Shy, soft-spoken clarinet player Thad Archer tours Europe over spring break with his college marching band. He's lonely so far from home and everything he's ever known, but at least he has his friends -- Mark, Peter, Seth, and Jamie. Thad has had a secret crush on sexy drummer Jamie McIntosh since they met but has never managed to pluck up the courage to confess his feelings. Could Jamie be as lonely and homesick as Thad? Confident and cocky, Jamie is Thad's opposite in every way, but something about his quiet friend sets his heart aflutter. Unfortunately, Thad's deep in the closet, while Jamie is much more secure in his sexuality. Jamie doesn't want to rush Thad into anything he isn't ready for, but hopefully at some point in their friendship, they can move toward something more. But any romantic hopes the pair have are frustrated by Mark, the band's drum major, who has his sights set on bedding trombonist Seth, or flutist Peter, or anyone, really. He isn't too picky. If he can't get into the pants of his straight friends, he'll settle for whoever he can get. Thad? Jamie? The band will be flying back to the States in a couple of days. Thad knows once they're home, he'll have missed his chance with Jamie. Can he be satisfied just being friends? Or has Mark conducted his way between them?

Playing for Keeps

Jamie throws down his fork with a clatter. “This is all your fault, Mark.”


“Me?” Mark gawks in surprise. “You guys didn’t have to come.”


The band has a full day of sightseeing and shopping scheduled, downtime Thad had been looking forward to but now, thanks to Mark, he’s stuck in the lounge on their floor writing a stupid essay. He lays on his stomach on the only sofa in the lounge, an open notebook in front of him. It’s been two hours and he’s only managed to write one line at the top of the otherwise blank page. It reads, Going to the pub instead of the symphony was a bad idea.


Chapter 20