Wish

For me, choice might as well be a wish.

My parents died in a fiery car crash when I was barely sixteen. I'm gay. I'm also totally in love with my brother. I didn't choose any of that. In fact, I've tried like hell to deny it. But here I am in all my gay, brother-loving, no-parentals glory.

Technically, Max isn't my brother. Not by blood anyway. That should make it less ick, right? Considering he calls my parents mom and dad, probably not. Also, did I mention he's straight?

So that's me: the freestyle swimmer doing my best to keep my sexuality on the down-low while simultaneously wishing my feelings for Max will evaporate into thin air. Too bad he acts like he's my keeper and my heart shakes every time his eyebrow ring glints in the sun or he levels his opaque stare on me with an intensity matched by nothing else.

My desire to keep my personal life personal drowns at the bottom of the pool when a fellow Elite lets everyone in on my business, which throws Max into macho protective mode all over again.

Enough is enough, though. I'm forcing myself to move on. Maybe the best way to forget about my forbidden crush is to find a new one. I have options. More than I realized. Unfortunately, none of them are leather-wearing, tattoo-sporting, motorcycle-riding grumpholes.

So here I am wishing for Max while someone else wishes for me. Someone who decides if they can't have me... No one will.

Please note that Wish contains homophobia. There is also mention of off-page child abuse and parental death. This book also contains a male/male sibling-esque relationship and mentions of male assault. Some readers may find these things uncomfortable.