Title: Better Than Beginnings, A Better Than Good Short Story Collection
Series: Better Than Stories, 5
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Release Date: January 30, 2020
Length: 105000
Genre: Romance, Bisexual, Established Couple, MM Romance, White Collar, Gay romance
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Synopsis
Matt Sullivan knows he met someone special the night he spots the sexy man on the dance floor. However, he doesn’t know his life is about to change forever. First of all, Matt is straight. Okay, maybe not, but he doesn’t think falling in love and spending the rest of his life with a hotheaded, unapologetically fabulous diva is an option.
Aaron Mendez is confident, smart, and very comfortable in his skin. He knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. And though he might have reservations about falling for someone newly out of the closet, no one has ever looked at Aaron the way Matt does.
Navigating a relationship has its challenges, but both Matt and Aaron are willing to deal with difficult parents, holiday blues, and learning curves. They know their happy ever after is worth fighting for and that true love is better than good.
*This collection of short stories follows the lives of Matt and Aaron from my first novel, Better Than Good. The end of one chapter is the beginning of a whole new story from ordinary everyday life to an engagement, a wedding, and more. This collection is dedicated to Matt and Aaron fans and those who believe that the real love story happens after the first “I love you”.
“C’mon, Aar. Give me a break. I didn’t invite her here, and I didn’t suggest my parents make an impromptu visit to DC either. I may not wear rainbow ties to work and talk incessantly about my hot boyfriend—”
“You don’t?”
“But I never hide who I am or who I’m with.”
“I know,” he said apologetically.
“Hey, I wish it was easier too. I wish my mom was more like yours. Honestly, I would have thought your family would give me a harder time than mine, but they’re so…accepting.”
Aaron cocked his head thoughtfully. “Of course they are. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I opened my mouth and closed it quickly, but I couldn’t find my voice right away. When I did, it sounded thick with emotion. “That’s my line.”
“Hmm. The difference between my family and yours is expectation. My family expected me to bring home someone like me, and trust me…they weren’t looking forward to it. One of me is difficult enough. Two? No way. But instead of another fabulous freak, they got you. You’re…normal. They love normal. Everyone does! That’s why we’re not easy for your mom to accept. She likes me fine, but I’m not what she expected. She wanted someone traditional for you. In her mind, traditional is safe. She wants you to have what she has, and she doesn’t see how you can be happy with anything less.”
Now I really was speechless. He was right. I hated it, but everything he said was true. I watched football with his dad and brother and made no attempt to hide the fact that I knew nothing about fashion or anything they might consider unmanly. I might have been unexpected, but they could relate to me on some level. I was easy.
“We have so much goodwill and acceptance in our lives,” he continued. “I have to remind myself to let the BS go. It’s not important. Your mom may never like me, and if it’s not Jana—who, by the way, is still gawking at me like I’m an alien—it’s going to be someone else who thinks if my handsome lawyer is really bi, he can probably be swayed back to the straight side of the street.”
Aaron’s self-deprecating smile took the sting out of his bald-faced version of the facts, but I didn’t want to concede that life was unfair, and sometimes even good people made life needlessly difficult for the ones they loved the most. I wanted him to forget everyone but us.
I rubbed my nose nervously and shifted in my chair. “She’s still staring?”
“Yep.”
“Change seats with me.”
“Now?” he asked, knitting his brow irritably.
When he started grumbling in Spanish, I stood abruptly and motioned for him to get up. “Come on. Let’s trade.”
Anything could happen now. He might refuse and if he did agree, he might stomp on my foot or even elbow me in the gut when he got up. His piercing gaze cautioned me to think twice. I waited patiently while he dabbed the corner of his mouth, then slowly stood just as someone dropped a glass a couple of tables away. A brief quiet fell, and a few heads turned in our direction, as though startled by the jarring sound of breaking glassware. I took advantage of the disruption and pounced.
I pulled Aaron against me and covered his mouth in a searing kiss, throwing everything I had into the connection. I might not be able to fight every injustice, but I would always fight for what was mine.
The place exploded with cheers and enthusiastic clapping. Our table’s central location gave the entire restaurant a front-row seat to the show. I didn’t care. No one and nothing mattered but him. I pulled back slightly and rested my forehead on his before pointing at my vacant chair. He gave me a dreamy-eyed nod but obeyed.
“I can’t believe you did that,” he whispered.
“Why not? I love you. I don’t care who knows. In fact, I want them to know. Should I start wearing rainbow ties to work?” I asked in a faux-serious tone.
Aaron shook his head. “No. Be you. That’s all I need.”
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Other books in the Better Than series. Get them all HERE!
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, and 2018-2019 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.
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