Fanboy

Fashion, fake dates, and real stakes. Sometimes the only way to win is to break all the rules.

After being dumped by his fiance, Thunder forward Alex Huberdeau finds himself questioning the game of love entirely. Clueless about dating, disinterested in flings, and unable to have a normal conversation with women, Alex is convinced something's broken inside him.

Enter Sunny Gonzales—a nonbinary, proudly polyamorous, fashion designer desperately searching for a big break. While their creativity blooms, love seems a luxury that's eluded them, shaded by their fears of a world quick to shun people who color outside the lines.

When Alex learns that Sunny needs a partner for a game show that could be the answer to their prayers, he leaps at the chance to help. In return, Sunny will teach him all they know about love and romance.

With only three weeks to learn all they can about each other, Sunny and Alex embark on a crash course that blurs the lines between friendship and romance. As feelings grow and the game show's climax looms, Alex and Sunny must decide if they're playing to win or playing for keeps.

Fanboy is a story about breaking binaries and subverting expectations. It contains questionable coffee drinks, zoot suits, a talking car, and unauthorized use of a hot tub.

There had to be a way to fix this for Sunny. Alex liked fixing things. He was good at it. Before his mother had married his stepfather, money had been tight. Whenever they’d hit a snag, whether it was financial, logistical, or emotional, they’d sit around the table and brainstorm ways to solve the problem. Oftentimes, the solution involved help from other people.

Hockey was an expensive sport to play at the basic level. To reach the highest heights took even more time and money. There were camps, private coaching, travel, better quality (and therefore more expensive) equipment. Sometimes the expenses seemed never-ending. Without the support of many people and organizations, Alex could never had made it to the Thunder. He had a moral obligation to pay it forward and help other people achieve their dreams.

There had to be a way to help Sunny. There always was.

Money?  He could loan Sunny money to get their business off the ground, but even if Sunny would take it, he’d heard too many horror stories about money destroying friendships. He wanted to make their friendship stronger, not wreck it.

Sunny’s exclamation interrupted Alex’s pondering. “Wait a minute. Maybe I can ask the producers if I can do it with a different partner.”

“Can’t hurt,” Phoebe said. “But who would be your new buddy?”

Sunny whirled on her. Alarmed, she stepped back. “Phoebe, love of my life, my best bestie, and mother of my future children.”

“Fuck I am.”

Sunny ignored her.  “If the producers say it’s okay, would you be my partner? You know me better than anyone else.”

Alex held his breath as he waited for Phoebe’s answer.

She shrugged. “Sure, Sunshine. Sounds like fun. What’s the date?”

Clicking his tongue, Sunny checked his phone. “December twentieth.”

Her face dropped. “Fuck, I can’t. I told my mom I’d come home for Christmas this year.”

“Really? You’re speaking to her now?”

Alex couldn’t figure out why Phoebe talking to her mom was making Sunny angry.

Phoebe answered Alex’s unspoken question. “My parents stopped speaking to me seven years ago when I came out as trans. I haven’t been back to Jersey since them.”

Wow. That was a lot to take in. For starters, he hadn’t known Phoebe was trans until right that very minute. Was she okay telling everyone? He gave a quick glance around the store, happy to see that it was empty except for him and his friends.

“What changed?” Sunny asked.

She shrugged. “She started trying to get in touch with me a few months ago. Apparently, she divorced my asshole dad. She swears it was his idea to cut me off.”

Sunny grabbed both her hands. “And you didn’t tell me? Do you believe her?”

Phoebe shrugged again but wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Alex understood. Even through her hurt, Phoebe still wanted her mother to love her. Who wouldn’t? Though they’d lived thousands of kilometers away for the last few years, Alex and his mom were still tight. He spoke to her at least once a week.

Sunny hugged her. “Screw the show. I’ll go to Jersey with you.”

Phoebe pulled away from Sunny. “The fuck you will. First of all, Momma Gonzales would kill both of us. Second of all, this show is too important for you to blow off. We’ll find someone to go with you. Hey, maybe one of the other roommates?”

“I don’t really know them that well.”

Alex couldn’t stand how sad Sunny looked. He had to do something.  “I’ll do it. I’ll go on the show with you.”