Out of the Shade by S.A. McAuley
Publisher: Self-pub (S.A. McAuley, LLC)
Release Date (Print & Ebook): May 21, 2019
Length (Print & Ebook): 332 pages (print), 103k words
Subgenre: Contemporary
Warnings: alcoholism, mentions of sexual and physical abuse, mentions of drug
addiction, mentions of rape, attempted suicide by a minor character, violence,
homophobia, closeting
Book synopsis:
Jesse
Solomona has always tried to be the perfect straight guy—a cocky sports fan who
drinks more than he did in his fraternity days and an expert at
one-night-stands. That he hooks up with just as many men as he does women is a
secret Jesse’s been hiding for years, fearful of losing his family and tight
group of friends. He’s a Kensington boy—a group of guys that grew up in the
same neighborhood and somehow all ended up back in their hometown. They, and
his family, are the only things that still matter in his otherwise soul-sucking
life.
Chuck
Dunn, a tattooed and pierced sports photographer, has refused to step back into
the closet since he was disowned by his family, but he keeps choosing men who
can’t fully be with him. Finally free from a long-term relationship he
should’ve ended years ago, he quits his high-profile gig in favor of getting
back to the art of sports photography—documenting a local boxing club that
works with at-risk teenagers. He may not have the same swagger anymore, but
he’s working to be happy with who he is.
When
Chuck joins one of the Kensington boys’ community center sports leagues,
Jesse’s self-imposed rules are systematically demolished. But there’s one
barrier Jesse can’t find the strength to break through—coming out to the other
Kensington boys. Chuck knows hooking up with Jesse is a bad idea. Falling for
him even worse. But he can’t stay away.
Chuck
is damaged by his past. Jesse is frightened about his future. But, together,
they may just be able to come out of the shade.
Excerpt:
All-Stars was a dive. A worn-down shack on the
literal wrong side of the tracks on the south side of James Bay. There wasn’t
even a bouncer at the front door.
“This is my kind of place,” Jesse said as they
walked into the bar. “Feeling those normal guy vibes.”
“Told ya.”
Tayshaun waved to them from a table at the other
side of the packed room and Chuck acknowledged him before turning back to
Jesse. “I’ll grab us a couple beers. Why don’t you go over and say hi.”
Jesse took a step, then hesitated.
Chuck raised an eyebrow as he surveyed one of
the biggest, most physically intimidating men he’d ever met freaked over making
conversation. “Just normal guys, Jesse, I promise.”
“The Bay’s quarterback is sitting at the table
next to him.”
“Okay, so he’s kind of a dick. But you know all
about dealing with those because of the Kensington boys.”
Jesse smirked. “Fuck you. Hurry up.”
Despite Jesse’s urging, Chuck took his time at
the bar so Tayshaun and Jesse had a chance to talk. He chatted with a couple
other Bay’s players who were seated there and by the time he made his way over
to Jesse, Jesse was guffawing over something Tayshaun had said. Chuck slipped
Jesse’s glass in front of him and took the seat next to him.
“We making friends here then?” he said.
“Your boy is sick, Chuckie. I like him.”
“No surprise there.” Chuck took a deep swig of
his drink, the local craft beer rolling down his throat in a pleasant rush.
“Did Jesse tell you he used to play in college?”
“Yeah, we were comparing notes on treatment for
janky knees.” Tayshaun sat back and gestured between the two of them. “So how
long you been together?”
Chuck froze just as Jesse’s eyebrows shot up and
he gripped his glass with white knuckles, stammering, “We’re— Uh— We—”
Tayshaun thumped his beer against the table and
winced. “Shit. I’m sorry. I assumed— And I— Shit. I should know damn well better, of all people.”
That brought stony silence to the table, but
Chuck held his ground, waiting for Jesse to put the pieces together. While he
hadn’t expected the topic to come up quite this way, he’d hoped Tayshaun would
feel comfortable enough with Jesse to open up. Because Tayshaun was a regular guy, and….
Jesse leaned forward. “Wait. You’re gay?”
Tayshaun nodded. “My team knows, and so do the
coaches. It’s an open secret as they call it. I don’t know if I’m ready to be
the first out player in the league. Shitload of pressure.”
Chuck shrugged. “You’re a franchise player. It
may be easier for you than others.”
“I ever decide to do it, then you’ll be the
first I call. You’ll make my ass look like the masterpiece it is.”
“I’ll grab us another round.” Jesse excused
himself and headed for the bar.
Chuck glanced at Jesse over his shoulder. He
hadn’t outright denied anything between them, but he hadn’t confirmed it
either. And even though he’d left the table, he wasn’t running for the door.
How fucked up was it that Chuck considered avoiding a panicked exodus a win?
Chuck sighed.
It was also much too familiar.
“Sorry about that,” Tayshaun said.
All around that could’ve gone better, but he
hadn’t been able to figure out how to broach the subject with betraying either
Tayshaun’s or Jesse’s trust.
Chuck waved off the apology. He’d find a way to
talk to Jesse about it later. “Your season’s going well.”
“Football is my life.”
“Guess that means you’re not seeing Nunez
anymore?”
“We burned hot and sputtered the fuck out.
Couldn’t find any time once he got traded. How about you?” Tayshaun tipped his
head up. “You seeing anyone?”
Chuck downed the rest of his beer. “Yeah. And
it’s—”
“Me,” Jesse finished for him, setting the beers
down.
Chuck swallowed, the word complicated lodging unsaid in his suddenly dry throat. Had Jesse
just…?
Jesse plopped into his chair, his gaze locked to
Tayshaun’s. “We just met about six weeks ago, but I can’t seem to shake him. He
keeps showing up in my bed.”
A distinct crimson stained Jesse’s cheeks and
half of his beer had been drained even though he’d only been gone for minutes.
Chuck grounded himself in those details as he stared disbelieving at Jesse.
“Chuckie’s tenacious,” Tayshaun said. “Like a
dog with a bone.”
“Tell me about it,” Jesse responded. “Tenacious
and loyal—even when I asked him to keep us quiet.”
Chuck’s head spun. With Tayshaun across the
table there was little he could say to acknowledge what had just happened, but
he couldn’t let the moment pass unrecognized either.
He didn’t have to scramble for the words though,
because Tayshaun was already leaning across the table. “Aw hell. You’re not out
either, then?”
Jesse shook his head.
“Well”—Tayshaun grinned—“then I guess we have
more to talk about than knees.”
“Guess we do.”
Then Jesse set his hand on Chuck’s thigh and
squeezed.
Chuck felt the echoes of that touch for the rest
of the night. He nursed the beer Jesse had bought for him until the contents
were flat and warm, then stuck with water after that—wanting to remember every
second of unguarded conversation. Every rumbling laugh Tayshaun elicited from
Jesse. Every knowing glance Jesse sent his way.
When the lights flipped on to full power at the
end of the night, Chuck embraced Tayshaun and promised to come see him again,
and Tayshaun embraced Jesse with just as much warmth, extracting the same
promise from him.
Chuck was sober and yet punch drunk.
He started up his truck and stared out the
windshield, unsure what to say now that he and Jesse were alone.
But it was Jesse who finally broke the silence.
“You and Tayshaun…? He isn’t the pro you were with, right?”
“No. He’s like my little brother,” Chuck said,
watching Jesse’s shoulders relax with that answer. “If you really want to talk
about exes right now I will, but Jesse— What you did in there…?”
Jesse shrugged. “After how cool Emily was, and
spending this weekend with you…. I didn’t want to deny it, and Tayshaun felt
safe.”
“He is.”
“All good things start with one step, right?”
Jesse smiled shyly. “Or something like that.”
“Yeah, something like that,” Chuck repeated. He
set his hand on Jesse’s nape and ran his fingers over the back of Jesse’s head.
Jesse arched into the touch, his eyes slipping closed. As emotionally shocking
as tonight had been for Chuck, it had to have been taxing for Jesse. “What do
you want to do? Grab a hotel or drive?”
“Let’s see how far we can drive,” Jesse mumbled
around a yawn. “I really do need to get back to work on Tuesday and I’d rather
not be exhausted when I go back.”
“Britney it is, then,” Chuck said, letting go of
Jesse and turning on his playlist.
Jesse chuckled lowly and reached for Chuck’s
hand as they pulled out of the parking lot. He entwined their fingers and
rested his head against the window, snoring softly before they even hit the
freeway.
Chuck hummed under his breath. The energy from
Britney and the warm, powerful hand in his was enough to keep him going well
through the night.
Author S.A. McAuley is a wandering LGBTQ author who sleeps little
and reads a lot. Happiest in a foreign country. Twitchy when not mentally in
motion. Her name is Sam, not Sammy, definitely not Samantha. She’s a
dark/cynical/jaded person, but hides that darkness well behind her obsession(s)
with shiny objects.
Connect with her:
Giveaway: Celebrate the release of OUT OF THE SHADE with author S.A. McAuley by
entering this giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 3 $10 Amazon Gift Cards!
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