Gymnast Frank Bethune arrives on campus already enamored with the star tight end, Bill Billingsly. Although the chances of them meeting are slim, fate draws them together, and their friendship turns to love.<br><br>Ever since childhood, Bill has dreamed of playing professional football. Though high risk to his potential career, Bill would seek out clandestine encounters with other guys when and where he could, but the first time he spots Frank, Bill knows he is someone special, someone he could possibly share a life with. If he’s drafted, will Bill and Frank be able to continue their closeted relationship, running the risk of discovery? Or will they have to part company for the sake of Bill living out his dream?<br><br>Bill knows he’ll need to use all his considerable skills learned on the field to score the life he wants off of it, too. Either way, is happiness even possible when it’s the NFL vs. love?

Love or the NFL

That joy, of course, was tempered by the reality that they didn’t know the whole story behind Bill’s relationship with him. Frank sought to keep that, and the fact Bill’s NFL stock had soared with his performance on the field, from dimming his anticipation of a jubilant celebration of the team’s victory and, at some point, Frank’s clandestine reunion with the man he loved.


Most of his fellow bus riders were students and already celebrating by reliving the game and singing the Michigan fight song, Hail to the Victors, out of tune and at the top of their lungs. Bill’s name came up often, and each time Frank heard it, he smiled at the secret he was hiding. No one on that bus had the slightest inkling that the small man riding quietly in the back had captured their hero’s heart.


Chapter 33