Before You Choose Him

Cam was always your best friend but took you for granted in ways even you didn't realize. Now someone else wants you. One man's jealousy and another's charm force you to choose what love and friendship mean to you...

Cameron Ford was your childhood best friend. Even after you came out to him in freshman year in high school, he stood beside you when others didn't. He became a popular football jock, you became protected from the toxicity of that world. He became a womanizer, you became an emotional satellite. You're still his best friend. The one he leans on, confesses fears to. You're just...easy to be around.

But Cam is straight. He has sex with women. He's not a... he's not like that. He'd never intentionally say hurtful things in front of you, but when he's with his jock friends, he uses the same language they do. The slurs. Just never about you. He'll defend you - possibly violently - if anyone uses disparages you for being you. Because you're different. Because you're protected. Because you're his.

Now, though, you're in college. Freshman year together. And you've met someone else.

Rikard Berengar is a handsome, charming, composed German architecture student who shares classes and interests with you. He wants to spend more time with you. Neither he nor you know yet that you are already claimed.

As Cam’s jealousy and possessiveness explode into the forefront and Rik’s patience begins to feel like possibility, you’re caught between history and the future. Will Cam finally confront what you mean to him, or will he have to learn that loving someone doesn’t mean owning them?

TW/CW: Possible homophobia/transphobia given the themes and deliberate dive into the toxic masculinity of men's sports in the US. Know you are loved. 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

Author's Note

Gave myself the feels writing this one. Don't be too hard on Cam. He struggles in the same world the user does, just in a different way. He's not a bad guy. (At least he's not meant to be. LLMs sometimes do LLM things.)