Even the nicest of guys can decide to cut loose at some point, especially if he's at college and a frat brother invites him to a party. Unfortunately, that can end quite badly. Luckily for Dante ap Owen, it doesn't -- until he keeps needing to piss every few minutes and he sees blood in his urine. Another stroke of luck for him is the substitute professor, also a medical doctor he’s been crushing on, who happens to be there when he passes out in class and pushes him to come to his clinic.<br><br>But Dante and his beloved, critically ill mother are under the control of his bitter uncle, who also provides health insurance. If his uncle finds out Dante is being treated for anything, let alone what Dante fears is an STD, he's ... Dante doesn't want to think about that. So he flees the clinic before he has to make a follow-up appointment.<br><br>The good doctor shows up at his uncle's farm when phone calls do nothing. And when Dante's uncle invites the doctor to dinner and serves a meal worthy of Medea, the doctor urges Dante and his mother to leave. But will they? And will Dante realize the doctor wants him as much as he wants the doctor?

So Let Us Rejoice

It wasn’t the senior who came back in a few minutes, carrying a couple of bottles of beer but someone else. I recognized him from Anatomy and Physiology, but I couldn’t remember his name either. He offered one to me, then drew it back. “You are old enough to drink, aren’t you?”


“Yes, I am.” His concern made me feel warm, welcomed. “Thanks.” I’d have preferred wine, but I wanted to fit in, so I took the beer.


“Cool.” He grinned, tapped his bottle against mine, then brought his beer to his lips and guzzled down about half of it. “C’mon, drink up.” He belched, and a gusty wave of beer breath washed over my face.


I backed up a step—how much had he already had to drink?—gave a weak smile, and brought the bottle to my lips and swallowed…


All I could remember the next morning was nothing of the night before after that beer.


Chapter 9