RELEASE BLITZ: Finishing Last by Rob Browatzke (Excerpt)

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Finishing Last

Author: Rob Browatzke

Publisher: Sisyphus Press

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza

Release Date: Halloween

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope. Friends to lovers

Themes: Found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 70 000 words/ 245 pages

It is a standalone story within a series

Goodreads – River City Romances Series

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Mitch Morris is a nice guy – and you know what they say about them.

Blurb

Mitch Morris is starting over in a new apartment when he meets a handsome new neighbor. Dan Murphy is starting over in a new city when he meets a handsome new neighbor.

They DON’T hook up.

Instead, they become friends, and slowly, more than friends. But when they both start dating other people, it’s increasingly obvious there’s something between them. Nice guys don’t cheat though, and besides, who would risk a friendship on the chance of something more?

Excerpt

“It doesn’t matter,” he told Dan. “We are not running Sunday —and I don’t care how many times you say Kyle McFall,” he added, sticking his fingers in his ears. “Sunday is Halloween, and that means we will both be far too hungover from Saturday’s Halloween parties to even think about running.”

“We could just not get drunk, you know. That’s a thing. That people do.”

“Not my people!” Mitch said. “Halloween Saturday is my literal favorite day of the year.”

“That’s what you said about Gay Day,” Dan said. “And about Pride. And about the day Duncan had his two-for-one special.”

“You know, I get that we’re friends, but sometimes, I really wish you didn’t pay so much attention to everything I say. You’ve got this annoying habit of throwing my own words back in my face, and it really is the most unattractive thing you do.”

Dan shrugged, grinning. “What’s so special about Halloween?”

“What’s so special about Halloween? What’s so special about Halloween?” Mitch forced his voice to screech.

“I don’t know. That’s why I asked.”

“Oh, you little tiny gayby,” Mitch said. “What did they teach you back in that backwater town of yours?”

“Isn’t your hometown like five hundred people?”

“Yes,” Mitch said, “and every single one of them celebrates Halloween. But that doesn’t even

matter, because you see, Halloween is something more for gay people. It’s like Christmas and your birthday and the best blowjob ever all rolled into one.”

“Do you ever worry that your constant exaggerating ever builds things up to a point where people are let down?”

“Did I let you down about Pride?” Mitch asked. Dan shook his head. “Or about that two for one special?” Dan let out a laugh. “See? I never steer you wrong. Now, what are you being?”

“Like, for my costume? I have no idea.” “Daniel! It is only two weeks away.”

“Do you already know what you’re doing?”

“Since July,” Mitch said. “I have to say, I’m outdoing even myself this year.”

“What are you doing then?”

“No! A magician never reveals his secrets.”

“But, you just asked me!”

Mitch chuckled. “Oh, Dan,” he said. “Poor little gayby Dan. You are many things but you’re not a magician.”

It was a brave front that Mitch was putting on, because the truth was, he had no idea what he was going to be. He and Kent had normally done a pair of costumes, which hit a brilliant new level a few years before when they’d actually gone as a pair of pears. But this year, Kent and Dylan were doing a couples costumes, because of course they were that kind of couple, and it was probably going to be something super lame, like Romeo and Julien or some shit. But Mitch was idealess.

He was never idealess on Halloween. He had suggested to Ellis that they do a couples costume, which he normally hated; best friends together was fine, but boyfriends matching was just gay, and not in the good buttsex sense of the word. But Ellis was going as Black Panther.

“Why don’t you tell me what to go as?” Dan asked suddenly. “Since you’re the expert and all.”

Intrigued, Mitch gave that a ponder. Sometimes it was easier to dress someone else, and maybe that would give Mitch the inspiration he needed for himself. It had to be different. Most of the people at The Torch were just going to be slutty superheroes or slutty animals or slutty somethings, anything for an excuse to be out for a night in as little clothing as possible. This wasn’t something Mitch minded, overly. In fact, he looked forward to the beautiful men, but when it came to his own, he usually wanted a bit of commentary. After all, there was a thousand dollar grand prize on the line, and who couldn’t use that?

About the Author

Rob Browatzke doesn’t believe in writing what he knows – that’s why he delivers gay romance with happy endings! Equal parts sarcasm and kindness, he has been writing as long as he can remember. When not writing, he can be found actively involved in local queer nightlife, where he has made a career since the late 1900s. He lives in Edmonton Alberta, but don’t hold that against him. Feel free to stalk him on social media.

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter @robbrowatzke | Instagram @robbrowatzke