Overview

Marcus
The love of my life made me promise to fall in love with someone else. How’s that for an HEA? And foolishly, I went along with him, because I would have done anything he asked of me. But I made a promise I don't think I can keep. How can I love someone with a shattered heart? A heart that’s just a pile of jagged pieces, good for nothing but slicing skin away from bones? And even if I find someone brave enough to let me near them with my hazardous heap of leftover heart bits, what could someone possibly offer me that could come close to what I had before, to what I know love can be?

So, when a job opportunity opens up in a small town in Northwest Georgia, I jump at the opportunity. I’m not technically breaking my promise if there just aren’t any suitable options around. And how could there be in Pine Gap, Georgia?

Cory
My little girl is the love of my life. I don’t need anyone to sleep next to or wake up with. That’s what I’ve been telling myself for the last ten-and-half years anyways. Has it really been that long since I’ve touched another person? Would I even know what to do if someone walked into my life? Probably not. I’ve never known what to do. I’m kind of a bumbling fool with dating. That’s why I’ve had exactly one partner my entire life.

But ever since Marcus Archer blew into town with his sophisticated charm and witty banter, I’ve started to wonder what it might be like to put myself out there. I don’t know why I can’t stop thinking about him. All I know is I want to be around him every chance I get. And the more chances I get, the more and more I don’t want to let him go. I want to hold on tight and convince him to stay forever.

The Long Way Home is a low angst, low-to-moderate burn, small town MM romance where the MCs each get their own second chance. Tropes include wary friends-to-lovers, sexual awakening, found family, class difference, grumpyish/sunshiney. HEA guaranteed with lots of steam, witty banter, and characters learning how to accept themselves along the way.

Content Warnings: parental rejection, mental illness, mention of suicide attempt of side character, one MC has a sexual encounter with another character prior to getting together with the other MC.