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

“I do. But I’m not completely sure in what way. The truth is important to me,” I said. And it was. I wasn’t totally sure how I felt about Mathias either. One minute, all I wanted to do was kiss him. In the next moment, though, I wanted to race him across his huge backyard, back and forth in the water, or jacking to ejaculation. I wanted to cream his ass—so to speak—and then tell him right afterward that his house, his car, his clothes, his pool, and the guy who mowed his lawn were all fucking ridiculous. The jealousy issues, which I fully recognized as such, were my problem, not his, and I certainly couldn’t say all that. Therefore, I just went back to Cal. “This whole Olympic dream was me and him at first, right? And I’m glad you get to be in on it. Don’t get me wrong. But I…I’m sad he doesn’t.”


Chapter 40