Book Title: The Art of Living
Author: Abrianna Denae
Cover Artist: Pretty in Ink Creations
Release Date: June 10, 2021
Genre: Contemporary gay romance
Tropes: Single dad, hurt/comfort, office romance, slow burn
Themes: Trust, meddling family
Length: 35 000 words/ 90 pages
It is a standalone book, though the reader may be interested in The Gift of Believing, a companion book featuring the MC’s son: mybook.to/GoB
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Universal link | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Letting go is the hardest thing a person can do…
Blurb
Robert Harper has spent the past seventeen years living for his son. He doesn’t know who he is if he’s not being a caregiver and protector all rolled into one.
Niall Ross is finally ready to make a life of his own. After years spent making sure his younger brother had everything he needed, it’s time for Niall to discover who he is.
All it takes is one glance across a crowded meeting room for the men to feel a connection, but Robert is terrified his life is too complicated for the other man. Luckily, Niall has patience in abundance. With a little help from Robert’s meddling family, the two begin a tentative relationship.
Just as they’re finding their footing, all of Robert’s worst fears come to life and he falters under the pressure. Niall takes the challenge to show Robert that he’s a safe place to lean on, but when his own life begins to unravel, he places his heart in Robert’s hands. When two independent men are forced to trust each other will the love win out, or will vulnerability and fear cause them to lose the best thing they didn’t even know they had.
“Sometimes I think about what will happen when Presley finally gets tired of my problems.”
“Have you told him about this?” I ask.
“No. He just worries and then he’ll go on about me leaving him. His fucking parents really wrecked his self-esteem. There’s nothing wrong with him but he doesn’t believe it.”
I don’t bother chastising him for his language. I happen to agree. To Presely’s parents, his ADHD somehow makes him defective. They’re so focused on being perfect, they’re missing out on what a great kid they have.
“That’s why communication in a relationship is important. I know it’s hard to talk about your feelings at times, but it needs to be done. Yes, sometimes you’ll hear things you rather not, but in the end, it’ll hurt less than letting things pile up and rip you apart when all you both want is to be together.”
Garrett sighs, he keeps his gaze on his food. “I know. I’m just scared that one day he’ll say that I’m too much.”
I have to take a few deep breaths to steady myself. Heart aching, not just for Garrett and his fears, but because he unknowingly fell into the same words Sydney used when she left him.
The NICU is a quiet place. Everyone is respectful and sympathetic as we’re all here for the same reason. No one says anything when they happen to catch you crying and they all say a prayer when the doctors and nurses surround your area, trying desperately to save your child’s life.
I’m sitting in the chair next to Garrett’s incubator, holding my son against my skin, and thanking God for this opportunity. It isn’t the first time I’ve held him, but every time I do is a special moment. He’s been through so much in his short life.
Born at twenty-eight weeks, Garrett is one of the unlucky ones, falling into that scary ten percent category of having long-term health problems.
Unable to breathe on his own still, there’s a long road ahead of us. I’m grateful every day I come in and they tell me how strong he is, how well he’s doing.
Sharp heels on linoleum catch my attention. Looking up, I find Sydney headed my way. I haven’t seen her in weeks. According to Jared, who’s dating Sydney’s best friend, Gretchen, Sydney hasn’t been here in close to two months.
“Sydney,” I say, voice low even though I want to scream at her and ask where she’s been.
I knew going into our relationship she wasn’t mother material, she told me that herself, it’s why we only dated a few months because I do want a family. It was a bitter taste of irony when she ended up pregnant.
“Here.” She takes a manila envelope out of her bag and shoves it at me.
Taking it with one hand, I stare at her. “What is this?” I ask, deep down though, I already know. I want to hope, even for a minute, that she’s not as callous as she acts, that she won’t just throw her son away.
“I’m signing my rights away. I’ve thought long and hard about it and I can’t do it. Maybe if things were different. If he were different, but this,” she gestures to our surroundings. “It’s too much. He’s too much. I didn’t want a kid in the first place, I can’t handle one who’s going to need as much as he is.”
There’s a burning in my stomach. I’ve never hated a person so much in my life. I understand that being a parent isn’t for everyone, I resigned myself to being a single dad the moment she told me about Garrett. But the way she’s talking about him, as if the precious baby sleeping on my chest is any kind of burden, a thing to throw away because he was born with a medical condition, it burns like fire inside me.
“Leave,” I say, voice hard. “I’ll have Jared’s lawyer look it over, but you need to leave, now.”
“I am sorry,” she says. “You’re a good guy who doesn’t deserve this.”
“My son is the best thing to ever happen to me,” I reply.
Her mouth tightens and I know she didn’t miss the emphasis I put on ‘my’. Sydney doesn’t say anything, she just walks out of our lives and the anger churning inside me is happy to see her go.
“You are not too much of anything,” I tell my son quietly yet firmly. “Presley loves you just as you are. I love you just as you are. So do Jared and Sam. So you have limitations and sometimes life is hard, but you deserve all the good in your life, Garrett. Don’t let anyone tell you any differently, not even yourself.”
Garrett slides out of his seat and comes around to my side of the table. We share a long hug. Garrett clings to me the same way he does when his health is making his life miserable.
Abrianna Denae is a twenty-four-year-old author living in Northern California. An English major, she has always had a passion for writing.
Deciding to sit down and write one of the many stories that had plagued her mind for years was the easy part—finding the time to do it was a different story.
Caffeine is her best friend, and sleep is her worst enemy.
A lover of books that make the reader feel something, she tries to incorporate as much of her real-world views and feelings into her stories as she can.
Social Media Links
Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram
BookBub | Goodreads Author Page | Amazon Author Page
You can also email her at authorabridenae@gmail.com
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win
either a $20 Amazon gift card or one of two ebooks from the author’s backlist.
