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CAGE
With NFL scouts watching my every move, the last thing I should be thinking about is Quinton Toro, my awkwardly sexy, genius tutor who makes me think naughty thoughts. I might fantasize about everything about him at night, but I’ve worked too hard for too long to slip up now.
But if it came down to having him or a career in the NFL, which would I choose? The answer should be obvious, right? Then why can’t I get the way he looks at me out of my mind?
I might be in trouble.
QUINTON
The problem with falling in love for the first time is that it makes you do crazy things like think you have a shot with the drop-dead gorgeous quarterback, who is not only focused on going pro, but has a girlfriend.
He is the one who insists we spend time together. That’s got to mean he likes me, doesn’t it? Why can’t I figure this out?
And, how is he going to feel when he learns how much trouble comes with being with me? The only thing I can hope is that we can figure out a way to be together. But could love overcome all of that?
*****
Serious Trouble
Chapter 1
Quin
I can’t believe Lou talked me into doing this. At one point he’s talking about how my dick will fall off if I don’t use it and the next thing I know I’m yelling at him about how that’s not what college is supposed to be about. He then tells me that that is exactly what college was supposed to be about. And, what is even worse is that he was right, at least for me.
It took a long time for me to decide to go to college. It’s not that I didn’t believe in higher education. I’m all about it. It’s that I didn’t go to a traditional high school. At our school, we explored our interests, devoured it like a box of Oreos, and then hosted a class where we taught it to those who weren’t as passionate about the topic.
Whenever I explain it to others, they can’t wrap their head around it. But at my school, it worked. Mine was a special school for kids who caught on very quickly and I was their first graduate. By the time I was 18 I had the equivalent of advanced degrees in multiple subjects, so what would going to college get me?
After I graduated high school, I stuck around teaching classes and acted as an assistant principal. And the year after that, I traveled. I spent a couple of weeks in Africa and Asia and then finished off my trip backpacking through Europe.
The trip helped put things in perspective. Yeah, I had a lot of theoretical information on a lot of topics. But, at its peak enrollment, my high school had only 50 students. More than that, they were all like me. We all learned information quickly and we all came from the same New York penthouse background.
I was smart enough to figure out that there was more to life than that. Yes, the three months I spent traveling the world gave me some perspective. But the perspective was that I didn’t know anything about the things that mattered and that I wasn’t good at human stuff.
I had never been in love. I had never had sex. I hadn’t even had a best friend. And, I didn’t know how to talk to people to get any of those things.
So, instead of thinking I could reinvent the wheel, I did what everyone else my age did, I found a school as different from my high school as I could and enrolled. There isn’t anywhere more different to New York than Tennessee. And to contrast with the 50-foot high-rises and concrete jungle, I chose East Tennessee University where your walk through campus was practically a nature hike.
I then filled out my roommate compatibility questionnaire and got Lou, the gayest guy I have ever met in my life. That guy is boy crazy. I grew up with two dads and a mom and not even I knew how many guys there were who were into other guys. Lou could scan a room full of boys with their girlfriends and have a date in 20 minutes.
I was far from that. I was open to dating either guys or girls, yet I hadn’t gotten a single person’s number in the month I had been here. Lou claimed that it was because I never left our room. I told him that he was just trying to get me out so that he could bring guys back to our place. He said, “Of course,” and then threw what I told him about the reason I was here in my face.
“You can’t meet new people locked up in this room. And, as much as I love you, Quin, you’re not going to get what you want from me. Don’t get me wrong, you’re as hot as hell and any guy… or girl, I guess, would be happy to get all up in what you have to offer.
“But, I would prefer to have at least one person I can talk to without things getting awkward because we’ve made out. And you’re my roommate, so congratulations, that’s you. Which means that the one place you spend every waking minute of your life is the only place you shouldn’t be.”
“I go to class,” I countered.
“Ugh! Whatever. Look, you wanna prove that you didn’t just come here to observe the common folk until your father gives you a Wall Street job and the family yacht? Then, I want you to march out those doors and have some fun, young man,” he said pointing.
“Ouch, Lou!”
“If it isn’t true then go do it. Mingle with the people.”
“Stop it!”
“Prove me wrong! Don’t just talk about wanting to have a life. Get a life.”
