Things haven't been going right for Blake for a long time. Both he and his boyfriend struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic when work got scarce. To save costs, the two moved from California to Albuquerque, but then the boyfriend dumped Blake, and he ended up living in his car. Out of desperation, Blake agrees to move back in with his mother in Chicago, but that will come with a steep cost since he will be expected to take care of the house and his sibling's kids, leaving little time to find a job and get back on his feet. Blake seems to have hit rock bottom when his car gets stolen just before he is about to hit the road.
Blake is sitting on a sidewalk trying to figure out how he can get to Chicago with the limited funds he has when he's approached by a woman offering some money. Another woman is recording them, so it's soon clear that the woman is an “influencer,” and she's using Blake to make a video. It also becomes obvious that the woman is stringing him on, but he's desperate enough to keep playing along. Someone finally intervenes and chases the two women off. Blake gets the money, but it's a lot less than he thought it would be. His rescuer, Marcus, turns out to be another influencer, but one that's much nicer than the two women. The pandemic ended up changing Marcus' life for the better. He got into food, started making videos, and became a food influencer. Now, he's touring the US, trying to find the best pizza in every state. Marcus offers to take Blake to Chicago, but as the two get to know each other, the idea of parting ways becomes less and less desirable.
Pizza, cute pets, and two guys made for each other, what more could you ask for in a romance? “Deep Dish” is a very slow-burn road trip romance. The “limited-time romance” plot device is one that can be full of potential holes. They can be full of angst as well as prone to the “men don't talk about their feelings” cliché. This story manages to avoid all those problems. Blake and Marcus have very good reasons for wanting to avoid a relationship despite the strong attraction between them. The slow burn facet was a good choice since it keeps Blake and Marcus at arms' length until the fateful moment comes.
Blake is quite skillfully drawn. Homelessness is a huge problem in many American cities, and it's often misunderstood. There are probably more people like Blake than people realize. He isn't lazy or a drug user. He even has freelance work bringing in some money. It just isn't enough to afford an apartment, and since he is relatively new in town, he doesn't know enough people to find a roommate. We learn a lot about Blake and what makes him tick. He is a surprisingly nice guy despite a very troubling childhood. In fact, you will probably suspect that many of Blake's problems could be put down to him being too nice.
Marcus is also a very kind-hearted young man that we get to know very well. While Marcus seems to have had all the luck, in stark contrast to Blake, we soon learn that there's a price for his kind of stardom. Even his simple act of kindness towards Blake can come back to haunt him. In some ways, we come to see Marcus' situation as almost as precarious as Blake's.
“Deep Dish” is available from Smashwords or Amazon (commissionable link).
