Have you met the boys next door...?

Today. I was going to tell him today.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside cabinet. Five to seven. Time to get up.

I sat up and grinned as I saw the door of my bedroom open slightly.

Silently, my new kitten, Fozzy, jumped up onto my bed and came stepping over my legs to nuzzle my face with his.

“Hello, boy.” I stroked him and was rewarded with a loud purr. “What do you reckon, huh? Think by some miracle he’ll realise that he feels the same way?”

He purred even louder. I sighed. I didn’t know and it was terrifying. I knew he loved me as his best friend – but anything more than that? Well, it didn’t matter anymore. I had to tell him how I felt. I guess I’d know by lunch time what that would do to our friendship…

Liam... Kiss The Boy... Out Now!

Ben threw himself down on the ground, “Wow, look at that,” He said pointing up at the sky, “It’s a really clear night – look at all those stars!”

I got down and lay next to him, “Oh, yeah.” I murmured. I reached for his other hand and laced my fingers through his, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

He turned to me and nodded, his eyes sparkling in the light that was only being provided by the full moon above us, “Yeah.” He whispered, stroking my face with the hand he’d been pointing out the stars with, “So beautiful.”

I frowned. Was he still talking about the sky? Time to find out, “What is?” I asked a little flirtatiously, “Me?”

To my amazement and joy, he nodded slowly, “You’ve always been beautiful.” He said with a smile, “And you know it too.”

I smiled shyly at him, my heart beginning to pick up speed, “It’s still nice to hear you say it.” I said a little breathlessly.

He shifted position so he was leaning on his elbow and resting his head on his hand, “Why do you put up with me?” he asked.

I frowned up at him. Was that a trick question? “Uh?”

He sighed, “You know what I mean. Going out with all these girls when I’ve got you?”

Was this his big reveal? I didn’t know what to say, “But we’re just mates.” I said hoarsely.

He raised his eyebrows, “Are we?” he said, “Don’t you want to kiss me right now?”

Ross... Are We Good...? Out Now!

Mortifying, that’s what it was. Mortifying.

I couldn’t actually believe my bad luck. I swear – my mother’s timing was worse than bad. We were just trying to bide our time until we went to uni in the autumn. We’d both be eighteen by then and had decided that we’d come out to them both – as adults – so they couldn’t really argue… And we’d be doing it together…

I’d had a bit of a thing for Dakota ever since I first laid eyes on him back when we were around fourteen and his school’s football team came to play against mine.

I wasn’t captain back then – I’d only really joined the team because my best mate, George, played and he talked me into it. I can’t deny that at first I was completely intimidated with all those guys. Being naturally shy – and discovering that I was actually more attracted to guys than girls – I was a little afraid that everyone would instinctively know I was gay and I’d be kicked off the team. As luck would have it, the PE teacher happened to also be gay and he had a zero tolerance policy for homophobic behaviour or for any other sort of bullying for that matter.

The first time I saw Dakota, I don’t really know how to describe how I felt – kind of like all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. My heart started to beat really fast and I felt really hot. He was so damned beautiful it was quite ridiculous. I was actually quite angry with him for making me feel so out of control – I’d never felt that way before.

And he was so damned good at the sport too – he was, by far, the best player on their team – and yet he was so modest too. He never celebrated stupidly over scoring a goal – just ran off with a smile on his face as all the rest of his teammates jumped on each other and patted him on the back. His aloofness was what really intrigued me. I romantically thought of him as a lone wolf. A guy that couldn’t be tamed – one that would never be mine…

Gabriel... Equal Measures... Out Now!

So, Jude had disappeared off to play hide and seek with Sam and his friends, Steve was sitting chatting to his girlfriend at the time and my eyes were darting all over the garden looking for Brooklyn. Where the hell had he gone?

“Looking for someone?” I about choked on my mouthful of burger at the voice right next to my ear.

“Oh!” I spun around and found myself staring up in his gorgeous blue eyes, “You scared me!”

He smiled and took a mouthful of his beer. “Sorry.” He said lazily. “If you’re looking for your boyfriend, he’s squealing like a girl over there with your little brother and his mates.”

I chuckled. “Jude is my cousin – not my boyfriend and I wasn’t looking for him.” I was looking for you…

Brooklyn’s eyes widened slightly, “Really?” he frowned, “Then why did Steve tell me he was?”

I shrugged; my heart beating a little faster at his closeness, “No idea – maybe he was winding you up.” Why would he do that?

“Maybe,” He murmured with a little frown. He took a step closer, “Madison?” he asked.

My breath hitched as I looked up to find his face ever so close to mine – so close in fact that I was able to feel his breath on my face. “Yes?”

He shook his head, “This is gonna sound so weird.” He mumbled.

“What?” I whispered.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked softly.

My jaw dropped. What the hell was he doing, asking if he could kiss me? He was straight, wasn’t he? Still… Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth and having an instant woody at the very thought of tangling tongues with such a beautiful guy, I nodded, “Yes.” I breathed, “Course you can.”

He brushed his lips so gently against mine it was like a whisper on the wind. Perfection.

Madison... Some Kind of Paradise... Out Now!

I fished out my mobile and scrolled through the contacts until I found the one person who would be able to sort my head out… My nearest and dearest cousin, Madison.

“Well, hello gorgeous.” Came his almost immediate response to his phone ringing.

“I need you. I need coffee and I need chocolate.” I blurted out desperately.

“Mm-hmm.” I could see him in my mind’s eye nodding and stroking his chin thoughtfully, “Do you also need a big fluffy pillow, a foot massage and a box set of Ugly Betty?”

“Yes.” I wailed down the phone.

He chuckled, “Come on over, I’ll put the kettle on.”

I knocked on his door and he immediately answered, gathering me in and fussing over me, “Oh, babe.” He said, “You look so stressed out – what’s the matter?”

I allowed him to usher me through to the kitchen and I pulled out one of the chairs at the large kitchen table which dominated the room, “Oh, God.” I put my head in my hands and groaned.

Madison came hurrying back across the room, armed with two hot chocolates – with extra marshmallows on mine to give me a boost – and sat down opposite me, “You’re freaking me out now, babe,” he said, “What is it?”

I shook my head and looked up at him, “I may have a crush – on someone I have no business having a crush on.”

His eyes almost popped out of his head, “A girl?” he asked incredulously. I nearly spat my chocolate across the table, “No!” I spluttered, “Don’t be ridiculous!”

He grinned, “Well, who then?”

“Lachlan O’Shea.” I breathed, “He’s gorgeous.”

Jude... Without You... Available Now! 

 “Are you absolutely sure about this?” Harry looked at me in concern. He’d quite reluctantly agreed to be my best man and he’d arranged my stag party for me with the help of my two other best mates, Brad and Justin, “You know mate, we’re all still so young... twenty one is still far too young to be tied down to one person...”

“I won’t be tied down.” I argued indignantly, “Me and Kayleigh are totally cool with being together – it’s what couples in love do.”

He sighed and I knew he didn’t believe me. “Well, okay – fine – but you’re having your stag weekend in Magalluf.”

I rolled my eyes. No doubt he, Justin and Brad would be getting off with girls left, right and centre – well not me. I was quite happy with the one I’d got, thanks... “Fine – when do we go?”

“In a fortnight – that gives you a week to recover before the big day.”

I nodded, “Sure, fine.”

Kayleigh was going to a spa with her girlfriends for a four-day weekend – and Harry had decided that the ‘lads’ were going to Magalluf at the same time. I think I’d have preferred to go to the spa...

Angel... Looking for Trouble... Available now!

 The end of year party was coming up. I didn’t have a date and neither did Jordan – we’d arranged to go with each other. Jordan even joked that he had the best looking date there – he might not have done, to be fair there were plenty of other far prettier guys out there than me – but I sure did.

We both had a few shots and then we started to dance with each other.

Jordan kept brushing his fingers against mine and staring into my eyes as we danced. I guess I was staring right back into his to notice them so much. His eyes were almost black in the dim lighting of the nightclub.

Why did I feel like this? We were best friends – nothing more and we never had been… but he was looking at me and I was looking at him and suddenly, with the alcohol coursing through my veins, I wanted nothing more than to be kissed by him and to kiss him right back… but why? This had never happened before while I was awake…

Taylor....

Best Boyfriend Ever... Available Now!

“Did you know Leo could dance like that?” I heard the guy next to me at the bar ask his co-worker and a tingling sensation went through me from my head to my toes, “Would you look at that. I thought he was training to be a chef at that fancy restaurant in Stoney Croft – not to be a pole-dancer.”

“Oh, wow.” The other one breathed, “I thought he was into motor sport, I had no idea he could move like that.” He was quite clearly admiring what he was seeing.

I frowned. Leo? Okay so there had to be more than one Leo on the planet, but put together with the rest – being a chef at the only restaurant in Stoney Croft? And being into motorsport? Well, it was just too much of a coincidence. I turned around slowly and followed the line of sight that the guys behind the bar were looking – with their tongues hanging out of their mouths.

My stomach nearly dropped through my arse, “Oh, holy hell.” I breathed as I took in the writhing sexy body wrapped around the pole on the central podium, “Leo...?”

Brad leaned across and whispered in my ear, “So, what about him?” he nodded towards Leo, “It looks to me by that expression on your face that you wanna spend the night dancing with him?” he chuckled.

I didn’t have to even think about it, “Definitely.” I said, “I don’t want anyone else.” I never have...

Micha... Racing Hearts... Available Now!

I could hear someone singing softly on the next aisle from where I was stood. He seemed to only be singing the verses to the song – as if he wanted someone to chime in with the chorus... well, I was happy to oblige. I waited until he came to the end of the next line and then I started to softly sing the chorus. I stopped and waited to see if he’d continue the song.
He did. This was kind of fun. I pulled out a book and peered through the bookshelf. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I found myself eye-to-eye with Jules....
Mum always reckoned that if she could stop singing and someone carried on the song – they were totally in tune with you – like you had a connection... and I was pretty damned sure I had a connection with Jules...
Making him see that while he was still nursing a broken heart was gonna be a challenge... I could see that but I was also willing to give it a go...
I still wasn’t sure if I was in love with Jules – or in love with the idea of being in love with Jules – and I guess I was never gonna find out unless I took the bull by the horns and asked him out.
“Hi,” I said, “What are you doing in here?”
He raised an eyebrow, “Why shouldn’t I be in here?’ he asked, “I like poetry.”
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow, “Poetry?”
He nodded, “Why, what’s on your side?”
I looked at the shelves. I hadn’t really been taking much notice – I’d followed the sound of his beautiful voice if I was gonna be completely honest. “Motorcross and uh, BMXing.”
He nodded, “Wow.” He said, “You’re into that?”
I swallowed hard and shook my head, “Not really.” I admitted with my heart slamming against my ribs painfully, “But I’m into you.” 

Chas... I Need A Little Time...
Available for Pre-ordering Now! Release date 1st December 2016.