Shaun really needed to learn to control his impulses. He had just gotten out of a long relationship and what he could really use was some time to himself.

But then Zach showed up. Zach, his little brother's best friend whom he hadn't seen in years. Zach, who, much to Shaun's mutual pleasure and frustration, had grown far more attractive than Shaun remembered him. They'd had a good friendship back in the day and Shaun didn't want to screw that up, so he tried to restrain himself. He avoided staring and he tried to resist the urge to flirt.

Not staring became a bit harder when they went surfing and Zach was wearing a skintight wetsuit, but Shaun made a valiant effort. That evening he was reminded of the importance of restraining himself when they went to the bonfire on the beach with Tori. She and Zach had been dating on-and-off practically forever.

Zach was straight. Shaun told himself this and tried to make himself listen. Although, he couldn't help noticing that Zach seemed to be paying more attention to Shaun than he was to Tori. Shaun wrote this off as resulting from the facts that Zach and Tori weren't dating at the moment and that Shaun was an old friend returned after a long time away, which merited extra attention. But it still made him happy.

Zach seemed to like spending time with him, which was both wonderful and terrible. Shaun enjoyed every minute that he and Zach spent together. So did Zach, and Shaun had to keep reminding himself that Zach enjoyed them for different reasons. The more time they spent together, the harder it was for Shaun to control his impulses.

Then one night they were hanging out and drinking. They laughed and chatted and talked, and Shaun did some snooping in Zach's portfolio. Everything about it felt so perfect and so right.

When the thought occurred, Shaun barely hesitated. Then the thought became an action and Shaun was kissing the boy that lay beside him. And Shaun was shocked and filled with bliss to find that Zach was kissing him too. Shortly after that they both drifted off to sheep, and for the first time Shaun allowed himself to hope.

The next morning Shaun woke up alone, and it all went downhill from there.