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Summary: Derek is an award winning football player who also happens to be out as a gay man. His college and his coach are behind him, as is his best friend and fellow player, Ford. The only person who doesn't seem to support him is his boyfriend, and the other teams aren't fond of him.
When his promising career is cut short, Derek has to reevaluate his whole life. Everyone gathers around to support him, but some things he has to figure out for himself, like his relationship with his boyfriend, and his friendship with Ford. Will Derek make the right choices and find a way to get everything he wants? |
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Excerpt:
"So how does it feel to be the first and only openly gay player ever nominated for the Heisman?" The perky reporter with the gravity-defying breasts Derek had seen outside the locker room before the game stuck her microphone in his face. "Does it bother you to know the entire gay community is looking to you to lead them into a new generation of tolerance and acceptance?"
Derek swallowed. Jesus, talk about pressure.
"Derek, over here." A tall man with ruddy cheeks and perfect hair waved his mic to get Derek's attention. "Is it true some of the players on your own team refuse to shower with you?"
Before Derek could think of the best way to answer that one, another reporter, whom he couldn't really see for the throng surrounding him, called out, "Hey Derek, ever think maybe no NFL team will touch you because you're queer?"
Okay. That one just smacked of bigotry, and no way was Derek gonna take it. He opened his mouth to let the prick have it, when a voice behind him said, "Sorry, guys, but pretty boy Hoffman is wanted in the locker room. Coach's orders."
Derek didn't have to look behind him to know who had spoken. Ford Galloway, his best friend since they'd roomed together freshman year. Derek was so relieved he let out a long, slow breath. "Sorry ya'll," he told the reporters with a fake smile and his best bumpkin accent. "When the coach is also your dad, you learn to follow orders, and quick." Without giving them time to protest, Derek turned and followed Ford into the changing area.
"Man, you saved my ass." Derek plopped the helmet he'd been holding onto the bench in front of his locker and started work unlacing his cleats.
"You looked like you could use a hand." Ford's clear blue eyes were twinkling. "Couldn't let the 'Great Gay Hope' be swallowed by a bunch of barracudas with press passes, now could we?"
Derek flopped onto the bench with a groan that had as much to do with exhaustion as embarrassment. "Please don't call me that." He grabbed a towel from the corner of the bench and scrubbed it over his dripping black hair. "You know I hate it."
"Sorry." Ford's white-toothed grin told Derek he was anything but. "Maybe I'm just jealous 'cause you're getting all the limelight."
Derek knew that was pure bullshit. Ford could care less about the spotlight. He played for no other reason than love of the game. Besides ... "You're the one who's been dubbed the 'Pretty Boy of Coast Southern' not me." |
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Author biography: Sara Bell is a thirty-something freelance writer living in upstate Alabama with her sexy, baldheaded husband and two beautiful, exceptionally bright daughters. When not busy chugging away at the keyboard, Sara can be found burning cookies for school bake sales and logging time as the family taxi driver. To learn more about Sara and her work, or to contact her directly, please visit her discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themagicinyourtouch/
This email is confidential and may not be posted or forwarded without permission from the author.
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