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 isn’t sure, and as much as he’d love to rush into Thad’s room and wrap his arms around his friend, there’s a little seed of doubt in his mind stopping him. In the deepest, darkest corner of his soul, Jamie is afraid Thad will push him away. Maybe he’s wrong about his friend? What will happen between them if he is?


He isn’t, he knows he isn’t. But Thad isn’t as secure in his sexuality as Jamie is. One wrong move might push him all the way to the back of the closet, never to be seen again. Jamie has to take it slow, give Thad time to work through his own feelings, and then see where things go. If he chases after Thad, he risks losing him.


So what, you let Mark chase after him, instead?


Chapter 39