Chosen by a former Olympic swimmer to train for the 2016 Games as a pre-teen, Reed’s journey begins. Along the way, he develops feelings for two childhood friends: neighbor Cal and lifelong rival Mathias. Cal’s struggle with his sexuality brings tragedy. Mathias’s wealth makes Reed feel as if they’re from different worlds.<br><br>As Rio approaches, Mathias becomes a gay sports icon, while Reed must hide his sexuality for a lucrative endorsement deal important to his family’s future. Reed’s unresolved desires for both men remain, and so do the things that have kept them apart. Has Reed grown enough to navigate rougher waters, to find truth, pride, victory, and love?

Truth, Pride, Victory, Love

Trish was about to jump in. The red Pirates were ahead, but the lead was not insurmountable. I knew if Joss could touch the side no more than a second after Butt Crack—who’d been given the moniker due to a roundness of ass no Speedo could fully contain—I could pull ahead of Mathias


It hadn’t worked out quite the way it did in my head. Fuck life! It rarely does. Mathias was half a body length ahead by the time I sprang off the flooring outside the pool. I stroked like mad. I kicked like a frigging Rockette, turning my head side to side, wishing I could actually see where I was and how far behind.


Chapter 12