Love furever, p.1
Love Furever, page 1
LOVE FUREVER
FRIENDS OF GAYNOR BEACH ANIMAL RESCUE
GABBI GREY
Copyright © 2024 Gabbi Grey.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
References to real people, events, organizations, establishments or locations are intended to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Edits by ELF
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Next in the Gaynor Beach Series
Also set in Gaynor Beach
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BLURB
COLIN
Being rejected by family hurt like hell, but I kept my head high, left my toxic relatives behind, and moved across the country to Gaynor Beach, CA. Luckily, I have great furry company. My French bulldog puppy, Widget, was dumped on me for not meeting my parents' ridiculously high standards either, so we're comforting each other. With a nice rental house and a new job, Widget and I were ready for a fresh start—until I got a devastating diagnosis. I can't take care of Widget properly while trying to save my own life, and I expect a long, hard road. I'll have to break both our hearts and put her up for adoption, for her sake. Right?
JAMES
I’ve wanted a pet forever, but my family circumstances didn’t allow it. Now I’m away from my masses of relatives and on my own, and I’m ready to take on a furry companion. My friend, a guy who never says no to an animal in need, introduces me to Colin and his beautiful puppy Widget. I’m horrified Colin feels he needs to give her up just because he's sick, but I’m happy to take Widget as a temporary foster. I’m also happy to offer support to the new guy in town who is so very alone during a time of crisis. Helping someone in need comes naturally to me. But what if that temporary help turns into me wanting a forever relationship?
This is a gay romance slow-burn novel about new beginnings, found family, unconditional love, and a puppy named Widget. This middle-angst story has a guaranteed happily ever after.
Kaje for her unrelenting support
Renae for the fabulous plot points
Leanne for herding the writer cats
Wendy for her unyielding faith in me
Natasha for the puppy’s name
My readers for such great puppy name suggestions
My fellow Gaynor Beach authors
ELF…just because
CHAPTER 1
JAMES
I sat in my new home, across from my best friend Arthur, vibrating with excitement. With a grin, I flung my arms wide. “Mine. All mine.” I wanted to add exclamation points, but I didn’t need to. He knew. He knew what having a place of my own meant. Of finally, after twenty-seven years, moving out of my parents’ home.
And about damn time.
Arthur gave me the smile I found so endearing. He was a bit older than me—but not by much. He was shyer than me—by a lot.
And he was adorable, though I’d never use the word to his face. Kind, sweet, a big teddy bear. I’d had a crush on him for a millisecond when we first met, but there was no chemistry. He was just my best friend, and the person I wanted to help christen my new home, since sadly, I wasn’t feeling chemistry with anyone else right now, either.
He glanced around my place. “You’ve done okay for yourself.”
“I know, right?” I stroked my black, faux-leather sofa. “I mean, Mama got to hold onto me for nine years past my high school graduation, but that meant I could save enough for a down payment on my own house.” A little house in Riverdale, one of the middle-class suburbs of Gaynor Beach. SoCal living all the way—just steps from the beach, the boardwalk, the pier, and the ocean. Oh, and also one of the friendliest LGBTQ towns around. And, best of all, my family was in Huntington Beach. An hour away— close enough to visit, far enough to have a little privacy at last. And hopefully they’d stay there.
“Mama would’ve kept you in her nest forever.” This time, Arthur’s grin consumed his entire face. “Although you’re the middle child, she treats you like the youngest. All the spoiling—”
“Hey.” Said only half in admonition. Because he had Mama nailed. I was the middle child of seven. In my mind, that should’ve meant a shove out of the nest at eighteen. Instead, she’d convinced me to go for a computer-science degree from a state university that allowed distance education. I’d earned a bachelor’s degree while sitting in my comfortable bedroom. Which happened to be a space carved out for me in our large basement. Because, honestly, sharing a bedroom with Danny and studying would’ve been just a bit too much. Daddy had carpenters create a space for me, and I studied my ass off to get my degree. Which, truthfully, mattered less than the fact that my advisor liked me and tapped me to work on one of his big cybersecurity projects. That experience and my name below his on the papers opened doors for me.
“How’s your job going?” Arthur actually sounded interested.
He was a smart guy, but his eyes would glaze over when I talked about my cybersecurity contracts for local businesses. The great thing was, I had all the work I could handle, and about ninety percent of it I could do from my house.
I looked around with glee.
My house.
One bedroom, a den, and a bathroom. Nothing to write home about, as some would say, but the place was all mine, and I was on track to pay it off sometime within my natural lifespan. Hopefully.
“Work’s going great. Just landed another contract to upgrade the internal network security for one of the hotels in town. They’re worried about what a data breach could do to their business. That hotel down in San Diego got hacked, and their entire system was held for ransom. Although, in that San Diego case, a reservations clerk found a USB key lying around on the front desk and was ignorant enough to plug it in to see what it was. Even the best security isn’t proof against stupidity…”
Sure enough, Arthur’s sparkling-blue eyes had glazed over.
I cleared my throat, deciding I’d bored him enough. “Things are good. How are you?”
He rubbed his eyes. “Overrun. The rescue group got called out for another injured feral cat. We managed to rescue her litter of seven kittens, but the mother got away. She looked skinny as hell, but we hope that without babies to feed she can heal up and survive. The homeowners have live traps out. So far, they haven’t seen her.”
“That’s rough. And the kittens?”
He offered a smile. “They were in tough shape, but they’re growing like crazy now. Today’s the first day I’ve left them alone. I’ve been bottle-feeding for a couple of weeks, but they’re just about ready for solid food.”
It was just like Arthur to take on seven babies. We’d met during a 5k run for a local animal-rescue charity nearly three years ago. We still laughed about it because we’d been two of the stragglers. Had to say, neither of us were great runners. He’d been up every two hours the night before, bottle-feeding another litter of kittens. I just wasn’t into that kind of physical activity. We were, however, both animal lovers. Oh, and both gay, although we hadn’t discovered that until the first time we’d gotten together in a non-charity setting.
“So that’s your excuse for not helping me move in?” I tried to give him the evil eye, but that just wasn’t me. Instead, I smiled. “Have you found homes for them yet?”
“I have feelers out. Kittens are definitely easier to find homes for than adult cats, but I’ve pretty much saturated all the people I know. Everyone without allergies has at least one cat. I’ve started telling people two cats are easier than one. I wish I had more space.”
“You can’t keep them all.”
“I know.” He scowled.
In return, I arched an eyebrow.
“Well…there’s one with a crooked leg who’ll need special care—”
“And I’m quite certain you can find that kitten a forever home.” I sighed. “If you keep him—”
“Her.”
“—her, then you won’t have room for the next animal.”
He winced. “You’re…right.”
I sat up straighter. “I’m always right.”
He rolled his eyes.
I rose from my couch. “Would you like something to drink? I should’ve offered right away…”
I loved the airy feel with the huge window overlooking the backyard and the open-concept house, where I could see into the living room from the little kitchen table. The place was too small for a dining table, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Less opportunity for Mama and the crew, as I called them, to stop in and decide to stay for a meal. I also loved my family, but really needed my independence.
“Soda?”
Arthur nodded. “Yeah, cola, if you’ve got it.”
I handed him a can and grabbed one for myself. “Why don’t we head into the backyard and relax?”
He eyed me dubiously.
Despite my resolution to be an adult, I laughed. “Arthur, darling, I know you have the baby’s-ass white skin of your Nordic ancestors, but even you won’t sunburn in the span of fifteen minutes.”
“It’s not that, James.” He deadpanned my name. “It’s the fact it’s not even sixty degrees out there.”
This week was ridiculously cool for October in Gaynor Beach, but I had to give him a hard time. “You know, for a Midwestern boy, you whine a lot about the cold. I’m from SoCal. If anyone should be complaining about the chill, it should be me.” I laughed again. “And it isn’t even that cold.”
“The wind off the ocean—”
I opened the sliding glass door, shoved him out, then followed myself. I handed him my can and went over to the shed where I retrieved two cushions that we could place on the chaise lounges.
He eyed me for a long moment before finally relenting and offering me a smile. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m encouraging you to get some sunshine. Despite living out here all this time, you’re barely tanned.”
“Skin cancer’s a thing.”
“Sure. But, like, don’t humans need sun?”
“A little, for vitamin D. Not getting that today anyway.” He indicated the cloudy sky and faked a shiver.
“The sun will make an appearance shortly.” I didn’t actually know this for a fact, but I’d play along.
He huffed. “Are you at least wearing sunscreen?”
I chuckled. “You think Mama lets me out without the stuff?” I eyed my dark skin, which folks might think meant immunity, but Mama made very sure I knew better. “Uncle Donald got skin cancer, and Mama’s been on a crusade ever since. Anything that’s preventable, she’s on it.”
“Which one’s Uncle Donald?”
“He’s married to Aunt Trudy.”
“Ah.”
No missing the amusement in his voice. While Uncle Donald could blend into family events and go unnoticed, Aunt Trudy was…vibrant. Yeah, vibrant. Because calling her loud and brash would get me a swat to the back of my head.
“How are your aunt and uncle doing? They’ve got, what, two kids?”
“Yep. Marcia and Marvin.”
“Ever wonder why they and your folks picked such similar names?”
I grinned. “Felicia, Leticia, Grace, Whitney, Martin, and Danny.” Arthur knew this, of course, but I just loved seeing how quickly I could spew out my siblings’ names. “No clue. Marvin and Martin hate it, though.”
“How’s Leticia’s pregnancy?”
A giggle escaped me as I thought about Leticia telling Mama how careful and pampered she was supposed to be in her first trimester, like Mama hadn’t birthed seven children. “You’d think no woman had ever been pregnant before.” I turned to him. “Felicia just announced she’s expecting as well.”
Arthur’s eyebrows shot up. “Your twin sisters are expecting at the same time?”
“Yeah, but I suspect Felicia only got pregnant because Leticia did. She’s only two months along, while Leticia’s nearly six months.”
“Man, I’ve lost track. How many nieces and nephews are there now?”
“Felicia’s got three, Leticia’s got three, and Martin’s wife, Shondra, is expecting their second.”
Arthur snorted. “You think watching their older sisters populate the earth will make Grace and Whitney run the other direction or get baby cravings too?”
“Both too young.” I scowled. “And neither married. Mama would take a piece out of their hides. And Danny’s still in college, and not interested in anyone.” I scratched my elbow. I had a feeling my little brother was somewhere in the Qs—queer, questioning— but it wasn’t my place to say so till he did. “Mama laments that it’ll be tougher to get grandbabies with me being gay and Grace an out-and-proud lesbian.”
“She needs more grandbabies? Anyway, lesbians have babies all the time.”
I chuckled. “Oh yeah. But Grace insists she’s not dating anyone, and Mama wants us all in firmly committed relationships first.” Which was gonna be a problem for me, given how few guys seemed interested in a tall, skinny, Black computer nerd. Maybe moving to Arthur’s hometown would let me meet some new men.
Arthur sipped his cola. “I’ve never asked…do you want kids?”
I glanced over at my house. Do I? Yeah, despite the zoo at Mama’s, I really do. “Well, it’d be a tight squeeze. Oh, and I might need a husband first. Mama may be progressive, but she’s a firm believer in two-parent households.”
“She does realize that fifty percent of marriages end in divorce?”
“Oh my God, never quote that statistic to her. She’ll lose her ever-loving shit.”
Arthur nearly choked on a swallow. “Did you just…swear?” He pitched the question low—as if Mama were hiding in the bushes.
I’d spent my whole life watching my tongue so I wouldn’t slip up around Mama, and coming out with the words now felt forced, but I jerked my chin up. New life, new rules. “I’m twenty-seven-fucking years old. I think it’s about time.”
He gazed at me for a long time. “If you want to. You’re in your own space.” He swung his legs over the lounger so he faced me. “But there’s nothing wrong with not swearing. There’s nothing wrong with still respecting your mother’s preferences. You’re lucky to have a mom who cares what you say or do.”
I felt a tinge of shame. Arthur hadn’t come from a large and boisterous family. He hadn’t been surrounded by dozens of people who loved him just the way he was. He’d known pain I couldn’t even begin to fathom.
I turned so I sat directly across from him. “If you prefer I don’t swear around you, then I won’t. I was just…” I arced my arm around my overgrown backyard that was badly in need of attention. “Testing my wings.”
“Your wings are fine.” He leaned over and scratched my beard. “Even if some of them are ugly. Still takes getting used to.”
I shoved his hand away. The beard I was kind of proud of. It was still growing in, but I thought it made me look more mature, even if it sometimes itched. Part of the new, independent me. By contrast, I continued to keep my hair cut close to my scalp. Controlling it when I let it grow long was just too much effort.
I glanced over at the man I’d grown very fond of. “While your beard’s the epitome of style, right?”
He twirled an end of his extravagant mustache. “Totally.”
His beard and mustache had grown a bit more than I was used to, and I wasn’t sold on the whole handlebar thing. It reminded me of villains in movies. He said he liked it all long, since his beard still held some auburn. His hair was shaded brown, but he liked to tell me it’d been flaming red when he was a child.
Yeah, I could see that.
These days, that straight brown hair reached below his shoulders, and he usually tied it back with a thong. I asked him why he didn’t just get it cut, and he’d go on about whichever animal he was tending and didn’t have the time to abandon.
