Review - Misfits by Garrett Leigh

Tom is desperately looking for a location for a new restaurant in London’s Camden Town, but so far nothing the estate agent has shown him sparks his imagination. After looking at another shopfront that didn’t pan out, the underground is too busy to use right away, so he decides to grab a meal at a pub. The food is awful, but the waiter Jake is cute and definitely gets his attention. Jake doesn’t really like being a waiter, but it’s the only job he could get. His Tourette syndrome tends to put people off. Jake is very attracted to Tom, but there’s one problem: Tom’s partner, Cass. The two have an open relationship and don’t get to spend much time together, but that doesn’t make it feel right.

Open and polyamorous relationships are still far from the norm, regardless of sexual orientation. An open relationship seems to work for Tom and Cass. The two are both business and romantic partners. They’re driven to make their respective sides of the business work, which keeps them apart more than it brings them together. The one thing to be avoided in open relationships is real romantic involvement with a third party, and that’s what happens with Tom regarding Jake.

Tom clearly has a strong protective and nurturing streak. His attitude about Jake is about more than wanting to help a young man with a disability. It’s hard to separate the man from his Tourette syndrome, but the more we get to know Jake, the more we see that he is a very talented man that hardly anyone before Tom has bothered to get to know. Over the course of the story, he proves his worth to himself as well as Tom and Cass.

Cass is the wild card of the three in many ways. Like Jake, Cass has his own self-worth issues. He both welcomes and fears the presence of the man in Tom’s life. Jake can be there for Tom, both physically and mentally, in ways that Cass can’t. The risk is that Cass could lose Tom to Jake completely. Ultimately, all three men need to decide what they want and what they need.

“Misfits” is available from Smashwords.