N
NC Romantic
May 20, 2026
A case of not recognizing someone led to true love
Timothy, who prefers to go by TJ, is feeling stagnant at college because his loving parents wish for him to return home with a degree and assume control of the family business. However, residing in Spruce, Texas appears dull to him, while it represents happiness for his parents.
To avoid the inevitable pain, he plans a cross-country road trip with his college best friend, aiming to make this summer bearable. Nevertheless, that best friend has found a girl he likes and replaces TJ on the trip. To soften the disappointment, TJ invites his best friend to a concert before they depart for different locations, but his bestie does not show up.
TJ then engages in a heated exchange with a stranger, which unexpectedly becomes pivotal to his destiny. The stranger, Chase, a handsome lead singer wearing a cowboy hat, is openly gay and is ascending in the music industry. TJ’s rant profoundly impacts Chase, stirring a desire in him to respond with an improvised song addressing TJ’s concerns, though TJ only hears part of it from outside the venue.
Subsequently, Chase seeks out the college student who prompted him to reflect deeply on his true path in that song. TJ becomes his muse for his songs.
This narrative exemplifies Daryl Banner's writing style, characterized by economical language and exquisite descriptions of the love Chase longs to experience, opening the door to a new journey that includes a search for TJ.
There is a touch of magic when the two meet again, leading to a…