BooFF

By Matt Burlingame

James Dixon has it all: a gorgeous fiance, a beautiful new house with the pool of his dreams, and his beloved dog, Pepper. But his perfect life begins to unravel after the sudden disappearance of his best friend, Ben. Trying to maintain a sense of normalcy while desperate to find out what happened to his friend, James helps his fiance, Michael, plan their upcoming housewarming party. But the oddities keep adding up until James becomes convinced their new house is being haunted. Enlisting the help of his mother, a witch, their party becomes the housewarming from hell as James uncovers shocking secrets and the ultimate betrayal in this paranormal tale of terror. A tribute to the fun, campy paranormal films of the late 1900s.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matt Burlingame
• Release date: Nov 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370922819

Matt Burlingame

Matt Burlingame is an award-winning journalist and playwright, living in Northern California. After 20 years of working for various LGBT newspapers, websites, and even co-hosting a late-night radio show, he has retired from his aspirations of being the gay Murphy Brown to pursue his love of fiction writing. He has written and co-written over ten critically acclaimed plays, including Recovery Mode, Poughkeepsie Porn Co., Countess Dracula, and the controversial Paperclip Messiah. His plays have been produced nationally, most notably in New York and St. Louis. He has been a well-known LGBT podcaster for over ten years and produced and co-hosted shows focused on writing, comedy, theater, gay sex education and positive body image. With the support and encouragement of his gay cat, and lifelong friend Nephi, he has now immersed himself into the wonderful world of M/M romance.

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BooFF

Smashwords Edition

By Matt Burlingame

Copyright © 2017 Matthew Couk

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Cover photo © Can Stock Photo / chainatp

This is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places and situations are the product of author imagination and completely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locals is coincidental.

For My BooFF

Thank you for 20 amazing years.

Thank Yous!

First, I must, as always, thank my awesome, talented, friend and editor Nephi Ferguson. Without you none this would be possible! Also thank you to Lurry Dean McBride for your support, J. Scott Coatsworth for your encouragement, and Pepper V. H. for her inspiration.

Wednesday

MICHAEL

Michael Ramsey stepped off the ladder and dropped the trowel into the now empty mortar bucket. He took a step back, folded his arms and carefully examined his work with the same scrutiny an artist would examine his latest masterpiece.

It had taken him three days to completely remodel the ancient, crumbling brick fireplace into what he now considered to be a modern showpiece. Gone was the ugly faded red and orange layered brick that had been there when he and James, his fiance, bought the house two months prior, replaced by an elaborate pattern of deep brown sponge-stained rock tile.

The sound of keys being tossed onto the coffee table in the adjacent room made him turn to see James greeting Pepper, an 8-year-old Boston Terrier and Queensland Heeler mix James had rescued from a shelter several years before he and Michael had met.

Who’s a good girl? James said as he knelt and pulled Pepper close to him.

Me! Pick me! Michael called jokingly.

James kissed Pepper on the top of her head, then crossed to Michael, standing on tiptoe to give the 6’4" man a kiss.

How was your flight? Michael asked.

Fine, except for the kid screaming half the flight in the seat behind me. I’m gonna go put my bag in the bedroom. He began to leave.

Michael let out a high-pitched noise somewhere between shock and hurt.

James turned back questioningly. Michael nodded his head toward the fireplace. James looked it over, his expression becoming puzzled.

The original fireplace, built in the middle of the living room wall, had been four feet wide and sat two feet off the floor with a flat front, broken mantle and no hearth below. Michael had complained about how plain and ugly it was and how it ruined the entire look of the living room. While the hole was still the same size, the decorative stone around it now extended out three feet on each side and rose up to the ceiling. There was now a six-inch mantle with a number of photos, and a hearth that ran the length of the stone, extended out a foot and a half from the wall, and rose up two feet to meet the bottom of the hole.

Why’d you make it so big?

Michael felt a flush of indignant anger flow through him. Because it’s the fuckin’ centerpiece of the room, he snapped.

James turned quickly, his expression instantly apologetic. I’m sorry. That came out wrong. It’s beautiful! I was just a little surprised.

I’m just trying to make the house look nice, Michael pouted. I turned down work this week to stay home and do this so it would be done for the housewarming party.

And it looks fabulous, James said with an edge of exasperation in his voice.

Thank you. Was that so hard? Michael leaned over, kissing James quickly, and began clearing up his tools. He looked at the fireplace again and smiled. Of all his years as a contractor, he had to admit this was by far some of his best work.

Feeling a sudden pang of guilt for his outburst, he called out, You want me to order some pizza for dinner so we can just chill tonight?

That’d be great, James answered from the bedroom. And don’t forget my anchovies this time!

Michael’s face contorted at the thought.

James appeared around the corner. Hey, has Ben been by?

Michael shook his head. No, why?

I haven’t heard from him since I left for L.A. on Monday.

Michael shrugged. So?

So… we talk every day. And he said there was something really important he wanted to tell me.

"Well, it’s Survivor night. I’m sure he’ll be here," Michael said disdainfully as he continued to pack up his tools.

Look, James said, coming closer. I know you guys have this weird frenemy thing going on, but he’s been my best friend for 20 years. Would ya just try to get along, please?

Michael shoved the last of the plastic sheets into a large cardboard box and turned to James. Babe, you love him, Pepper loves him, so I love him. Okay?

James’ expression reflected disbelief, but he gave his fiance a playfully cheesy grin and two thumbs up before going back into the bedroom.

Michael picked up the large box and carried it out to the storage shed in the backyard. James’ words kept replaying in his mind. When he had started dating James, he had no idea that he would be dating James’ entire social circle, which, as far as he was concerned, were some of the most clingy, codependent queens he had ever encountered. He had managed to distance James from most of them. But not Ben. The two of them were inseparable. Even when they weren’t together, they were together. Sometimes Michael felt like he was in a relationship with both of them. And as much as he had tried not to, he resented it more each passing month.

Michael grabbed the pizza place magnet off the refrigerator and went to find James. He stopped just outside the bedroom door as he heard his fiance’s voice.

Hey, it’s me, James was saying. "Not sure why you’re not returning my calls. Don’t make me call your mom on you. It’s Survivor night, you better be here! Love you!" As James looked up into the full-length dressing mirror in front of him, he jumped, spinning around and facing Michael.

You startled me.

Sorry, James apologized, repressing the urge to giggle. You want pineapple, too?

Yes, please. He grinned widely.

Anchovies and pineapple, Michael grumbled as he went back into the hall. Disgusting.

Love you! he heard James call out.

JAMES

That evening James and Michael lay spooning on the couch, watching Survivor. Michael, who was lying behind James to avoid his fruity fish pizza breath,