Gigi ended the kiss and gazed at Brock with dark eyes. “I like where you’re going with this, boyfriend.”
“Oh yeah? Do we—”
“But we don’t have time before our friends get here, and I would like to be clean, not filthier than I already am.” He winked and pressed the bottles against Brock’s chest.
Brock grabbed them instinctively.
“I’m going to shower. Behave.” Another quick kiss, then Gigi walked away.
Leaving his dance stuff on the floor and Brock to get their night organized.
Brock picked his battles too. He put the wine on their coffee table with glasses. He ordered the food. He dumped the dance gear into the laundry. Then he tidied so Tyler and Evie didn’t accidentally find anything that would test the limits of their friendship. The thing was, Brock didn’t even mind. These small things were amazing and wonderful.
Like, this was it. This was all he’d ever wanted. A man he adored, and who loved him, good friends around them, a job he could do that paid well, and nothing but possibilities for the future. Good possibilities. It was simple, but that was who he was. And life might be simple and sexy and sometimes difficult—because he was Brock and Gigi was Gigi, and they were never not going to clash over things—but overall it was so, so sweet. If Brock could travel back in time to his teenage self, at his lowest points, he’d give him a hug and say that yes, everything would be all right. He’d get out. He’d come out. He’d get the boy. And all would be well.
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Cass Lennox’s Growing Pains!
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Thank you so much for Reading the Rainbow!
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As always, a huge thank-you to my editor, Chris Muldoon, for getting the best out of my writing.
Thanks to my housemates for listening and for advice; my Canadian friends for being amazing (and patient and understanding and good-humoured); and A.B. and P.K. for getting me out of the house.
Despite the fictional events in this book, I don’t advocate confronting abusers. Once you’re out, stay away. If you or someone you know might be affected by the issues raised in this book, please check out the links below for resources, advice, and help. For emergencies, call your country’s emergency number.
Tips to cover your tracks when looking up resources online:
www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/site-services/cover-your-tracks.aspx
www.awhl.org/security
Assaulted Women’s Helpline (www.awhl.org)
1-866-863-0511
TTY: 1-866-863-7868
LGBT Youth Line (www.youthline.ca)
1-800-268-9688
2 Spirit (www.2spirits.com/2SpiritLinks.html)
More resources
Shelters in Canada: www.sheltersafe.ca
Other hotlines: www.dawncanada.net/issues/issues/we-can-tell-and-we-will-tell-2/crisis-hotlines
LGBT+ info sheet on abuse and list of LGBT-specific resources: www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2014/09/LMLMN-gay.pdf
USA
The National Domestic Violence Hotline (www.thehotline.org)
Specific LGBT+ page: www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/lgbt-abuse
1-800-799-7233
TTY 1-800-787-3224
The Trevor Project (www.thetrevorproject.org)
LGBTQ+ teen crisis line: 866-488-7386
More resources
Information and LA resources: lalgbtcenter.org/health-services/mental-health/intimate-partner-domestic-violence
Other hotlines: www.feminist.org/911/crisis.html
Shelters: www.domesticshelters.org
UK
National Domestic Violence Helpline (www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk)
0808 2000 247
Galop (www.galop.org.uk)
National LGBT+ domestic violence helpline
help@galop.org.uk
Men’s Advice Line (www.mensadviceline.org.uk)
More resources: www.mensadviceline.org.uk/pages/gay-and-bi-male-victims-of-domestic-violence.html
0808 801 0327
More resources
Advice: england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/domestic_abuse
Information: www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/criminal-law/domestic-violence
Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk
Australia
National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line (www.1800respect.org.au)
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline (www.lifeline.org.au)
131 114
Kids Helpline for those between 5-25 (kidshelpline.com.au)
1800 551 800
More resources
LGBT+ support: www.anothercloset.com.au/finding-help-1
List of resources, including helplines and men-specific help: www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/subjects/family-and-domestic-violence
State specific helplines: au.reachout.com/domestic-violence-support
New Zealand
Are You Ok government helpline (areyouok.org.nz)
0800 456 450
Women’s Refuge (womensrefuge.org.nz/get-help/help-for-women)
0800 REFUGE (0800 733843)
OUTLine (www.outline.org.nz)
(LGBT+ specific)
More resources
Comprehensive lists of other organisations and helplines:
youmeus.co.nz/organisations-that-can-help
www.kahukura.co.nz/organisations
Toronto Connections
Blank Spaces
Finding Your Feet
The Wrong Woman (coming soon)
Cass Lennox is a permanent expat who has lived in more countries than she cares to admit to and suffers from a chronic case of wanderlust as a result. She started writing stories at the tender age of eleven, but would be the first to say that the early years are best left forgotten and unread. A great believer in happy endings, she arrived at queer romance via fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, and manga, and she can’t believe it took her that long. She likes diverse characters who have gooey happy ever afters, and brownies. She’s currently sequestered in a valley in southeast England.
Blog: casslennox.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Cass-Lennox-1704635609768647
Twitter: twitter.com/CassLennox
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