For David did love Jonathan, and they were one soul.
by
Seventeen-year-old David has been best friends with Jonathan for as long as he can remember, but the day he sees the pastor’s daughter press a soft kiss to Jonathan’s cheek everything changes. Overcome by jealousy, his explosive reaction reveals a deeper connection that sends their relationship spiraling down into dangerous territory.
When their clandestine love is discovered, they have nowhere to turn for help. The brutal circumstances of their parting test David and Jonathan’s covenant to each other in unimaginable ways. Forced to face their fears, it is in their darkest moments that the two young men discover that the courage, hope, and strength they need to fight for their love, has been the foundation of their covenant all along.
71,000 words
- 1 To Be Read list
Publisher: Cool Dudes Publishing
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Tropes: Coming Out / Closeted, Forbidden Love, Coming of Age, Families/Raising Kids
They made the walk to the parking lot in silence, but it wasn’t until they were ensconced in the truck Jonathan’s dad let him drive to and from school, that David murmured, “You’d be better without me.”
“Don’t say that.” Jonathan’s voice was rough with emotion. “You have no idea how out of my mind I’ve been these last eight days.”
“I’ve a fair idea.” David stared straight ahead as Jonathan shoved the key in the ignition and turned the engine over. “It’s not like it hasn’t been eight days for me, too, you know.”
“The difference is that you knew why you were staying out of touch. I didn’t. I didn’t know what was going on, and neither did Elisha. You didn’t call, and you wouldn’t answer your phone!” Jonathan snapped. “So while you might have missed me, you knew I was okay… and you knew I’d worry.”
READ MORE“I couldn’t answer my phone. My dad took it out of my room. He said when I can act like the young man that I’ve been raised to be, I can have it back. Until then, I am phone-less.” David sat still in his seat, his bag on his lap, his eyes straight ahead, as Jonathan drove. They didn’t speak again until they made the right onto Aspen Way, David murmuring, “I don’t know what to say to you, Jonny. I don’t know what to say but that I’m sorry and that you deserve better than me.”
“Babe—”
Tears glossed David’s eyes as the truck made a left onto Cripple Creek and he said, “Please don’t—”
Jonathan’s hand reached out to take David’s, grasping his wrist briefly before threading his fingers through David’s and bringing them to his lips as he pulled alongside the curb. “You will never be able to drive me away. I’m not going to apologize for fighting for us… and I will fight for us, David.”
“You shouldn’t. You should just—”
Jonathan leaned across the seat to catch David’s mouth in a kiss, one David yanked back from, scrambling out of the truck to hurry to the front door. Jonathan was quick to follow, pushing David up against the porch wall, shocked when he yelped.
“What? What happened?” Jonathan stepped back, his eyes wide, hands out. “What’d I do?”
“Go home! Or—” David shook his head, getting out his key and unlocking the door before he lifted shiny eyes to Jonathan. “—go back to school.”
Jonathan followed David as he pushed into the house. “I am not leaving you alone. You will not tell me to go. You will tell me what’s going on and you will tell me right now, because right now, I know that you’re freaking out over something.”
Shutting and locking the front door behind them, David waited for Jonathan to turn around. When he did, David told him, “You’re not staying long. It would rouse suspicion if you did.”
“Raise. It would raise suspicion,” Jonathan corrected, following him to his room.
“Rouse. Raise. Doesn’t matter. What makes you think you have the right to demand answers from me?” David knew that Jonathan had every right, but he wanted something he could battle, since his life had turned into something he couldn’t fight.
Well, not and live.
“The fact that you belong to me and I belong to you. The fact that you and I have been a we since we were wee!” Jonathan exploded.
At the suddenness of the shout, David cowed, lifting his arms and ducking his head as his breathing grew erratic in an instant. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You’re right—”
“David… babe, I’m not gonna hurt you—”
Jonathan’s words stopped as his hands slipped over David’s upper arms, ripping a shriek from David’s lips as everything went black—
COLLAPSE