Almost Us. This item is unavailable.Almost Us

In the small, mountain-ringed town of Sterling, Pennsylvania, Ryan Mercer is the man everyone relies on-a steady, hardworking builder carrying the weight of a family name and a decade of quiet expectations. He has built a life that looks perfect from the outside, but it's a life defined by what he hides rather than what he holds.

Then Evan Richards returns.

Ten years ago, they were two teenagers in the dark of a high school auditorium, sharing a connection that could have changed everything until fear pulled them apart. Now an internationally acclaimed lighting designer, Evan is back to transform the town square for a high-stakes gala, and he needs Ryan's help to do it.

As they work together under the watchful eyes of a town that doesn't forget, the static of the past begins to clear. Between the blueprints and the floodlights, Ryan is forced to choose: continue living the life he was assigned, or risk everything for the truth he's tried to bury.

Marcus Andrews

Marcus Andrews is an author dedicated to exploring the intersection of identity, resilience, and romance through contemporary LGBTQ+ fiction. His work often centers on queer joy and the complexities of finding one's "chosen family" in the modern world.

A proud resident of Detroit, Michigan, Marcus draws deep inspiration from the city's storied architecture and the tenacious spirit of its communities. When he isn't at his desk, he can often be found scouting new local settings for his novels-from the neon-lit corridors of the Majestic Theatre to the quiet, sun-drenched reading rooms of the Detroit Public Library.

Marcus is an active participant in the vibrant Southeast Michigan literary scene, frequently engaging with local organizations like Affirmations and LGBT Detroit to advocate for queer voices in publishing. He believes that every person deserves to see themselves as the hero of their own story, a mission that drives every page he writes.

He currently lives in a historic Detroit neighborhood with his partner and a small library of first editions that is slowly taking over their living room.