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The Year of No

by @rognik

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7 chapters

~18 min read

After catching his girlfriend cheating, Caleb vows a year of celibacy—only to become the most sought-after bachelor in town. Now he must navigate a relentless parade of suitors while clinging to his vow of "no."

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MEET THE CHARACTERS

Caleb Thorne

A 28-year-old architect with a quiet intensity, his broad shoulders and calloused hands telling of a man who builds things for a living. The year of self-imposed solitude has sharpened his gaze and carved a stillness into him that people mistake for aloofness, not knowing it's the quiet of a man carefully rebuilding his own foundations. He moves through rooms with a grounded presence, unaware of the hungry eyes now tracking him.

Leo Vance

A 30-year-old restaurateur with a magnetic, easy smile and eyes that miss nothing. He moves with the confident grace of someone used to being wanted, his tailored shirts always rolled to the elbows, revealing forearms dusted with dark hair. He noticed Caleb's solitary figure at the bar for months, watching the quiet architect become a local legend of unavailability, and decided he'd be the one to end the streak.

Elias Kane

A 35-year-old gallery owner with a razor-sharp mind and an aesthetic that borders on predatory elegance. Silver threads his temples, and his suits are impeccably severe, framing a face of sharp angles and a mouth that rarely smiles. He collects beautiful, difficult things, and Caleb's year of visible, principled isolation has made him the most intriguing piece in the city.

Finn O'Sullivan

A 26-year-old firefighter with sun-bleached hair, a laugh that fills a space, and a build of solid, reliable muscle earned hauling hose lines. His touch is instinctively gentle despite his strength, and his blue eyes hold a warmth that feels like a summer afternoon. To him, Caleb isn't a puzzle or a prize, but a quiet, handsome man who looks like he could use someone to simply be good to him.

Thomas Jones

Caleb's long-time friend, he takes in his friend after his girlfriend cheated.

EXPLORE CHAPTERS

Moving In

It was raining when Thomas heard his buzzer ring. It wasn't expecting anyone, so it was a surprise to hear Caleb's voice asking to be let in. At his door, Caleb was drenched. It looked like he had be

Drawing the Line

Caleb went into the office early the next day. He threw himself into work to forget about Her, and especially about what happened with Thomas last night. Sadly, a new client coming to meet him will ma

Tearing It Down

Caleb goes to examine Finn's ruined mill, but Finn is more focused on tearing down Caleb's walls than the mill's

The Uninvited Host

A week later, Caleb attends a client's event at the Kane Gallery. The space is cool, severe, a world away from Finn's dusty mill. Elias materializes beside a sculpture in a room filled by just the two

A Drink to Forget

Immediately after the gallery party, Caleb goes to the local bar to drink away the pain, the shame. In his mind, he's broken his vow three times within the first month - despite Thomas's constant assu

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