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 nudged Devon again, a fake grin plastered on my face. “Funny.” He didn’t crack a smile


“Reed, you’re going first.” Oliver said that more quietly. “We changed that around. Actually, we’re going to try it both ways, Reed first once and then you first once. Is that okay, Devon?”


“What did you decide to say, Reed?”


“The, um, thing that guy said.” I pointed to the bank rep. “The truth is swimming is my life, and pride is representing the US at the Olympics in Rio.”


“It’s a surprise.” He barely looked up.


Oliver looked slightly long in the tooth to use that phrase. Then again, I probably looked too young to think “long in the tooth.”


“How about you whisper it to me,” Oliver coaxed. “See, I have to know how long to keep the camera right on you, before I cut away. I have to plan everything out. The last word in what you say is the cue for the next guy to talk, see?”


Chapter 126