My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ted has survived by keeping everyone at arm’s length, living alone in a rundown trailer where no one can get close enough to hurt him. But Kacen — kind, steady, and unexpectedly drawn to him — doesn’t follow Ted’s rules. Their connection grows despite Ted’s mistrust, pushing him to confront the possibility that wanting someone, and trusting them, might finally be worth the risk.
This short story was heartbreaking in the best way, showing how deeply Ted had been damaged by past abuse — hiding in his trailer with the curtains shut, keeping the world at arm’s length even though he still managed to hold down a job and pay his bills. I loved that Kacen quickly understood Ted’s fear of closeness and gently worked around it, always keeping him safe rather than pushing too hard. I did feel the story would have been even stronger with a clearer sense of how their relationship began and developed, as that part felt a little rushed and could have been explored more. But overall it was easy to read and understand, with emotions that were simple to feel right along with Ted. This was an MM story with mature content with male lactation.
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