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The Wish #2
Boy Under The Bridge
Short story sequel to The Wish.
Warning: This story contains subject matter that some may find objectionable, and is intended for mature readers only.
James left his job, family, and home for the man he’s loved for years but a betrayal on the night of their big celebration drives him to seek revenge. While James spends a wild night with a stranger, seven messages are left on his cell phone by his angry lover.
In the cold light of dawn, can James bear to hear Travis’ words?
Warning: This story contains subject matter that some may find objectionable, and is intended for mature readers only.
James left his job, family, and home for the man he’s loved for years but a betrayal on the night of their big celebration drives him to seek revenge. While James spends a wild night with a stranger, seven messages are left on his cell phone by his angry lover.
In the cold light of dawn, can James bear to hear Travis’ words?
28 pages, ebook
First published April 24, 2010
About the author
Eden Winters
93 books676 followersYou will know Eden Winters by her distinctive white plumage and exuberant cry of “Hey, y’all!” in a Southern US drawl so thick it renders even the simplest of words unrecognizable. Watch out, she hugs!
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures, she has written over thirty gay romance novels, lost count of novellas and short stories, has won Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s cosplaying for children's charities or hanging out at the farm being a mother, grandmother, and vegetarian.
Her natural habitats are hardware stores and on the backs of motorcycles.
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures, she has written over thirty gay romance novels, lost count of novellas and short stories, has won Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s cosplaying for children's charities or hanging out at the farm being a mother, grandmother, and vegetarian.
Her natural habitats are hardware stores and on the backs of motorcycles.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 19, 2014
Not a fan. Cheaters and 'adults' in 'loving' relationships acting like that leave me completely cold.
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May 3, 2010I can’t possibly not like this story, since, more or less, I asked for it. Yes, if you will buy it, and will read the dedica, it starts with “For Elisa…” and yes, that is me. When I read The Wish, and I wrote about it, my main worry was that, despite the happily ever after for the couple in that story, Alex, one of them, was really mean with a young boy, barely 21 years old, he met in a nightclub. That boy, James was pretty and cute, but he gave me the idea of not being “strong”, and when Alex kicked him on the curb, after a night of meaningless sex, I wondered where he would go, imagining him starved under a bridge.
And it’s exactly there that Eden Winters decided to put the boy and start his story, or better, to give also to him an happily ever after; while thinking back at the near past, his one night stand with Alex, James also thinks to his long-term relationship with Travis; Travis maybe is not as handsome or rich as Alex, but he is, to James’s eyes, way better. And even if for most part of the short story we don’t have the chance to listen to Travis’s side of the story, if not through the first angry and than worried messages he left on James’s phone, also the reader realizes that James did a big mistake cheating on Travis. But even if I’m all against the cheating, I can’t be hard on James; he and Travis are really young, and at the beginning of their relationship as lover (even if they are friends since years); they need to test it, to compare it with something else, to understand that what they have is precious and they need to treasure it. Eden Winters was really good in bringing me on an emotional level that allows me to care for James instead of accusing him, same emotional predisposition of Travis. Even the "physical" reminders of James's cheating, instead of putting me off, are an element more to understand that Travis really loves James, since he is able to completely forgive his lover.
Even if only a short story, Boy Under the Bridge is a concentrate of 101 course on how to build a long lasting relationship; and in the end, even if James and Travis are young, they arrive to the right conclusion way before of bitter Alex.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/10...
And it’s exactly there that Eden Winters decided to put the boy and start his story, or better, to give also to him an happily ever after; while thinking back at the near past, his one night stand with Alex, James also thinks to his long-term relationship with Travis; Travis maybe is not as handsome or rich as Alex, but he is, to James’s eyes, way better. And even if for most part of the short story we don’t have the chance to listen to Travis’s side of the story, if not through the first angry and than worried messages he left on James’s phone, also the reader realizes that James did a big mistake cheating on Travis. But even if I’m all against the cheating, I can’t be hard on James; he and Travis are really young, and at the beginning of their relationship as lover (even if they are friends since years); they need to test it, to compare it with something else, to understand that what they have is precious and they need to treasure it. Eden Winters was really good in bringing me on an emotional level that allows me to care for James instead of accusing him, same emotional predisposition of Travis. Even the "physical" reminders of James's cheating, instead of putting me off, are an element more to understand that Travis really loves James, since he is able to completely forgive his lover.
Even if only a short story, Boy Under the Bridge is a concentrate of 101 course on how to build a long lasting relationship; and in the end, even if James and Travis are young, they arrive to the right conclusion way before of bitter Alex.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/10...
August 30, 2011
This is such a good sweet story about what happens to Alex's one night stand from The Wish. Alex's treatment of James was atrocious and when he was summarily dismissed, we didn't know what became of James and Travis, his boyfriend he left behind at the club.
I loved the interplay between James and Travis in during their diner conversation and was happy to see a resolution for them.
Thanks Eden!
I loved the interplay between James and Travis in during their diner conversation and was happy to see a resolution for them.
Thanks Eden!
November 9, 2011
Boy Under a Bridge is a quick read. It’s not a “fun” story in the sense that you are reading about a painful night for two men who love each other and both feel terribly hurt. However, a satisfying HEA brings it all together and left me hopeful that both of them had learned a hard lesson that will keep them from making assumptions that lead to serious consequences.
I recommend Boy Under a Bridge for anyone who enjoys a well written short story and a tale of persistence paying off.
I recommend Boy Under a Bridge for anyone who enjoys a well written short story and a tale of persistence paying off.
November 12, 2011
3.5-4
I haven't read "The Wish" but I put it on my wish list now! :)
Even if I normally detest cheaters, this story was written so that I empathized with both James and Travis and am glad that they will still make a go of their relationship!
Both of the MCs are still so young, yet have a mature outlook that served them well!
I haven't read "The Wish" but I put it on my wish list now! :)
Even if I normally detest cheaters, this story was written so that I empathized with both James and Travis and am glad that they will still make a go of their relationship!
Both of the MCs are still so young, yet have a mature outlook that served them well!
April 29, 2010
This touching story of finding one's way in a relationship stands alone, but is even richer for being a spin-off of a very character-revealing scene for Alex in Eden's novel "The Wish" - an excellent read in its own right.
The structure is a great part of the charm -- James leaves the club with a sizzling hot stranger, and only the next morning does he listen to the messages his boyfriend left over the course of the night, all the while remembering what he'd been doing and how he felt at the time.
This author will give you the happy ending, but WOW does she make the characters work for it. In the very best way.
The structure is a great part of the charm -- James leaves the club with a sizzling hot stranger, and only the next morning does he listen to the messages his boyfriend left over the course of the night, all the while remembering what he'd been doing and how he felt at the time.
This author will give you the happy ending, but WOW does she make the characters work for it. In the very best way.
October 28, 2010
A very short follow up to the guy, Alex had a quicky with in The Wish..
Yes, Alex broke up the couple, but apparently love conquers all, because the couple ended up together the next day.. Awww.. ;o)
With that said, I would SO rather have had a follow up to The Wish? I want to see how they are doing now, if they are still in love (of course they are) and how many kids they got with the lesbian biker.. lol Pleaseeee??
Yes, Alex broke up the couple, but apparently love conquers all, because the couple ended up together the next day.. Awww.. ;o)
With that said, I would SO rather have had a follow up to The Wish? I want to see how they are doing now, if they are still in love (of course they are) and how many kids they got with the lesbian biker.. lol Pleaseeee??
May 21, 2010
This is a stand-alone story based on a scene from an earlier book The Wish. A sweet, slightly sad spin-off from The Wish featuring two minor characters. James and Travis seem very young and their relationship has suffered what might have been a death blow at the start of this story. But they do get a happy ending which was very doubtful after their appearance in The Wish.
September 4, 2010
I loved each and every line of the book :)
But I wish it was longer ; I'm not really into short stories :'(
But I wish it was longer ; I'm not really into short stories :'(
February 10, 2012
I know that everyone hates a cheater, but everyone makes mistakes.
Everyone has that chance to learn from their mistakes, and change. Great follow-up!
Everyone has that chance to learn from their mistakes, and change. Great follow-up!
February 2, 2012
A great story of how love can overcome anything, in a sweet way. Nothing terrible happens but where many would give up, these two worked through it.
December 21, 2014
I do not mind cheating, it's interesting to know how different people deal with it and solve the problem. 3.5 stars, leaning towards 4.
August 3, 2012
really nice little story<3
August 5, 2018
Uhhh the wrong person was doing all the apologizing here. And a kiss vs a fuck? Sorry, it isn't the same
January 4, 2014
I really, really wanted to like this book, but E.W just bombed it. It's a pity too, because it has all the ingredients of the kind of stuff I like.
The book's major problem is that it - like many MM short stories (for reasons I assume only Marketing knows) - decided to have one giant sex scene throughout the entire book of James and his mistake. Not only was it a sex scene, it was ALSO a flashback interspersed in between the actual story.
So what happens is this: every time you're sinking into FLASHBACK SEX sweet part of the FLASHBACK SEX story, you're pulled FLASHBACK SEX out to read about a FLASHBACK SEX sex scene so perfunctory and FLASHBACK SEX boring I can't even imagine FLASHBACK SEX how anyone FLASHBACK SEX might want to read it.
Which really is a pity, because this book really has potential, and I wish Winters would expand/rewrite it.
Edit: Incidentally, I actually love the fact that the MC is a cheater, because I'm tired of reading about oh-so-perfect people, and let's be honest in the middle of all this cheating outrage - who hasn't make a mistake before? And if we have, what's the difference between one mistake and another? Apparently we can forgive murder and prostitution and selfishness but not bedding the wrong guy. Food for thought.
The book's major problem is that it - like many MM short stories (for reasons I assume only Marketing knows) - decided to have one giant sex scene throughout the entire book of James and his mistake. Not only was it a sex scene, it was ALSO a flashback interspersed in between the actual story.
So what happens is this: every time you're sinking into FLASHBACK SEX sweet part of the FLASHBACK SEX story, you're pulled FLASHBACK SEX out to read about a FLASHBACK SEX sex scene so perfunctory and FLASHBACK SEX boring I can't even imagine FLASHBACK SEX how anyone FLASHBACK SEX might want to read it.
Which really is a pity, because this book really has potential, and I wish Winters would expand/rewrite it.
Edit: Incidentally, I actually love the fact that the MC is a cheater, because I'm tired of reading about oh-so-perfect people, and let's be honest in the middle of all this cheating outrage - who hasn't make a mistake before? And if we have, what's the difference between one mistake and another? Apparently we can forgive murder and prostitution and selfishness but not bedding the wrong guy. Food for thought.
February 3, 2015
I don't know why but I have a particularly hard time rating and reviewing The Wish series. I don't find it either outstanding or awful, but it isn't blah either.
Boy Under The Bridge has a cleaner, more airy writing structure that makes it more pleasant to read than The Wish. I think it's partly because it's a short story; simpler and less all over the place than book 1. More focused.
Yet I didn't feel as much when I read it. All the emotional dimension that takes so much place in The Wish didn't show up for me in book 2. I felt less connected to the MCs on that level. And that's too bad because I'm pretty sure the plot idea and characters had a lot more potential emotion-wise than what it resulted in.
So, I'm still a bit torn between a 2 or 3 stars rating but since I gave a 2.5 to The Wish, so will get Boy Under The Bridge.
Boy Under The Bridge has a cleaner, more airy writing structure that makes it more pleasant to read than The Wish. I think it's partly because it's a short story; simpler and less all over the place than book 1. More focused.
Yet I didn't feel as much when I read it. All the emotional dimension that takes so much place in The Wish didn't show up for me in book 2. I felt less connected to the MCs on that level. And that's too bad because I'm pretty sure the plot idea and characters had a lot more potential emotion-wise than what it resulted in.
So, I'm still a bit torn between a 2 or 3 stars rating but since I gave a 2.5 to The Wish, so will get Boy Under The Bridge.
October 17, 2010
A side story from Winters' The Wish, we are shown what happened with the one-night stand Alex had that night before he went home.
It's a touching story, if brief, and the sex in it feels more dirty than sexy as our narrator (James) recalls the events after the fact.
Having already read The Wish, I skimmed some of the flashback scenes, but they are a necessary element, especially for readers who aren't familiar with the larger work. James and Travis are a cute couple, very human and realistic, who both are at fault for the evening's events (even if one is more at fault than the other).
I appreciated the guilt they both felt and the explanations for specific actions (aka, the ending).
It's a touching story, if brief, and the sex in it feels more dirty than sexy as our narrator (James) recalls the events after the fact.
Having already read The Wish, I skimmed some of the flashback scenes, but they are a necessary element, especially for readers who aren't familiar with the larger work. James and Travis are a cute couple, very human and realistic, who both are at fault for the evening's events (even if one is more at fault than the other).
I appreciated the guilt they both felt and the explanations for specific actions (aka, the ending).
July 23, 2012
2.5 stars
June 24, 2017
This was a good story,if I overlook the incident that took center stage to the plot.
December 19, 2013
A cute little extension of The Wish. How the one-night stand recovered what he though he had surely lost with tryst with Alex.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews