Layoffs

by Dallas Coleman

Hayden used to have a good job and a best friend. When his best friend screws him out of his job for the most selfish of reasons, Hayden figures he deserves a beer. Computer geek Mike is also out of a job at the same company, and he figures he might as well go have that beer when Greek God Hayden offers. Can the two of them find more common ground than drowning their sorrows?

Genres: M M Romance, Gay

13 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts with Hayden’s best friend since first grade and coworker informing him that Hayden is on the lay-off list. It appears his friend claimed sole credit for some joint work, and is getting a promotion out of it, while Hayden’s getting laid off. He is furious with his friend, and on his way out to a nice boozy lunch, finds out that the head deisgner is also getting the axe, and on impulse, even though Mike is very different with his long hair and piercings, Hayden invites him out for a drink too.

Hayden gets more than he bargained for when he finds out his friend not only betrayed him, but his pregnant wife whom Hayden adores as well, and got another woman at work pregnant. When his friend confronts Mike about sending his sex pictures to his wife and it escalates into near violence, Mike suggests some hot sex to Hayden to burn off steam.

I really liked both guys. I felt for Hayden who finds out his friend not only screwed him over at work, but his wife as well whom Hayden found to be a good friend. Also Mike’s indignation at the way everyone at work kept their heads down, even when they knew people were lying and cheating resonated with me. My work is not quite that bad, but that kind of attitude just ticks me off. So I found both men sympathetic and when they get together at Mike’s house it is very very hot.

The story is told from both points of view, so you get Mike’s thrill at finally getting to be near the “Greek god” he’s been admiring from afar, and finding out Hayden is not just hot, but a nice guy. There is a nice little epilogue about how they deal with both being unemployed, and the friend’s wife’s predicament. I think that little epilogue gave it a nice ending. Sometimes you want more in a short story, but I was left feeling very satisfied that a cute little story of two guys finally getting together, in less than ideal circumstances, ended with them happy ever after and finding the best revenge is living well. A perfect short when your in the mood for a feel-good story.

[Serena Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little story (with some hot sex) about men who take getting fired as a signal to start their own lives. I liked the characters - Mike is so refreshingly straightforward and Hayden, while he learns a hard lesson, took it all in stride in the end.

[Caliban thegnomedruid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good short story. Nice characterization for all characters. A good conflict that was easy to relate to.

** Spoilers **

I think the friendship at the end with the ex-wife kind of came out of nowhere for me. Also, while it was alluded to the company going contract only (and therefore the protagonists were still employed, while the antagonist was not) I think that could have been made a bit more explicit.

Those are minor, and didn't diminish the main story for me.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author wrote one of my favorite shorts Must Be Love, so I'm always on the look out for more.
This short ( and yes, it's really short) is cute and somehow complete even with just a few pages.
Hayden is best friends with an asshat. But he's not only learned his lesson and dumped his sorry ass out of his life, no he's found a cute computer geek to love.

[Cole Riann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Ok short m/m romance about two guys who get laid off from the same company because others took credit for their work.