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

“Seeing you all wet and bulgy got me horny.”


“Shh.” I couldn’t hear specifics of anyone else’s conversation, which left me secure they couldn’t hear ours. Still…”Keep a tab and I’ll pay you back.”


“I can swing a celebration dinner—if I can stop your dad from paying first.”


“Try. Tomorrow night, we’ll really have something to celebrate. Tonight is just grub.”


I sighed. I shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there tomorrow. You know they’re cutting Dad’s hours at work, right? The campus is downsizing because a lot of the patients are going out to live in community homes. They’re selling off some acreage, so they don’t need as many groundskeepers. If dad didn’t have seniority, he might be out of work altogether, like Julius is already.”


“That’s rough, man. And I hate our new neighbors in the park. No hot tub.”


Beth, Julius, and the two kids were back in the basement. With Julius jobless, they couldn’t manage the lot rent.


Chapter 113