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.