Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Maybe This Time
    Maybe This Time
    Maybe This Time
    Ebook87 pages1 hour

    Maybe This Time

    By Shawn Lane

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Three years ago, Winston Abernathy did something completely out of character -- he had a one-night stand with a gorgeous dancer. But the next day, the dancer left for New York to try to make it big on Broadway, and Win went back to dating men who were like himself -- boring, bland paralegals.

    Now that dancer, Randy Lincoln, is back in Los Angeles. That amazing night with Randy has fueled Win's fantasies for the past three years, yet he doesn't believe a man like Randy would be interested in someone like him. Much to his surprise, Randy wants to see him, and for longer than one night. Maybe this time they can have a chance for a relationship.

    But when Randy gets an opportunity to dance in a Las Vegas show, Win wonders if he'll have to let Randy go for good.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJMS Books LLC
    Release dateDec 24, 2016
    ISBN9781634861465
    Maybe This Time
    Author

    Shawn Lane

    Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romance. She lives and works in Southern California. She has been published by Loose Id, Amber Quill Press, Evernight Publishing, MLR Press, JMS Books, and Ellora’s Cave. For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.

    Read more from Shawn Lane

    Related to Maybe This Time

    Related ebooks

    Contemporary Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The DATING GAME

      Aug 3, 2022

      The DATING GAME
      8 min read

    • Article

      The DATING GAME

      Apr 2, 2024

      The DATING GAME
      8 min read

    • Article

      A hairy MOMENT

      Aug 5, 2020

      “My life, as regular readers will know, is nothing but glamour and adventure. So there I was staring into the window of a kitchenware shop and admiring a display of Tupperware boxes, when I heard somebody calling, ‘Rosie – is that you?’ The somebody

      3 min read

    • Article

      Child’s PLAY

      Jun 2, 2020

      Child’s PLAY
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Invisible WOMAN

      Dec 23, 2020

      The Invisible WOMAN
      6 min read

    • Article

      Without A Trace

      May 26, 2022

      Without A Trace
      4 min read

    • Article

      The July War

      Sep 8, 2020

      In summer, our neighborhood quiets in phases. The quieting begins in May. Schools give their older kids, the seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds, a month off to prepare for the baccalaureate exams. Following a ritual as old as our parents, the students

      21 min read

    • Article

      Lockdown

      Aug 31, 2020

      You keep a secret safe, wrapped up in the back of a drawer in your mind, all tied up in metaphorical ribbon and string, for 14 years. And in the space of three days, it unravels. How did that happen? I’ll tell you how. I was up a ladder, that’s how.

      5 min read

    • Article

      A friend IN NEED

      Oct 28, 2020

      “‘And then she said the final straw was when he decided to became a nudist.’ My charity shop colleague, Grace, and I are sitting in the window of The Nice Little Coffee Shop In The High Street, which has managed to survive lockdown by the skin of it

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Date To REMEMBER

      Sep 2, 2020

      “If you were kind enough to drop by last week, you’ll remember that four of us were sitting outside The Nice Little Cafe In The Park, drinking its Very Strong Coffee and remembering the days when men were reckless enough to propose marriage to us (or

      3 min read

    • Article

      Festival

      Sep 15, 2018

      My husband, who loved festivals, who was a great fan of festivals, wanted to get to the square in time for the first band at eleven o’clock. From bed, the dog and I watched him dress. He tried on various T-shirts, declaring some of them too tight and

      13 min read

    • Article

      Meet My old Man

      Jan 19, 2023

      Catching up with friends at the local pub, I was surprised by an interruption. ‘This is for you, from the gentleman over there,’ said one of the bar staff, before handing me a glass of wine as she gestured to a man perched by the bar. I had a giggle

      3 min read

    • Article

      Singles PARTY

      Feb 22, 2022

      Singles PARTY
      6 min read

    • Article

      More Fool HER

      Feb 10, 2021

      More Fool HER
      8 min read

    • Article

      Seeing the LIGHT

      Mar 2, 2021

      Seeing the LIGHT
      5 min read

    • Article

      10 Burning Questions Gabby Logan

      Oct 25, 2022

      Former international rhythmic gymnast turned television host Gabby Logan is a regular on our television screens, thanks to her duties presenting everything from the Commonwealth Games to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. Most recently, the mum of two, who

      2 min read

    • Article

      Class ACT

      Mar 18, 2020

      Class ACT
      6 min read

    • Article

      I’ll Not Risk Myself

      Feb 10, 2024

      My phone reception is better outside the laundromat, so I spend most of my time waiting for laundry on the bench near the door. I don’t talk with my friends, but I surf the news. I like to know what’s going on. I don’t like people to know about me, t

      13 min read

    • Article

      A Healthy Cigarette

      Sep 6, 2022

      A Healthy Cigarette
      5 min read

    • Article

      Cruel Intentions

      Feb 20, 2020

      Cruel Intentions
      5 min read

    • Article

      ‘Sing to It’: Featured Fiction from Amy Hempel

      Mar 25, 2019

      If she was home at night in her husband’s bed, did he care what she did with her days? The post ‘Sing to It’: Featured Fiction from Amy Hempel appeared first on The Millions.

      7 min read

    • Article

      Sisters AT WAR

      Oct 14, 2020

      “A man came to the charity shop door the other day, peered in, noticed that the shop was pretty much empty, and announced, ‘I’m afraid I’ve forgotten to bring my mask. Would you mind if I came in anyway? I haven’t got a cough or anything, not even a

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Class ACT

      Dec 29, 2020

      A Class ACT
      6 min read

    • Article

      Sounds Like FUN

      Jun 23, 2020

      Sounds Like FUN
      6 min read

    • Article

      Something Better

      May 10, 2022

      Something Better
      6 min read

    • Article

      This Is Our Secret

      Sep 1, 2022

      This Is Our Secret
      6 min read

    • Article

      Kings

      Jun 5, 2023

      1.Kings lie down to zip up their jeans,buy Cetaphil, candy, magazinesat Walgreens because they canwalk there unsupervised, describeblowjobs they’ve given to seniorsin cars, spend what they think of astheir own money. Home sick from school,they learn

      6 min read

    • Article

      Uncontrollable, Irrelevant

      Dec 6, 2022

      My sister called me the other day. She wanted to let me know that I had once more been merciless and cruel in my relations with our parents. “They say there’s a lot of anger in you,” she said. “It makes them mad. It hurts their feelings. They think y

      14 min read

    • Article

      New DATING

      Mar 2, 2022

      New DATING
      3 min read

    • Article

      Laugh EVERY DAY

      Jul 2, 2023

      Live, Laugh, Love Day-to-day life can get hectic and it’s easy to forget the simple things, such as a bit of humour. Laughing is the perfect way to indulge in a bit of me-time and just be happy. While laughing is obviously fun, did you know it’s ac

      9 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Maybe This Time

    4/5

    2 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Maybe This Time - Shawn Lane

      8

      Chapter 1

      Winston Abernathy followed after his grandmother as she pushed her shopping cart up and down the grocery store aisles. So far she’d managed to load the cart with exactly four items. Milk, butter, ground chuck, and an apple. She’d crossed the store six times, often going down aisles she’d already been through once.

      Gran, wouldn’t it be easier to have a list and just fill up your cart during one straight trip through the store?

      She waved one frail hand. This is the way I shop, dear.

      Win sighed and stopped next to her cart when she paused in front of the cereal boxes. I thought you were buying food for your get-together.

      I am, but I need a few other things, too. What do you suppose you’ll want to drink?

      He folded his arms across his chest. Who all is coming again?

      My friend, Molly, and her gay grandson.

      He straightened. What? Wait.

      She peered at him through her glasses. Yes?

      You didn’t tell me he was gay.

      Didn’t I? Tsk tsk. Anyway, why should that matter? You’re gay yourself.

      Win opened his mouth to argue, but shut it. He was. How could be deny it? He’d come out seven years before when he was eighteen and just out of high school.

      All right, but, Gran, I don’t want you setting me up.

      Gran snorted and reached for a box of crispy rice cereal and put it in her cart. I’m not setting you up, Winnie.

      He winced and quickly glanced around the aisle. You aren’t supposed to call me that, he whispered. Not in public.

      Sorry, dear. I’ve been calling you that since you were a little boy. She paused at the top of the aisle. Drinks, dear.

      It’s just me, you, Molly, and this other guy?

      Yes. Molly says he just moved back here and doesn’t have a lot of friends. Lived in New York for a while. I thought with you both being gay you could help him get situated.

      He frowned. Situated?

      She waved her hand again. You know, introduce him around, help him to meet men.

      I’m not a dating service.

      I know that. But you know lots of men, I’m sure.

      He didn’t. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he was something of a geek. Well, sort of. More of an introvert. Whatever.

      What’s he like? Did Molly say?

      I thought you weren’t interested.

      I’m not. I just meant I’m trying to think what he might like to drink. If he’s the rugged sports loving type we should buy some beer. That kind of thing.

      Gran started moving her cart again but in the opposite direction of the store’s liquor department. Gritting his teeth, Win traipsed after her.

      What exactly are you making? he asked.

      I thought I might make shepherd’s pie, you know like my mother used to make.

      He nodded. Yeah, I remember. You used to make it for us when we were kids.

      She smiled and stopped in front of the cheese section. Then Molly told me her grandson is a vegetarian.

      Oh. Win grimaced. That does sort of change things. Did she say if he’s a regular vegetarian or a vegan?

      What’s the difference?

      He wouldn’t eat cheese or any dairy if he were vegan. They don’t consume any animal products. Which, of course, Win thought was weird. He could never be a vegetarian. He loved his meat. And the double meaning on that made him laugh.

      She didn’t say, Gran said. I thought I’d make cheese lasagna.

      Hmm. Maybe we should ask Molly. He fished his cell phone out of the pocket of his jeans.

      That’s a great idea, dear. Her number is 555-8392.

      Win punched the number into his smart phone and waited through four rings before a soft-spoken feminine voice said, Hello?

      Hi, Molly? This is Win, Emma’s grandson.

      Winnie? Hello. Is something wrong?

      He rolled his eyes at the horrible nickname. No, everything’s fine. Listen, we’re at the grocery store getting some stuff for tonight and wondered about a few things.

      Oh, yes?

      Gran says your grandson’s a vegetarian so we wonder if he’ll eat cheese. She’s thinking of making cheese lasagna. Will that be all right?

      There was a slight pause. He had pizza last night, so yes. But, well, he says it’s easier to say he’s a vegetarian, but he’s a pescetarian.

      A what?

      Someone who eats fish, but no other meat, Molly explained.

      Excellent. Thank you, Molly. One more thing, what does he like to drink?

      Oh. Well, he likes green tea.

      Win frowned. Tea? No wine or beer or anything like that?

      No, no. He’s very strict about that sort of thing. Well, you know he’s a dancer.

      No, he didn’t, but he supposed that did explain a few things.

      All right. Got it. Green tea it is. Thanks, Molly. See you tonight.

      Bye, Winnie.

      He returned his phone to his pocket. Lasagna it is. And let’s get a bottle of wine.

      You said green tea.

      He nodded. For him, yes. I need a drink.

      * * * *

      Win had moved in with his grandmother just a month earlier. Since she had turned eighty, Gran had seemed frailer, and though her doctor said she was fine, Win decided she needed someone to stay with her. Of course, it had been no coincidence he had just broken up with his boyfriend of a year and needed a place to live. She’d been grateful for the company and so far everything had worked out pretty well.

      The doorbell to his Gran’s condo buzzed at six minutes after six o’clock that night. Win knew Molly lived in the same condo complex, just a

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1