PINNED BY MY STEPFATHER (MxM)

Chapter 2Derek’s povThe garlic bread’s warm aroma still lingered in the kitchen as I helped stack the last plates in the dishwasher. Mom wiped her hands on a dish towel, her smile brighter and more genuine than I had seen in months. Marcus leaned against the counter, arms crossed casually over his broad chest, watching us both with that measured calm I was beginning to recognize as his default state. The dinner had been polite on the surface, small talk about work and campus life,but the undercurrent from our brief exchange in the kitchen left me on edge, my pulse still not quite settled.Mom cleared her throat, glancing between us with nervous excitement. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you both about something important. Marcus and I have decided to make things official. We’re getting married in the fall.”The words landed like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples through the quiet kitchen. I set the last glass down harder than intended, the clink of glass on ceram

Chapter 4Derek’s povMark caught me after my last class, leaning against the brick wall outside the humanities building with his usual easy grin. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the quad, students streaming past us in waves of conversation and laughter. “Derek! Perfect timing. There’s a casual party at Jake’s place tonight nothing crazy, just music, food, and people unwinding after midterms. You should come. It’ll be good for you to get out.”I shifted my backpack, the weight familiar but suddenly heavier. Parties meant noise, expectations, the risk of small talk turning personal. “I don’t know, Mark. I have to read to catch up.”He clapped my shoulder, undeterred. “Come on, man. One night. Lena’s going, a few people from our lit class. No pressure to stay late. Just show your face.”His persistence chipped at my resistance. Alex’s supportive energy from the group project meeting earlier in the week still lingered, a reminder that not every social interaction had to end

Chapter 6Derek’s povProfessor Lang’s office smelled of old books and fresh coffee as I stood in the doorway the following afternoon. The walls were lined with overflowing shelves, papers stacked neatly on every surface, and a large window overlooking the quad let in slanted afternoon light. He looked up from his cluttered desk, adjusting his glasses with one hand. “Derek. Good. I’ve been meaning to speak with you. Come in and sit down.”I took the chair across from him, my hands resting on my knees to steady them. The group project with Alex had gone surprisingly well, but my distraction in recent lectures hadn’t gone unnoticed. Professor Lang leaned back in his chair, studying me with sharp but kind eyes. “Your written work is excellent. Sharp analysis, strong insights. But you’ve seemed distracted in class lately. Is everything alright at home? Or is something else weighing on you?”The question hit closer than I expected. I nodded, keeping my voice even. “Just a lot on my mi