Welcome, Lee. Pull up a chair. No, try this one, much more comfy. Coffee's ready. Can I pour you a cup? Milk? Sugar? First let's look at the gorgeous cover of Lee's new book.
Living in a Fantasy World
*waves* Hi, all. I’m Lee Brazil author of m/m romance for Breathless Press and The Story Orgy. *sips coffee* I live on Face Book in between writing. Why? Cause it makes writing less a solitary vocation. I have a myriad of friends with different interests and different perspectives, and we can have a lot of engaging conversations or just plain old fashioned fun. I find that having that outlet lets me refresh and go back to writing with enthusiasm.
And...sometimes, they give me something to think about that blossoms into something like this blog post.
A while ago Jean posted a hypothetical question in one of our writing groups. Here's the scenario. You're out to lunch. Across the room you see the significant other of a close friend, dining intimately with someone. Do you tell your friend? The implication, of course is that the SO is cheating on your friend.
On the surface it seems to be a yes or no question. Gut instinct tells me it's not. I thought briefly about it. And honestly, if I saw a man I knew lunching with a stranger in a public place, I'd just walk right up to the couple and say hi. If I knew the man's partner, especially if he were my friend, I'd probably ask how he's doing and suggest we all get together soon. Someone called my response an "affair killer". Maybe. But, anyone who is trying to hide what they're doing probably shouldn't be having lunch in a public place.
In retrospect, while that might be my first response, it kind of avoids the question being asked. The question really is, if you know your friend's lover is cheating on him, do you tell him?
That's more difficult. See, your friend is living in a fantasy world. He's in love with his partner, or thinks he is. He probably thinks his relationship is all roses and red wine and two heads on a pillow. He's looking at the world through rose colored glasses, and anyone who's ever been in love can tell you, those glasses make the world a very fine place. They make plain men beautiful, paupers princes, and flaws cute.
Without the glasses, the rose means I'm sorry I'm giving you this single flower because I feel guilty about something I'm doing. With the glasses, it means I love you, you're perfect, we belong together. With the glasses, the red wine is just the perfect little touch to an evening meal, the buzz on the ending of another day together. Without the glasses? The red wine clouds his judgment. He's so buzzed, he can't see clearly. The two heads on a pillow? Well...they're just sleeping tonight. *sips coffee*
Still, wearing those glasses, your friend is happy. Do you have the right to rip that away? Don't you want him to be happy?
What if you tell him, and he doesn't believe you?
Or...worse. What if you tell him, and he gets mad at you for butting into his relationship? I mean, you don't know all the parameters of this couple's relationship dynamic. What if he already knows and doesn’t care? What if they have an open relationship? It's none of your business, is it? You risk coming off looking like an interfering busy body by talking to your friend.
And, there's one bottom line here. Your friend is going to get hurt living in that fantasy world. Surely that can't be good for him? Eventually, he's going to find out, and then...You'll have to pick up the pieces, maybe share a pitcher of margaritas or a gallon of moose track ice cream.
But...here's my take. Let him have the fantasy, as long as it lasts. Sooner or later, if there's a problem, he's going to figure it out. At least then, after the margaritas and the ice cream, he'll have the fantasy to look back on. Don't rip off the band aid, don't steal his rose colored glasses. Just be there when he loses them.
That's what I'd do. What about you?
I hope you can take a few minutes to check out my March release, Loving Eden.
A little bit about the book
Eden St. Cyr wants to let the boy who's crushing on him down easy.Drew Harris wants to protect his son from what he considers a
disastrous relationship.
Neither of them counted on being attracted to the other.
Eden St. Cyr has wandering feet. He shuffles around the country from place to place and college to college, changing majors and lovers at whim. When Bailey Harris starts following him home, mooning around and showing signs of affection, Eden hatches a plan to let the kid down lightly before he leaves for the next semester, the next college, and the next lover.
Drew Harris is stunned at the changes in his son. His responsible dependable, cheerful boy has become a moody despondent, irresponsible teenager. Drew knows exactly who to blame, too. When Eden doesn’t return his phone calls, he's forced to be a little more devious in his plans to get the bad influence out of his son's life.
An unexpected attraction derails both men from their plans, but when Bailey walks in at the least appropriate time, can things be put right?
EXCERPT
"You're one of Bailey's friends? I'm Drew, his Dad." The man asked, reaching down and picking up Eden's back pack.
"Yes," He mumbled in reply, striving to fight down the shivers of arousal that rippled through him with the deep voice. The effect from the answering machine was magnified in person. That voice was a caress in itself, stroking over his body, making him tingle with awareness.
"Let me show you where you'll be sleeping. I'm putting you in with Bailey. Sorry I can't stay and talk, but I've got to get down to the market in town and pick up some supplies for our weekend."
Eden willingly followed the man into the house and down a short hallway. Bailey's dad opened a door and gestured into the room. "Here you go. People should be arriving soon, but I hope to be back before anyone else gets here."
Eden stepped up to the doorway inadvertently brushing against that hard muscled body as he did so. Heat seared through his thin T-shirt and gooseflesh prickled his arms. He bit his lip to keep the moan inside, just nodding his head, too afraid that his arousal would show to speak. He ducked his head and made to move into the room, when a hard warm hand closed around his upper arm. He found himself turned to face Bailey's dad, and looked up into puzzled blue eyes.
"We'll talk later, yes?" The man asserted. Eden was trapped in the depths of those deep blue eyes and unable to utter a response. A big, calloused hand came up to cup Eden's jaw, thumb rubbing gently over the two-day growth of beard he hadn't bothered to shave. Shaking his head, Drew began to speak again but then his head tilted slightly to the side and his lips came down. Eden caught his breath in surprise. Surely Bailey's dad wasn't going to kiss him?
But he was. Warm dry lips pressed to his own briefly, sliding a little to the side, nipping lightly at his own lower lip. The gentle kiss swept right across his mouth in a brief warm touch that left him craving more. It had barely begun before Drew pulled away. Wow. Pressing his fingers to his still tingling lips, Eden stared after the handsome man who'd shown him his room. Definitely scrapping plan A for this weekend.
Sound good?
BUY LINK
Let's get to know Lee a little better
I’m an avid reader and former teacher of grammar and composition who believes that falling in love is the grandest adventure anyone can have. In a nutshell, that’s every story I have to tell.
Relocating from the crazy pace of life in Southern California's Orange County to the beautiful and leisurely atmosphere of the Illinois countryside has given me the time to indulge the desire to write that I set aside when I started teaching fourteen years ago. Readers can find out more about me and my writing by visiting me at my blog, Lee's Musings or finding me on Facebook. Feel free to drop me a line at lee.brazil@ymail.com
