Nobody deserves to be without a home. In collaboration with several authors, Less Than Three Press offers up an anthology of stories about young people who find that home and family are not always where you expect to find them.
All proceeds from this charity anthology will be donated to Project Fierce Chicago. Project Fierce’s mission is to reduce LGBTQ youth homelessness in Chicago by providing transitional housing and support services to homeless LGBTQ young adults.
SAMMY –my story in the Project Fierce Charity Anthology
Less Than Three Press ARe Books Amazon
At fifteen, Sam inadvertently comes out to his parents, but instead of the support he hopes for, they send him to live with his uncle. Unfortunately, the man is even less tolerant of his uniqueness. Rather than change to please his family, feeling unwanted and misunderstood, he runs away to find a better life.
But the crowded city isn’t kind to a young man with no home and no prospects of work. When this story opens, Sam has been on the streets for several years when one of his ‘regulars’ begins to take more than a business interest in him. For the first time Sammy dreams of more than a bleak lonely future, but does he dare hope that someone like him could find their happily ever after?
Excerpt:
“Sammy, your Suit’s here again.”
Sam frowned at the chip in a fingernail. He could nibble off the rough edge, but that would smear his lip gloss, Pink Persuasion, his favorite. He glanced up through his thick lashes. Sure enough, John leaned against a lamppost pretending he hadn’t been staring. This could be fun.
Climbing from his perch on the picnic bench, he winked at Tad and the others and shook out the white skirt of his sundress. The sun was lowering behind them and John could probably see right through the filmy material, maybe catch a tantalizing glimpse of his turquoise bikini underwear. He stretched leisurely, arching his back, the sheer tank top exposing his nipples more than it covered them. He darted a look at the man again. Oh yes, definitely staring. John pushed off from the pole and took a step toward him, and his heart gave a funny lurch. He was certainly attractive, wavy brown hair falling to his chin, large brown eyes.
“Got a minute, Sammy?”
A smile lifted the corners of Sam’s full mouth. John was gentler than some of the others he could name. “Yeah, honey, I got time.” He raised his brows, looking towards the nearby public restrooms, but John shook his head, gaze flicking to the Morrison Bridge over head, the steady stream of cars crossing the river adding to the traffic noise on Naito Parkway behind them. Excellent. Sam knew justmthe spot.
Lacing fingers with John, Sam gave a playful tug and saw a slight blush rise in his face as they strolled along the bike path under the bridge. Cute. The Rhododendron grew thicker there and Sam pushed between two of them.
Hidden from view, he planted his back to the cement retaining wall, pulling John up against him. Brown eyes bore into his, the gleam of excitement unmistakable. But business first. Confusion touched the man’s face when Sam didn’t move, then his eyes widened.
“Oh shit! Sorry.” John dug in his pocket and handed over a few folded bills. Sam sighed. Only a head job. He’d been hoping for enough to get a room that night he didn’t have to share. John had been using him for the last couple of months and he’d even been to John’s apartment a few times. After letting Tad know where he was going, of course. But it looked like this time John just wanted to get off. Must be in a hurry. Crap.
Slipping the money into a pocket of his skirt, he made a show of rimming his lips with his tongue and hid his smirk when John’s eyes darkened with hunger. Men were so easy. Bat his mascaraed lashes, flash a flirty smile, and they were putty. Sam leaned forward and nibbled John’s lean jaw. “Ready, baby?”
Dianne Hartsock 
Sounds like an amazing anthology for a really important cause!