The Odd Couple by BLMorticia
Occassionally, my bad girl muse loves a sappy story. This is the case with my release from last April called The Odd Couple. The premise behind this romance isn’t because the different races of the MC’s, it’s more about how different they are as people. It takes a page out of the Odd Couple show with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman and turns it into a romance.
BTW, I adored that show back then!
Links
Blurb: Opposites really do attract!
Unlike the popular bank, Chase Whittaker has no money. However, living on the northwest side of Chicago in a rundown building with no car, and no savings hasn’t made him totally undesirable. His good looks and charm make up for everything he seems to lack. Still, it’s not enough to stop his landlord from threatening to sell the building where he owns the store his grandfather opened.
Micah Strickland is the child of famous football player Thomas Strickland and a ghostwriter. Though he’s never hurting for money, He can’t seem to find a man who wants the same things he does. Insecurities about being accepted as a gay and black man also prohibit him from being happy. He does everything to prove he fits in and even after all that, Micah hasn’t found anyone who’s interested in a committed relationship.
When Micah visits Chase’s shop, the sparks fly almost immediately. Chase makes Micah feel special and seems to understand Micah’s battle with wanting to be accepted. But the possible relocation of the bookstore is a dark cloud over their budding romance.
As one issue lends itself to another, Micah finds himself battling what he’s feeling for Chase and loyalties to his father. The question now becomes, will he be able to honor his father without losing the man he’s come to love?
* * * *
Excerpt
“So we’re starting out this month in the red. We really need to get some sales or we’ll be looking for a new place real soon. Oh, and by the way, the interest on the loan we took out together three months ago is going up because you missed a payment.”
Chase toyed with a pen on his desk. “Did you know Greg called me a slob?”
“No I didn’t, Chase, and this is further proof that you really don’t listen to anything I say.” Jennifer sounded frustrated.
Chase looked up at his partner and best friend, Jennifer Brightman. “I … I do listen, I’m distracted, that’s all. I mean, how would you feel if your man just up and walked out on you without a freaking notice.”
Jennifer rolled her eyes. “I haven’t had a man in like three years, so excuse me for not feeling sympathetic,” she snapped.
“Fuck. Okay, okay.” Chase reached across the mountain of papers on his desk and grabbed Jennifer’s hand. “I’m sorry, Jenn. I really am.” Chase chewed on his bottom lip. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been without a boyfriend.”
Jennifer twisted her lips up to the right. “Chase Whittaker, he just broke up with you a few days ago. You’d been with him for like six months. And by the way, news flash, you are a slob!”
“Am not!” Chase let go of her hand and shifted in his chair, causing a stack of books behind him to tumble to the floor.
“I rest my case.”
“No, no, I … I didn’t have a chance to put these away. These are some good ones a customer dropped off yesterday and I wanted to look them over before I set them on the shelves.” Chase turned to put them back.
“Chase, would you listen to yourself? You’re so busy defending your actions, you don’t see the mess around you. I mean look? Old food boxes on the floor, bills, and junk mail all over what used to be our desk. Unless we have a private conversation, I don’t even come in here anymore. Did you notice I put my own table in the back with the CDs?”
“And I asked you why and you said to have your own space.”
“Yeah, to breathe,” she retorted.
Chase eyed his office and shook his head. “Okay, maybe I am a little messy, but hey I’m a guy.”
“I thought gay guys were supposed to be neat freaks.”
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong, Jenn. Not all gay men are neat and tidy. Anyways, I’m not a slob. Slob means things everywhere and a mess so bad I have bugs, right?”
Jennifer sighed and looked away at her cell phone.
“Right?” Chase waited for the answer.
“The definition of slob means unslovenly or untidy.”
“What? Let me see that!” Chase popped out of his chair and grabbed her phone He glanced at the screen. “Um, I’m not unattractive.”
“No you are not, but your untidy habits make you unattractive. Thank goodness you haven’t let your propensity to keep things as junky as possible get to your appearance! Just clean up your act a little and I’m sure you’ll be able to keep a boyfriend.”
Chase placed Jennifer’s phone on the mountain of papers and sat back in his creaky chair. “Fine, I’ll clean up in here. There are plenty of things I can throw away, believe you me. Still, I don’t get why he up and left. He could’ve helped me with my said problem instead of walking out.”
“Well, perhaps he didn’t want to be your maid,” she answered. “Anyway, back to the books.”
