Book Title: Us Against the World
Author: Shayne Prescott
Publisher: Self-Published – Spartakittah Press
Cover Artist: GetCovers.com
Release Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Tropes: Friends to lovers, sports, college
Themes: Bullying
Length: 65 000 words
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
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Betrayed by the only family he’s ever known, Owen must decide: for love or team?
Blurb
Betrayed by the only family he’s ever known, Owen must decide: for love or team?
For Roseden University frosh Theo Carter, the journey to his true self has been long and publicized. It seems most everyone on campus saw the TV series in which he was transitioning, and some feel very strongly he doesn’t belong at the prestigious all-male school. Struggling with classes and bullying, junior Owen Lewis swoops in like his own personal savior. But as the heat rises between the two, so too does the torment from some of the school’s lacrosse team.
As a product of the foster care system, Owen knows all about not being wanted. That’s why his lacrosse teammates are so important to him — they’ve become the closest thing he’s found to a real family. Being bounced around constantly between different homes with just a plastic bag of his possessions taught Owen there was no such thing as love. But if that’s true, why does Theo feel like a home he’s never known? Owen is convinced that nothing will stop him from protecting Theo — but what if the choice is between his found family and his first love?
When all seems lost, both have choices to make. Will they choose each other?
Us Against the World is a 65 000-word HEA set at the fictional Roseden University, in Roseden, Pennsylvania. It is the first in the series of Roseden U books, and contains some derogatory language (LGBTQIA+)
When I turned to face Theo, I found his eyes closed, and his body trembled a little. Quietly, I shifted a hand to rest it on his knee, and though he jumped slightly, the tremor also went away. “Thank you,” he eventually whispered, and I gave his knee a squeeze.
“Not a problem,” I assured him in just as soft a voice. “I’m sorry they were bothering you. I’ll have a talk with Coach about that. But it might be a bit. Our season doesn’t start for close to a month, though we’ve had tryouts.”
“It started out as such a good day…” Theo said wistfully before sighing, and it took all of my willpower not to scoop him up in my arms and pack him in bubble wrap to try to protect him.
Even as the professor started talking in the front of the small lecture hall, where I would have preferred to have been seated, I continued to whisper at Theo. “It still can be. Have you gotten a chance to explore campus yet? Been to The Big Dough?”
“What’s that?” he asked, wide-eyed, and I grinned at his interest.
“The best campus bakery ever. They’ve got donuts as big as your hands. And the coffee is pretty good, too, from what I understand.”
“Not a coffee drinker?”
“Nah. I’m high-energy enough on my own without needing extra caffeine. Besides, the stuff always tasted nasty to me.” Flicking my eyes towards the front again, I resisted the urge to get up, to bring my micro recorder down closer. I didn’t really need the audio component of the class, but it didn’t hurt.
Theo, meanwhile, had pulled out the most ragged copy of our Spanish book that I’d ever seen, pages frayed, and once he opened it, covered in several different colors of highlights. I stared momentarily, which drew his attention, and he admitted, “I don’t get this stuff. I’ve tried,” he waved a hand to indicate the battered text, “but it goes right over my head.”
“I can maybe help with that,” I offered. “Maybe after I give you the grand campus tour? If nothing else, I can show you my technique.”
His voice was so quiet, I almost didn’t hear him. But I did, and I almost wish I hadn’t. “As long as it isn’t your technique to try and get down my pants.”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry,” Theo whispered, and this time, his hand came to rest on my knee. “I shouldn’t be making assumptions. Those guys just got in my head. And they’re your teammates?”
More like my family, I thought, but I didn’t want to admit that to Theo. How could I explain to him that, through the years, lacrosse had been the closest thing to family I’d ever known? That the camaraderie and brotherhood made me feel like I actually belonged somewhere? Ten minutes ago I might have confessed it to him, but now he had me wary as well.
In my silence, Theo had removed his hand, and put his hands back onto his desk, turning his attention to our professor and not so much tuning me out as actually focusing on class. I sighed a little bit, frustrated by the situation, but determined to pick up the conversation at the conclusion of class.
I took a few notes over the course of the class, mostly noting the different tenses the professor wanted us to use or made examples of, but otherwise, I spent a lot of the time observing the rest of the room. Aaron, with his frosh flunkies, was on the opposite side, looking like he was somewhere between taking a nap or just resting against his backpack. Most of my other classmates were diligently taking notes. Theo highlighted like crazy, pen flying on his notepad, making quick strokes of notes that I hoped made sense to him, because I couldn’t understand what I read, even seated so close.
When class finally ended, I turned to face him, finding him averting his eyes from me. Sighing a bit, I reached out and poked him in the ribs, startling him enough that he looked up. “Come explore with me,” I encouraged. “I’ll even buy you the donut of your choice.”
It took Theo a moment to respond, but when he did, it made me laugh. “Do they have Boston Creme?” When I nodded, a slow smile curled over his lips.
Shayne Prescott has been putting together books since his medium was scraps of paper and pencil nubs. A children’s book was considered for publication while in middle school, and his short stories were often a favorite of his beloved English teacher, Mrs. Mazzacarro. Still, he writes.
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Is it just me?. Am I blind as a bat?. I scoured the page and cannot see anything about a Giveaway 🤨
Not sure why there’s a mention of a giveaway – I was doing giveaways through Facebook groups (still will be doing a few more after it releases tomorrow) and there was also a raffle that ended (also primarily through Facebook)…but I didn’t set a giveaway up with Gay Book Promotions. Sorry for the confusion!