Annabeth Albert et al. - Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology

Once upon a time, a group of authors wondered What if the Heart2Heart app -- the dating app with a glitch that matched up the oddest, most perfect couples, and sponsored the charity date raffles that helped dozens of people find love -- offered a classifieds section, too?

Need a handyman who knows how to wear a tool belt? Have a closet of drag costumes that needs a new home? How about finally tracking down that guy who made the perfect drink, or whos just the right height to reach the top shelf?

Join some of your favorite authors of gay romance as they bring you sixteen brand-new stories inspired by reader suggestions!

Once again, all proceeds from this collection will go to the authors favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its forms will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

To the 500+ readers who made almost 600 story and character suggestions. Special mention to those whose suggestions inspired a story or two: Rachel, Randall, Katerina, Serena, Brandy, Louise, Clara, Karen, Charlotte, Tonya, Pauline, Janet, Will, Carolyn, Jacqueline, Lisa, Rosannah, Martina, Lee, Shannon, Jennifer, Kat, Lara, Debbie, Carrie, Monica, and Balgair.

To AngstyG for once again donating her time and skills to create our gorgeous cover, logo, and promotional images.

To the team of beta readers, editors, and proofreaders for volunteering their time and skills to help polish our stories: Courtney, Jamie, Jenni Lea, Kiki, Amy, Susie, Jill, Leslie, and Alyson.

To our charities: the work you do is invaluable and were proud to support you with this project.

To those two little words, what if. We wouldnt be here (for the third time) without you!

The olive-green Craftsman house sits on an idyllic street in a decent neighborhood, and it screams suburban charm with its perfectly manicured garden beds.

Its only a half hour drive from my own place. Yet, until a few days ago, I had no idea my uncle was living so close.

Actually, I kinda forgot I had an uncle. I havent seen him in at least fifteen years. I was about ten when Id heard Mom yelling at him to get out of her house.

Whenever Id asked for him after that, Mom and Dad would say hed moved away.

As a kid, I never questioned why or connected that fight as the reason I didnt see him anymore.

Yo, space cadet, dont go full blond on me. My roommate-slash-best-friend snaps his fingers in front of my face, breaking my gaze from the house.

Full blondhis way of calling me the stereotypical ditzy airhead. Which Im not. Usually. Im actually really smart. I graduated summa cum laude, and Im a highly sought-after business analyst. Im just not very articulate. Especially when Im around new people. Adam finds it entertaining. I find it mortifying.

I sometimes wonder what hed call me if I had dark hair but was still a stutter-y mess on the outside.

What?

Are we going to go in or stand out here and look at it all day?

I I guess were going in. I wring my hands together.

Are you okay?

I shrug. Im fine. Its just weird. This whole time, he was living here, and I didnt know. Now hes gone.

Everything my uncle ever owned is now mine. His will was very short and to the point.

Dearest nephew who I havent seen in over a decade Okay, I added that last part, but its weird not only getting a letter from him beyond the grave but for him to address it as if we had a normal uncle-nephew relationship.

I knew from when you were young you were special. I told everyone you took after me because you inherited my blue eyes instead of your mothers brown, and we shared the same crooked smile. You didnt take after your father at all. Guess our family has superior genes, and honestly, Im not surprised.

But it wasnt until you were around five years old that I noticed we shared a lot more than similar looks. There was a spark in you that everyone tried to dim in me. As you got older, that spark only shone brighter until I knew there was no denying who you were.

I dont know if you remember this, but I used to babysit you and take you to get ice cream. It was our tradition. Every ice cream we ate together, Id tell you that its okay to be who you are, whoever that may be. When you became too bright, too obvious, your parents shunned me and banned me from ever seeing you again.

If I have only one regret in my life, its that I didnt fight harder to let you know you are loved, you are accepted, and you do not need to hide from the world.

I never did, and Im fabulous, if I do say so myself.

When you came out and my sister called to tell me it was my fault, Im not ashamed to admit I was proud of that. Even though we only had a few years together, I had hoped it was my words of encouragement from when you were a child that made you brave enough to face the people who exiled me and tell them the one thing theyd dreaded your whole life.

I wanted to reach out to you then, but I didnt want to burden you with my bleak future.