Jock

It's easy to become cynical when life never goes your way. Cole Reid has been a social recluse since he was fifteen, when he was outed by his high school baseball team. Since then, his obsessive-compulsive behavior and sarcastic nature have driven away most of the population, and everyone else hates him because he's gay. As he sees it, he's bound to repulse any prospective friends, let alone boyfriends, so why bother? By the time Cole enters college, he's become an anal-retentive loner-but it's not a problem until his roommate graduates and the housing department assigns Ellis Montgomery to move in with Cole. Ellis is messy, gorgeous, straight, and worst of all, a "jock"! During a school year filled with frat buddies, camping expeditions, and meddling parents, Cole and Ellis develop a friendship that turns Cole's glass-half-empty outlook on its head. There must be more to Ellis than a fun-loving jock-and maybe Cole's reawakening libido has rekindled his hope for more than camaraderie.

What is a sexy soccer stud supposed to do when "following family tradition" falls 180 degrees opposite his closeted ideal? From birth, Chris Jackson has been schooled on how to land a cheerleader. After all, his father married one, and his father's father before him. Heck, even his older brother married a stereotypical cheerleader the summer before Chris went off to college. For two years, Chris dodges invasive questions about relationships by blaming his lack of female companionship on grueling practices and heavy course loads. But his lack of interest in girls should've given his family a clue. It isn't until Chris mentions meeting a boy that his father's synapses short-circuit. Alonzo Martin is anything but a buxom blond. From his black hair, combat boots, and trench coat to his nail polish and guyliner, the mysterious introvert isn't easily persuaded to date. Alonzo's insecurities keep Chris at arm's length, but Alonzo's painful past might meet its match in the charismatic jock's winning smile and sense of humor. When opposites attract, only cheerleaders and gummy bears can help overcome fear and family tradition.

Doug is having trouble defining his sexuality, and Sam was raised to think his attraction to men is immoral. But neither boy anticipates the difficulty in suppressing his attraction for another jock!