Play It Safe (8 page)

“Especially in the dark.” Fergus’s voice started to fade. “We’ll always be safe with each other.”

“Aye, we will.” As a contented sleep stole his consciousness, John whispered the word echoing in his mind. “Always.”

Thanks for reading!

I hope you enjoyed this first followup short story in the Glasgow Lads series. My plan is to do one for each couple from the novels, so let me know what you thought of it at
[email protected]
.

If you enjoyed this story, please consider introducing the Lads to others—online, offline, or anywhere in between. Thanks.

• Review “Play It Safe” on Amazon
  
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Want more Warriors all to yourself? How about exclusive bonus material, including advance copies of twice-yearly Glasgow Lads short stories and early peeks at Liam and Robert’s novel,
Playing With Fire
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You’ll receive loads of Glasgow Lads stuff found nowhere else in the world—deleted scenes, author commentary, location shots, and more. It’s like having a wee window into my brain (there’s loads of empty space in there to make yourself comfortable).

You might even learn a few Scots curse words, which could be pure dead useful one day.

Glasgow Lads Series

More Warriors are on the way! Each stand-alone novel features a new couple, with prominent appearances by other characters we’ve come to know.

• Play On
  (novella), May 2015
  
• Playing for Keeps
  , June 2015
  
• Playing to Win
  , September 2015
  
• Play It Safe
  (short story), November 2015
  
• Playing with Fire, January 2016
  

…and much more to come.

I can’t wait to share all the Lads’ stories with you. Sign up for my mailing list at
www.averycockburn.com/signup/
to be the first to know about new releases.

Author’s Note on Prexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Some readers, especially those in the United States, might wonder why Fergus and John didn’t opt for medicines like Truvada, which have been shown to help prevent the spread of HIV. At the time the story took place, October 2014, and at the time of this story’s publication, November 2015, Truvada was approved in Scotland for use in suppressing HIV in those already infected—but it has not yet been approved for the
prevention
of infection. So Scotsmen like Fergus and John can take Truvada only if they’re already HIV-positive.

In September 2015 the British medical journal
The Lancet
published the results of a study showing Truvada reduced the risk of infection by 86% in men who had sex with men:

http://www.proud.mrc.ac.uk/

So hopefully before long, “Play It Safe” will be truly outdated.

About the Author

Avery Cockburn (rhymes with Savory Slow Churn—mmmm, ice cream…) lives in the US with one infinitely patient man and two infinitely impatient cats.

Reach out and say “Hiya!” to Avery at:

Website:
www.averycockburn.com

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[email protected]

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