Finding the Time

by Summer Michaels

For the past few weeks, the man I love has been teaching at the local high school and taking classes for his master’s degree at night. I haven’t spent twenty-four consecutive hours with him in months. Our schedules haven’t allowed it. Today I find him lying on his stomach reading for one of his classes. I have to be close to him, touch him. I climb onto his back and drink in the time we have together.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Fiction, LGBT, Contemporary Romance

31 pages, ebook

First published July 27, 2013

About the author

Summer Michaels wrote her first story in the second grade, about a car-stealing potato. Thankfully, men in love with other men keep her muse busy and satisfied now. With a belief that love should be shared no matter what the form, Summer enjoys telling stories of rowdy cowboys, reunited lovers, and steamy shifters. When Summer is not reading and writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, water rafting, and giving the old woman in a shoe a run for her money.

Reviews

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet picture prompt for this LHNB story.

3.5*

I have a 'thing' for established couple stories, there don't seem to be a lot of them out there, and I always find the 'after' in the HEA interesting.
This is a very short story of Memphis and Jake, they've been together a few years, live together, love each other, but as it happens in life, work, school, family and commitments make spending time together and just enjoying each other hard.
I liked that Memphis noticed that something was missing for him, he doesn't take his lover for granted.

[Kinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

You gotta love happy stories.

[Meep · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off a nice sweet story; an established couple who've been separated due to work obligations, taking time to acknowledge how much they mean to each other. The characters were likeable and their families supportive.

Problem for me came with the head hopping. Personally I don't think a story this length warranted it, but more it felt the whole story changed with it. Insta-plot, a past containing; mafia, murders, lost bodies and then an unrelated shoot out.

Also Jake's father is some Chief Deputy Marshal - leaving his men when one is shot (losing a leg) and instead of getting to the scene or hospital or checking on his other men, he spends an hour or so at a school giving a talk to a teenage history class so his son doesn't worry.

I don't get why Jake had to turn weepy mess then clean when he could have gone to the hospital with his father.

And Memphis is a ninja - he can pull up in an SUV and enter his house without alerting his on edge, waiting for him boyfriend! NINJA!

I didn't think the drama was needed, it took the story from sweet to unrealistic.

Also there’s a disappearing cereal bowl. I think there's some law that gay American men must eat Lucky Charm cereal, but where does the bowl go? o.O

To fit the insta-plot this would need to be a longer story, but I just wished for the short heaping of comfort food that seemed promised. Skipping the middle leaves a nice couple who will adapt and make time to be a couple, that's a huge positive. Not a fairytale HEA but a real work together and seize every moment you can relationship.

[Elin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Memphis and Jake has been in a relationship for two years and living together almost as long. But lately both of them has been busy, and they have been spending less time together. Jake working as a high school teacher and taking night classes, and Memphis working as a US Marshall. But Memphis misses Jake, and decides to make plans for a long vacation together...

There was too much happening here for such a short story. All the stuff about Jake's childhood, and the shootout, and Memphis family; and not enough focus on them. They were supposed to find their way back to each other, but merely made plans to do so in the future (also, where was the chemistry and, seriously, where was the lube)...

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice and it had potential, but in the end it fell a bit flat for me.

Also, it left me with one niggling question: what happened to the damned cereal bowl?

The whole sex scene, I could just picture him with his lucky charms, getting screwed against the wall and holding the bowl. Kind of irritated the crap out of me.

[Pjm12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the set up here. I liked seeing all the people important to Memphis and Jake. I liked the way the boys thought about each other - loving but not in an angsty or over-the-top way.

Would have liked to see them on their trip....

[Leaundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well dang this was too short. I really enjoyed this one and it would make a great series. I want more of these two and their families.

[Anke · Rating 3 out of 5]

It kept me reading on, although it felt disjointed. The breaks and switches of POV worked against the flowing of the story.

[m. ✨ On Hiatus ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about an established couple who drift apart slightly due to life's responsibilities.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a great story, but it felt very unbalanced and the sex scene was very unrealistic.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

LHNB Story released 27.7.13
Just making 3 stars
This is the story of an established couple realising what they mean to each other after having spent time apart. Whist overall the story is an enjoyable read I wasn't a fan of the alternating points of view, which at times made me have to go back and re-read bits as I felt I'd missed something.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of established couples and getting to read about how they make their relationship work after the initial HEA. I really liked Jake and Memphis together, I loved how they communicated and were serious about their relationship. And I really liked their families as well. I'm so happy to see that there will be more with these guys! Thank you for a wonderful story!

[Sunne]

Don't feel like I could rate it, sorry. It's not that it was bad or something but for me it was actually kind of too short to get a feel for it. It was like the moment I started reading it, it was already over. And I don't want to give it a low rating because I didn't have time to get invested in it but I can't give a high one because I didn't get invested in it. You get what I mean?

[Sandra]

Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love Has No Boundaries event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!

[melek · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this before reread and shelving now.

These guys have been together for a while living together but with work and all they have no time for each other. How do they make time when there isnt time. Talk and think about where to go from there and make things better. There were a bit of drama but all ends well.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked the most about finding time is that it felt real.
I think we all have been there, rushing, missing the person who is right next to us. Life sometimes gets to busy and crazy. And even living with the one we love, we still miss him.
Nice, sweet, sexy short about finding each other again.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - Sweet and touching. I enjoyed this story, the characters and the romance. Nice interpretation of the photo and the story letter. Thank you Summer Michaels for donating your story, your time and your talent.

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the couple and the set up. I did wonder why Memphis didn't bother to call home and let the one he loves the most know he was okay. All that time in the hospital and then coming home and there was no phone?

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just super sweet!!!!!

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I, like a lot of other people love a story with established couples. This was a lovingly sweet story.

[Izzah Zulaikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just sweet <3

[Melanie~~]

[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation.]

[HanakaLu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75

C'était très court. Mais juste adorable, j'ai toujours eu un faible pour les relations établis de base.
Ça se lit très vite, mais cela n'en reste pas moins agréable !

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost three stars... the sudden POV changes ruined it for me.

[Tailtiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Ayanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good, if unpolished. Could have done with quite a bit of refining, but it's not badly written.