Then, in preparation for his sister's big wedding, Billy meets Shaz - alias Chase Phillips - a rising-star celebrity stylist who defines the word gay. Being terrified of taking tests keeps Billy from getting the contractor's license he so desires, and fear of his mother's judgment blinds Billy to what could make him truly happy. A high school dropout, barely able to read until he taught himself, Billy's life is driven by his need to help support his parents as a construction worker, put his sisters through college, coach his Little League team, and not think about being a three-time loser in the engagement department. “I’m happy to save your life.How can you be 25 and not know you're gay? Billy Ballew runs from that question. The big man looked at Merle’s hand for a minute, then grinned and shook it enthusiastically. “I’m Merle Justice, and I’m extremely grateful to you. A friend designed the clothes for me, and I’d hate for those assholes to ruin them.” How does my tux look?” He stepped back and wiped sand from his butt. “No, that’s okay.” Funny how that gave him a little flip in the stomach. “Was that fun?” The big man smiled, and huge dimples popped out in his cherub face. “Okay.” The giant reached down, grasped Merle at the waist, and whoa-sent him flying to his feet. “Uh, I guess you can help me up, and we’ll check it out.” Yes, on closer inspection the face might have been a choirboy’s-on the body of the Jolly Green Giant. “I hope you fucking drown.” He rubbed his neck and tried to get a full breath into his lungs. “Go now.”īrother Two released Merle and ran like a rabbit toward the water as Merle collapsed onto the damp sand. “You should go too.” Sasquatch stepped forward again. They’d melted into the dark the second they got the chance. “It will be very bad for you if you hurt him, you know? But if you let him go, I won’t hurt you.” He looked over his shoulder. Sasquatch frowned, an oddity on what appeared to be a young, pretty face. The arm around Merle’s neck trembled and tightened convulsively. Is the guy nuts? “It’s very hard to break a person’s neck, did you know that?” He walked slowly forward. Sasquatch cocked his head and gave that weird smile again.

Then the giant turned to Brother Two, who still held his arm painfully around Merle’s throat.īrother hissed in Merle’s ear, “Don’t come any closer or I’ll break his neck.”

Fool of Main Beach by Tara Lain