by
Escape with Shaun and Mitch in outback Australia as they discover it sometimes takes time, distance, and interfering family to help them realign.
After eight years of living in America, it’s time for Shaun to return home to his family’s farm in outback Australia. He has a decision to make: continue working his dream job with NASA or move back for a corporate job and his family.
He thinks his decision is easy.
He thinks he’s going to have a fun two weeks at home catching up.
He also thinks seeing his best friend, Mitch, will finally allow him to move on from that one hot kiss they shared the day he left.
Shaun realises he’s truly screwed as what he thinks and what he knows don’t always align.
Realigned is a fun and steamy M/M short story in Becca Seymour’s Coming Home series. Stand-alone romances complete with heat, wit, and happily ever afters.
- 23 To Be Read lists
- 6 Read lists
- 1 Currently Reading list
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Coming Home, Friends to Lovers
Word Count: 14000
Setting: Australian Outback
Languages Available: English
“Bloody hell.” My gaze hit the rear-view mirror again and I lowered my window and switched off the engine, eyes drawn tight as the blue-and-red flashing lights lit my car. The driver door opened and the figure of the police officer stepped out. A deep sigh escaped and I closed my eyes. When I reopened them, I focused on the side mirror and the officer almost at my door. With a hard swallow, I took a deep breath and plastered on what I was certain looked more like a grimace than a smile.
A large hand appeared on my door and the figure bent a little to see me. “Heading anywhere in particular in such a rush this evening?”
My gaze travelled from the hand, up the arm, and to the face of the officer peering down at me. My eyes narrowed. “You arsehole.” I shook my head, my eyes connecting with amused ones. “Don’t do this shit to me.” I flung open the door so Mitch had to take a step back.
READ MOREHis laughter greeted me a second before he reached out, took my hand, and dragged me into a hug. “Speeding is dangerous, Shaun.” He prodded my side with two fingers, wedging in hard and making me grunt. “Man, it’s good to see you. It’s been too damn long.”
I shook my head and took a step out of his embrace, grinning widely at him. Mitch. Sergeant Mitch Harris. It had been eight years since I’d been home. Eight years since the brute in front of me had patted me on the back, shoved a plane ticket in my hand, and watched me drive away.
“You have no idea how good it is to see you either.” He couldn’t possibly. The depth of his brown eyes hadn’t changed, nor had the ridiculously hot dimple in his right cheek. He was bigger, though. A little fuller around the middle, but he looked solid and hard. And still so unattainable. “How’d you know it was me?”
He shrugged lazily, a smile on his lips. “This here uniform isn’t just for show, Shaun.”
“My mum told you, huh?”
He laughed. “Maybe I was expecting you.”
My grin still in place, I shook my head in wonder. When he’d sent me on my way, forcing me to jump on the plane to the States and chase my dreams, it had ripped part of my heart out. I understood why he’d done it, had helped make it happen, but it hadn’t made leaving any easier. And now I was home, and the man who’d stolen my heart all those years ago, my best bloody friend, was before me.
“Come on.” He angled his head. “My shift ended twenty minutes ago. I was just shooting the shit, waiting for you to roll in to town. You want to head to your folks’ or do you want a beer first?”
“Depends where the beer is.” I lifted my brows. I wanted to wash the long plane and car journey off me. I also wanted to see my parents as it had been two years since they’d last flown out to visit, but this was Mitch. I couldn’t miss out on any chance to spend time with him. I was only back for a couple of weeks, so I’d take anything I could get.
“Just get your arse into the car and follow me.”
With my heart still racing and my chest feeling lighter, I followed him back to the station and remained hidden in the rental while he headed inside to do whatever he had to, before he returned wearing faded Wranglers, a tee, and a pair of boots. He opened the passenger door and threw himself into the seat.
COLLAPSE
