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“That’s not true. You’re eighteen. I can’t make you play football. I’m not your guardian.”

“But you’re letting me stay here.” When I have nowhere else to go.

“There’s no obligation. No strings attached. I’m not Dad.” He squeezes my shoulder a little for emphasis.

“I know,” I say, hating the emotional bullshit. I’m tired. I’m eighteen and already so tired. I know Micah isn’t our dad. That he left home and doesn’t have the same values, but this is a small town in Kansas. He’s the high school football coach. I’m sure he has them all eating out of the palm of his hand.

I guarantee he’s worshipped around here, and I’ve only seen a couple of glimpses of that, just having been here for a week. Going grocery shopping with Jenna and everyone stopping to ask about Coach. Going out to eat and being interrupted several times for people to get an update on the team.

Finding out his brother, who’s living with him and playing for him, is gay? Yeah, I highly doubt the town would be thrilled with that. My stomach twists into knots. “I wanna play.” I say it as firmly as I can with my voice shaking. “It’ll be fine.”

“It really will, you know?”

Sure. As long as I can keep my little—huge—secret all year. It won’t be a problem though. I don’t think anyone is going to grab my attention in this little rundown, hick town.

Yes, I grew up in Texas, but it was a huge city. It was surprisingly diverse and fairly liberal. Of course there were plenty of assholes, but for the most part, it wasn’t like here. Where men like my dad flood the town, spouting their morals and family values bullshit while spreading hate and probably cheating on their wives.

“Okay, have a good day at school,” he says, removing his hand to let me go, but his words follow me as I head to my truck. “No one is going to mess with you. You have my word.”

I flinch at that. I won’t let him ruin his reputation for me. I know he would. He was the first one I told I was gay when I was just thirteen years old, and all he did was nod and hug me. That was it.

He didn’t tell me it was a sin or that maybe I was just confused. He didn’t tell me I couldn’t tell anyone. He just hugged me, and that was it.

I turn to face him. “I’ll be fine, Micah. Don’t treat me any differently than the rest of the team, okay?” I plead with him. “No special treatment.”

He scoffs lightly, and I roll my eyes because he’s a protective big brother, that’s for sure.

“I mean it,” I say firmly.

He smiles. “As long as they behave, I will. You’re going to have a good senior year, Jonah. I promise.”

He’s so hopeful. I don’t want to crush him.

I wave, and he waves back before I get into the truck.

I won’t let him down, and I won’t let him put his life as he knows it here on the line.

I’m going to be the perfect little, small-town quarterback.

CHAPTER TWO

calvin

“Duke!”

My entire body goes stiff at the sharp cry through the hallways. My last name. One I’m not proud of. The Duke family is pretty big around Big Bend. They own the most prominent drilling company in the state.

Oil.

It’s the lifeblood and the poison of our world. When it’s good, it’s good. When it’s bad, people are losing their houses left and right. Struggling to put food on the table. I want nothing to do with the family business.

Nothing.

As much as I want nothing to do with the cocky motherfucker strutting toward me right now. He’s wearing his letterman jacket in August, for Christ’s sake. Because guys like Devon Shields need everyone to know they’re on the football team.

I guess there’s more to the town than oil. Football is king here too.

So with my skill on the field and my grandpa’s oil legacy, I should be the most popular kid in the whole school. Except that one thing . . .