Hot Axe: Alternate Cover Edition

Ames and Robbie have been inseparable since they were thirteen, a duo so perfectly synced that the citizens of Winsome can’t imagine one without the other. To Ames, Robbie is everything: his anchor, his inspiration for joining the fire department, and the person who knows him better than anyone. There is just one agonizing secret Ames has kept buried for years—he is hopelessly, deeply in love with his best friend. It is a tragedy of timing. Robbie is straight, engaged, and seemingly moving on with his life. Ames, resigned to his fate, is finally ready to let go of his unrequited feelings. That is, until a dangerous rescue attempt lands Ames in recovery, leading to a hazy, medication-fueled confession that brings his secret burning to the surface. With Robbie stepping in as his dedicated caretaker, the boundaries of their lifelong friendship suddenly begin to blur. Between the forced proximity and the charged, lingering looks, Ames starts to wonder if his feelings might actually be returned. But with so much at stake, is he willing to bet their entire history on a fantasy? If he pulls this thread, he risks losing the most important person in his life forever.