Maggie Blackbird

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers can jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.

For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from Knight Moves, book three in the When We Were Young series, a m/m contemporary, young adult novel now 50% off at Extasy Books.

Although they’re torn apart, they still hold a piece of each other’s heart.

Blurb: After receiving his grade twelve diploma and marking his eighteenth birthday, René Oshawee cannot fight the temptation seventeen-year-old high school junior Billy Redsky blatantly offers now that what they share has become taboo.

When their secret romance is blown into the open, Billy’s foster parents send René to Toronto to complete the last of his schooling under the supervision of a family friend, leaving Billy behind at their Ojibway community.

Now Billy and René must make the biggest decision of their lives—fight for the true love they know they’ll never find with anyone else or go their separate ways.

Genre(s): Multicultural, M/M Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+, First Nations Romance, Young Adult, New Adult.
Heat Rating: Level 2
Publication Date: April 16, 2021
Publisher: eXtasy Books

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Mr. O glanced up. “Please, sit. I thought you’d be more comfortable if you only had to speak to one of us.”

Thank fuck he wasn’t hollering or accusing Billy of seducing his son. He made sure to sit straight in the chair. Then again, the soft tap on his door from René five minutes ago had been a quiet sign, telling Billy not to fear.

“I’m sorry—”

Mr. O raised his hand. “An apology isn’t necessary.”

Billy’s heart was the revving of the throttle of the dirt bike. Maybe The General was going to let this pass. Maybe he’d allow them to see each other, as long as they didn’t do the nasty in the house. “Oh?”

“Renny explained to me the two of you began…dating, before Mrs. Oshawee and I started fostering you. Naturally, you’d want to keep seeing each other.”

“Yeah. I—”

“Unfortunately, because we’re fostering you, and you’re living under our roof, we can’t permit you to see each other anymore.” Regret lurked in Mr. O’s words.

Billy’s rising chest deflated. What he’d feared all along was a reality. The Oshawees wouldn’t give their blessing.

“Billy, please look at me.”

Forcing his head upward and away from the plush carpet, Billy focused his gaze.

“Understand, Renny is an adult and graduated, whereas you are a minor and in your junior year. You two are living under the same roof. This wasn’t an easy decision for us.” Mr. O pressed his thin lips together.

“Does this mean—?”

Again, Mr. O raised his hand. “Please let me finish.” He folded his fingers together and rested them on the desk blotter. “I know how an older person can influence a younger person. Although you and Renny helped each other greatly, your…ah, relationship, also stymied your growth.”

Huh? What did Mr. O mean?

“Do you recall when you first moved in and I requested you take the bus instead of riding with Renny to school every morning?”

Billy nodded.

“There was a good reason—for you to develop new friendships and your own social circle within your grade group. You did. Yet he still holds great influence over you. Although you can’t see this, I can. Your dream to become a police officer is noble, however, Creator gave you a talent in art, did He not?”

“Y-yes.” Where was this leading?

“Last March, Renny begged us to let him attend the Franklin College of Music in Toronto. Then he changed his mind and informed us he wished to pursue a law degree. I know what music means to my son.” Mr. O rubbed his brow. “What I’m trying to say is you have two more years to think your future through. Renny has five months, maybe even less, because he has to apply to the university he wants to attend…”

He sat back and steepled his fingers. “Mrs. Oshawee and I are going to talk some more. We’ll have your answer as soon as possible. Once we give you our answer, there is something else we must discuss.”

“Uh…something else?”

“Yes. But we won’t get into that now. I don’t want to overwhelm you. Unless you have further questions, you’re dismissed.”

Billy had questions, but those answers wouldn’t come until the Oshawees gave him the new rules. “It’s okay. I understand.”

He wouldn’t whine or wheedle to get his way. René was right. If they wanted to be treated as adults, they had to act like adults by accepting the consequences for their actions.

He left the study, but he couldn’t stop his head from hanging.

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