Evan. They might just get to be each others' forever 'plus one'.
After dinner had settled, new teams were chosen for volleyball. Paul wound up on the opposite team from Evan and couldn’t help taunting him a little through the net.
“How tall are you, Dresden?” Paul asked.
Evan raised his eyebrows. “Last names now, is it Cooper?”
Paul shrugged innocently. “Just asking a question, Dresden.”
“Taller than your mama,” Evan said, which earned a snort of amusement from John.
“Not as pretty in a dress, though,” Paul shot back. “And you jump like a wounded gecko.”
Evan laughed, and Paul took advantage of his distraction to sneak a spike past him. As the ball was fetched and passed back to the server, Evan swatted playfully at Paul under the net.
“That wasn’t fair,” Evan said, but his grin stole any seriousness from his complaint. “You distracted me.”
READ MORE“All’s fair, Dresden,” Paul said and caught Evan’s gaze for a long, breathtaking moment. “Just like love and war.”
“Yeah?” Evan looked out at the lake and widened his eyes. “Holy shit! What the fuck is that?”
Paul fell for it, turning to look out over the water. He felt the wind of the ball passing by his face before it slammed to the ground beside him, and he hung his head as Evan and his team cheered.
“Can’t believe you fell for that,” Evan said with a snicker. “Oldest trick in the book.”
“You’d better stay sharp, Dresden,” Paul replied as he crouched down. “I’m gunning for you.”
“Bring it on.”
The trash-talking went on, and Paul was impressed with Evan’s ability to return more than a few of his spikes. One time, as Evan jumped up to block one of John’s spikes, Evan’s T-shirt rode up, and Paul caught a glimpse of his belly. Dark hair covered the flat, sweat-slick surface and disappeared beneath the waistband of Evan’s shorts.
Something hit him in the forehead and knocked him flat on his back.
“Oh shit!” John said as Paul lay on the ground and blinked up at the white clouds hanging in the blue sky. His forehead buzzed, and the rest of his skull felt like it was filled with cotton. Then John leaned over him and looked into his face. “Hey, Paulie. You okay?”
Paul blinked and sat up, rubbing the tingling spot on his forehead. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
Evan knelt on his other side, dark eyes wide with concern. “I’m so sorry, Paul.”
“Sorry?” Paul asked, still confused about what had happened. “About what?”
“I spiked the ball, and it hit you right in the forehead,” Evan said. Paul felt Evan’s hand on his arm, and the heat of his touch made his throat suddenly feel dry.
“Oh, was that what happened?” Paul got to his feet, disappointment chilling his lust as Evan removed his hand. “I’m okay. I just…” He thought of getting lost in the sight of Evan's belly, and cleared his throat. “I got distracted, that’s all.”
“I thought you were going to say the sun was in your eyes,” Evan said, his voice low and tinged with sarcasm.
COLLAPSEMr. Edwards really did a fantastic job of character building with both Evan and Paul. The point of view in the story moves smoothly between Evan and Paul so the reader is able to see the action from both sides. The journey to their elusive HEA is often humorous and sometimes painful but worth every crazy dating adventure once they realize the amazing chemistry they feel is genuine.