num_pages: 116
description: Niall doesnt speak to his neighbours. He doesnt speak to anyone. Avoiding conversation is easier than the pity and impatience he senses from everyone the moment he opens his mouth and nothing comes out. Since he split up with his partner years before he hasnt had much to do with anyone and that has suited him just fine. He has his dog Zen for company. Zen doesnt care that Niall cant get through an entire sentence without stuttering. Zen is all Niall needs. And thats how it would have stayed until the day a new neighbour moves in next door.Zak is Nialls exact oppositetwenty-three years Nialls junior bubbly gregarious and never shuts up. His arrival fills Nialls quiet life with constant noise and constant company. Zen appears to have defected and Zak doesnt seem to even notice that Niall rarely speaks. Gradually Zaks endless patience brings Niall out of his shell. To Nialls surprise he suddenly has a friend a confidante and perhaps something more.And he didnt even have to say a word.This story was originally written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's Love is an Open Road event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.A new extended version is now available with Beaten Track Publishing.
language: English
title: Not a Word
publisher: MMRomanceGroup.com