Ben was barely twenty and already raising a family. All Ollie had to offer was a quiet heart—and a truth he wasn’t ready to say out loud.

Together, they didn’t just fall in love—they built a space where every queer kid could finally belong.

Ben Diaz never meant to become a parent. But when his mother died and his gran followed right after, he stepped up—raising his three younger siblings with the help of his fierce twin sister. Life is heavy, and Ben is doing everything he can just to stay afloat. There’s no time for romance. And definitely not for someone like the shy schoolteacher down the hall.

Ollie Thompson is a closeted high school English teacher trying desperately not to rock the boat. He has spent his life hiding. From his students. From his colleagues. From the truth of who he is. But when he sees the way queer students are isolated and erased, he can’t stay silent. Starting a Pride Club is terrifying enough—falling for the bold, chaotic, rainbow-wearing neighbor next door might just undo him completely.

Then Maisy, Ben’s youngest sister, gets sick. When CPS steps in and everything falls apart, Ollie finds himself standing up in ways he never imagined—both for Ben’s family, and for himself.

Together, they create something beautiful. Not just a home, but a safe haven. A promise that love, in all its colors, belongs here.

Because sometimes the loudest pride begins with the quietest truth.

Features LGBTQ+ characters, found family, queer joy, and a small-town community with open doors and even bigger hearts.