Too Like the Lightning by Travis Beaudoin

Andrew Madigan had everything he ever wanted.
He’d worked hard to build this perfect little life. A stable relationship with a successful man. A beautiful home in a quiet suburb. And best of all, a job where he spent his days talking about literature.
Then his tenure was denied and, too quickly for him to stop it, everything crumbled.
Now, with his dreams in the dust and his confidence shattered, Andrew has one summer to figure out his next move.
Bulbs, Florida, is like no place Andrew’s ever known. It’s small and provincial. It’s hot as hell. Storms roll through every single day. But Andrew just has to keep his head down. Finish his book, find a new job, put things back on track. Easy-peasy.
He didn’t plan on making a friend.
Coley Brandt has a green thumb and an easy smile. He’s much younger than Andrew, but he puts Andrew at ease, makes him feel at home. Their time together reminds Andrew what having a purpose feels like.
Suddenly, this long, lonely summer feels too short.
But Coley has dreams of his own, and they’re a million miles away from the life Andrew’s trying to get back.
Maybe this is just a summer fling. Maybe, like the lightning, it’s only meant to be glorious for a moment before it disappears.
Or maybe it’s something more.