Jay's River: A Young Adult MM Romance by Reese Halden

Author:Reese Halden [Halden, Reese]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Reese Halden LLC
Published: 2023-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

By late afternoon, Jay was bored.

He’d done his homework, watched TV, and played a few games on his iPad, but the ache in his foot was a persistent annoyance that the meds he was taking couldn’t quite control, so he was both antsy and irritable. It didn’t help that the comments on various LINE group chats to which he was a member, and those on Instagram and Facebook too, were continuing to promote the shipping between him and Vin as if it was the biggest news since the pandemic. Making matters worse was that Zia and her friends were shamelessly promoting the shipping between her and River, with all sorts of laudatory and excited comments such as “OMG, perfect couple!”, “So jealous!”, “Where can I find a cute blond American?”, “New meaning for Asian-American relations!” and “What hair and eye color would their children have?”

I’m losing him…

Tears formed; Jay wiped them angrily.

“What’s wrong, dear?”

His mother came over and sat on the couch beside him, stroking his head.

A few months after his father had died, Jay came out to his family in a moment of soul-baring grief and anxiety. Thai society was one of the most accepting of the Asian cultures when it came to love and sexuality, and even though Jay knew this, he’d been terribly worried that despite all that, he’d be shunned by his family – or worse.

It hadn’t happened. His brothers, his sister, and especially his mother had been supportive and understanding, but still, having kept this secret side of himself hidden for so long, he had difficulty talking to any of them about his desires and feelings, even though deep down, he knew that they would help him with whatever he struggled. Still, it was a difficult barrier to overcome for a 19-year-old, because although Thai society was tolerant of gay people in general, many individuals within it were not.

But mothers are attuned to their children, sometimes eerily so, and when Jay didn’t respond, Ploy decided to state the issue. “It’s River, isn’t it? You like him.”

He nodded.

“Well, he’s certainly a good choice,” Ploy said. “Tall, handsome, talented, smart, polite, worldly…”

Jay couldn’t help grinning, but then looking at his booted foot, he sighed. “Why would he want me? I’m nothing compared to –”

“Jay,” Ploy said strictly, giving his arm a little shake. “You are just as smart, talented, good-looking – all of it.”

“Ma…”

“No, you need to stop the pity and make a decision,” she interrupted. “If you like him, you need to tell him. That’s not just an adult thing to do, but it’s an important aspect of a relationship – whether it’s minutes old or between two people for 50 years. How can you know anything unless you ask? How will he know how you feel unless you tell him? How can two people understand each other without honesty and open communication?”

You make it sound so simple…

Like there’s no risk for embarrassment, for losing someone who doesn't feel the same way…

The terrible pain when I’m rejected… or worse, bullied and made fun of…

“You’re thinking of Ping now.

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