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

“You know, I’m pretty sure that the blame belongs to the maniac with the bat who killed my truck.”


Vin’s voice dropped into a hoarse, horrified whisper. “I was baiting him. With the picture on my phone.”


“Stop.” Beau clenched his jaw, reached and grabbed Vin’s hand, the movement sending sparks of pain through the cloud of morphine. He settled back into the pillows, pressing Vin’s unresisting hand against his chest. “You didn’t do this and I’m in too much pain to argue with you.”


Vin bit his lip, red blotches creeping up his cheeks. “Of course,” he said. He leaned over and kissed Beau’s forehead. “I’m going to go have a smoke. You get some sleep.”


“When you’re feeling stronger,” David said, “the police are going to want to talk with you about what happened.” He stood up and paced around the room.


Beau sighed, turned his head toward the wall, ignoring the pulling ache across his shoulders.


Chapter 37