From the farms of Tennessee, Beau Watkins had it all in high school: the cute girl, the popular jock lifestyle, a loving family. As a rising freshman at an out-of-state college, he's determined to find out who he really is behind the fake it 'til you make it attitude. He joins Rainbow Connection, the gay student alliance, hoping to find himself. Instead, he meets Vin Reyes. Raised by his grandparents and the heir to a prosperous company, Vin has been out of the closet since he figured out what that meant. He has it all: fashionable clothing, fancy cars, huge houses, and a real party lifestyle, even a bodyguard. Most of all, he has a secret. Uncomfortable with Vin's generosity, Beau fights his growing attraction for the president of Rainbow Connection, instead chasing a series of shallow affairs. Vin's never been denied anything he wants, though, and now he wants Beau. But it isn’t until an old rival puts Beau in the hospital that Vin realizes Beau means more to him than a simple affair. Can the two of them bridge the gap between their worlds and roll with the all the punches life throws at them?

On a Roll

“I know. I don’t really like coffee.”


Around Vin’s neck was a gold chain from which dangled a glittering diamond ring, the kind with dozens of tiny diamond chips to make the solitaire look bigger; the kind guys at Beau’s high school gave out to their knocked-up sweethearts. That hadn’t been there before. Vin looked up to catch Beau’s glance and tucked the ring into his shirt, blushing.


Beau took the coffee, pressed his mouth to the side of the cup and had the last swallow, letting his lip rest for a long moment where Vin’s had been. Whatever had happened, Beau didn’t like it.


“Come on then, let’s go back to campus.”


“Sure.” Beau swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to identify the strange sense of loss. He stood up and threw the cup in the trash.13


“If I didn’t wear you out, I’m not trying hard enough,” Hector said. “Just sleep here tonight, it’s okay.”


Chapter 35