Crea Reitan

Hiding behind my mascot mask has always worked in my favor. As someone with social anxiety and paralyzing shyness, the ability to be out in the world without being seen is the only way I'm able to function. It also means I can long for my crush from afar without him knowing.

I've wanted one thing for as long as I can remember—someone to love, a family, and a happily ever after. I finally found it with the least likely person across the street. Our life together has been dipped in espresso and given a massive jolt forward, but we couldn't be happier.

One mistake can ruin your life. I learned that at fifteen when my hormones got the best of me and I was landed with an unwanted pregnancy. My parents decided to punish me and forced me out of the sport I love to raise my child and provide for my newly forced-upon-us-both marriage.

Egon Wolf is on a hockey scholarship but failing at everything else. Knowing he's going to lose his ride if he doesn't get his academic act together, he seeks out a tutor....

I don't know what it is about this man that has captivated me like no one else. It's made me question everything I think I know about myself. But that's fine—I'll obsess from afar until I graduate and move on with my life.

I've been secretly married for eight years. Why is it a secret? Because having an open marriage splashed all over headlines isn't a good look. We'd constantly be under the spotlight, our lives and relationships judged.

When you fight for so long, sometimes it's just easier to give in. I want to give in to the god before me. Sent to me from the heavens, Owen is the very definition of divine perfection. But he doesn't know my truth. If he did, he'd know that I don't belong in his world.

One summer. An island resort escape. Solitude to banish the demons in my past. What begins as a chance meeting on a beach during sunset turns into the most romantic, life-changing five weeks I could ever dream up with two of the most amazing men I've ever met.

I used to believe in fairy tales, but I've kissed far too many frogs that never turn into Prince Charming. The glass slipper never fits. I'm always the ugly step-sibling; never the princess. They're the same crushing blows every time.

With years of hard work, I've made the Rainbow Dorset University Unicorns football team the pride of the state. My reputation speaks for itself, so the school stays out of my way, and that's how I like it. If they can't handle my sparkle, they have no business in my shine.

After a series of relationships where I've been made to feel inadequate because of my asexuality, I've made the sole focus of my life my coaching career. I love hockey—the chill of the ice, the fast-paced, high-stress game. I love the fans and the atmosphere. The energy.

Even a gay athlete has an appearance to uphold. There are a handful out in every sport and while every trashy magazine wants to get the scoop on what the gays are up to, looking for a scandal and a way to ruin us, every one of us is constantly on our best behavior.

It's a new start—brand new school in a completely different state. For the first time, I now have the freedom to be unapologetically me. But as my luck would have it, I have shit taste in men. The first man to pay me a compliment has so many red flags, that I think I'm in a storm.

Simon has more or less moved out, Damon is burying his rage, and me? I'm in misery, trapped in the dark hole of unrequited love. I don't know where to turn....

This wasn't supposed to happen to me. I'm supposed to be at the top of my career. Untouchable. Worshiped. Finally proving to all the jerks in my life that I made it. I'm at the top. Then a video that shouldn't exist leaks and everything comes crashing down.

My mom died when I was ten, taking my happy family life with her. Since my dad's only useful enough to drain a bottle, I've learned to live with nothing except the love and generosity of my best friends.

After the fallout between me, my brother, and Simon, I find myself either wallowing in a black pit of depression or lashing out with vicious rage. Technically, Simon still lives in the condo the three of us bought together, but ever since our relationship imploded months ago, I've barely seen him.

Sometimes, all it takes is a single moment to realize you're needed somewhere, and in that moment, your entire life changes. Felton has so many broken pieces that he can barely breathe. But that's okay. I'm going to show this man what love is.

One weekend can change everything.

When my on/off girlfriend of fifteen years and I finally called it quits for good, I decided that I'm ready for a new beginning. I didn't expect that new beginning to be a dude.