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

“Don’t fight,” Avery tells him. “Jacob—”


“I hate this,” Jacob announces. “So I like boys. So what? I like you.Fuck them all.” Before Avery can say anything, he raises his voice after the freshmen. “Fuck you all!”


Avery gathers their books together. “Stop it,” he says, angry. “You want to be sent to the monsignor’s office again? They’ll suspend you for cussing, Jacob, don’t think they won’t. If you get sent home, what the hell am I supposed to do, huh?”


Jacob pouts, still glaring after the freshmen. “I won’t be sent home.”


But Avery shakes his head. “You will, Jacob. We can’t be together if you’re not here.”


Jacob looks at the ground and doesn’t meet Avery’s gaze. Avery touches his arm. “What the hell do they know anyway? You’re right, fuck them. They’re only freshmen,for Christ’s sake. Don’t let them get to you.”


Jacob sighs. He shoves his hands into his pockets and kicks at the grass. “Fuck them.”


“Don’t get into fights,” Avery tells him.


Chapter 27