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3.5 stars but rounding up for extra sweetness in the epilogue :) ( )

Cute and sweet, this is the story of two best friends in high school who sort of know they are more, but don’t dare admit it to themselves, never mind each other. They've been friends since elementary school and are already "fooling around", as they call it, but it isn’t until they're both eighteen with graduation looming and a need to decide which college to go to that reality hits them. It is time to make a stand, time to grow up and look reality in the face.

Jake is actually a little surer of himself and his feelings, and he despairs of Kyler feeling the same. Yes, they know they like each other, but they've never spoken about their true feelings. Jake knows he loves Kyler, but when he comes out to his parents, his father reacts badly and kicks him out, and Jake is afraid of being homeless and alone.

Kyler is a little less sure about what he should do. He knows he loves Jake, but until push comes to shove, he isn’t so sure he's ready to admit it to the world by coming out. In the end love wins out and he does the right thing – just in time to "catch" Jake after his father's traumatizing reaction.

If you like friends-to-lovers stories, if you enjoy reading about first love and first times, and if you're looking for a sweet, passionate read then you will probably like this free short story.
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Nice coming of age story. ( )