Sixteen year old Jacob Smithson has quite a temper. He’s picked on by other kids because he likes boys, and recent fighting has kicked him out of public school. As a last resort, his parents have placed him in the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Boarding School for Boys.<br><br>It’s at his first mass at St. Thomas where he sees Avery Dendritch, a senior who serves as altar boy during the service. When they meet, the attraction between them is hard to deny. The two become fast friends, and as the school year progresses, their friendship deepens into something more. For the first time, Jacob has found a place where he belongs ... and someone with whom he’s falling in love.<br><br>But the other students gossip about their growing relationship, and while Avery can ignore them, Jacob cannot. As the rumors and slurs start up again, can he curb his temper, or will his penchant for fighting get him expelled from St. Thomas, as well?

Without Sin

Finally, having run out of things to say, Jacob falls quiet. He wants to ask Avery to tell him about his own family, where they live, what Avery plans to do after leaving St. Thomas Aquinas, but he doesn’t. Avery’s breathing is even and slow, and Jacob thinks the boy might have fallen back asleep. He wouldn’t blame Avery if he had, Jacob’s life is pretty boring. “Avery?” His voice is almost a whisper.


In response, Avery kisses his forehead. “We should get back.”


“Will we get in trouble, do you think?” Jacob asks. He means for missing curfew.


But Avery shakes his head. “Who’ll know?”


Mike. If there’s anyone who would resent Jacob for having a good time, it would be his roommate, he’s sure. He probably called the monsignor at 11:01 last night when Jacob didn’t come through the door.


“If anyone asks,” Avery tells him, “you spent the night at a friend’s. Hell, no one knows we weren’t in the dorms. We just weren’t in our rooms.”


Chapter 16