Stuck With You: The Chance Encounters Series, #59

By Monica Moss

When Garth's car gets stuck in a snow drift, a kind stranger, Joseph, stops his car and sets to work to dig Garth's car out of the snow. To thank Joseph for helping him, Garth offers to take him out for coffee afterward. They get along instantly as they talk about their lives and interests with each other and exchange numbers agreeing to hang out sometime. But the more time they spend together the closer they get to each other. Until they have to confront their own feelings for each other. But Garth and Joseph are both straight according to everyone in their lives. Can anything ever happen between these two?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Short and Sweet Publishing
• Release date: Apr 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224062508

Monica Moss

Monica Moss is a short contemporary romance author. She's always loved short stories and flash fiction. She writes romance flash fiction about chance encounters, love enduring prejudice, and taking the leap of faith for the love you deserve. 

Book preview

GARTH

As I sit here, staring at the lines of code on my screen, I can't help but feel a sense of disconnect from the world around me. My name's Garth Donovan, just another software engineer lost in the sea of algorithms and virtual realities. At 28, I guess I'm supposed to have it all figured out by now, but if anything, I feel more adrift than ever.

Physically, I'm unremarkable - just your average guy with dark, unkempt hair and a pair of glasses perched on my nose. People say my hazel eyes betray a mixture of determination and curiosity, but most of the time, they're just glazed over with exhaustion from staring at lines of code for too long. My wardrobe? Well, it's a mishmash of casual attire with a sprinkle of sophistication - jeans, button-up shirts, and sweaters. Nothing too flashy, just enough to blend in.

Personality-wise, I've always been a bit of an enigma. Introverted yet warm-hearted, they say. Sharp intellect, quick wit - all those accolades don't mean much when you're struggling to connect with the people around you. I guess that's why I've always found solace in the hum of computers and the endless possibilities of the digital world.

Growing up in a small town wasn't easy, especially when your idea of fun involved dismantling old computers and figuring out how they worked. I never quite fit in, always the odd one out with my nose buried in a book about coding or tinkering away in my makeshift workshop. But I persevered, excelled academically, and clawed my way into a career in software engineering.

Moving to the city was supposed to be my ticket to a better life, a fresh start where I could finally be myself without fear of judgment. But the truth is, I still feel just as isolated and insecure as I did back home. Sure, I've had a few flings here and there, but nothing ever felt quite right. And the thought of exploring my attraction to men? It's like staring into the abyss, afraid of what might be staring back at me.

My biggest fear? It's not the bugs in my code or the looming deadlines at work. No, it's the fear of not being accepted for who I truly am. The fear of coming out as gay and losing the people I care about, facing discrimination in a world that's still struggling to embrace diversity and inclusion.

But despite it all, I cling to hope - hope for a future where I can advance in my career and make meaningful contributions to the tech industry. And more than anything, hope for a deep connection with someone who sees me for who I am and loves me unconditionally. It's a long shot, I know, but maybe, just maybe, it's worth taking the risk and being true to myself.

JOSEPH

As I stand here at the front of the classroom, I can't help but feel a rush of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness. Another day, another opportunity to inspire young minds. My name is Joseph Clarke, and I'm not just any high school English teacher. I'm the one who believes in the power of literature to change lives, to ignite passions, to shape futures.

Thirty years old now, but still carrying that youthful spark in my eyes, or so I've been told. I glance in the mirror before class begins, adjusting