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

The monsignor studies his hands as if he’s reading what’s written on his palms. “You are friends with this Jacob Smithson, are you not?”


Avery nods. “Yes, sir.” He won’t deny it.


“Good friends, Mr. Dendritch?” The monsignor glances up at him.


Avery nods again. “The best, sir. He’s…” He smiles, thinking of the way it feels to hold Jacob close. “He’s not as bad as they say, Father. He’s funny and smart and…”


And beautiful and loving and means more to me than anyone else in this whole world. But he doesn’t say that.


Instead, he tells the monsignor, “He’s lonely, I think. Not used to having people be nice to him, maybe. I don’t know. I just know he’s great to hang out with, you know? He’s made this year fun for me.”


You don’t know how much fun, he adds silently.


“Mr. Nelson says—” The monsignor stops, catching him with that stare. “His roommate. You know him, as well?”


Chapter 58