E. L. Massey

Nineteen-year-old hockey phenom Alexander Price is the youngest-ever captain in the NHL. With a polarizing social media presence and a predilection for dirty play, he typifies the stereotype of young, out-of-control athlete. But away from the cameras, Alex is a kid with an anxiety disorder and the expectations of an expansion franchise on his shoulders. And maybe he tries too hard to fit the part of asshole playboy, but it's better than the alternative; in his line of work, gay is the punchline of an insult, not something he can be. Eighteen-year-old vlogger Elijah Rodriguez is a freshman in college recovering from an injury that derailed his Olympic figure-skating dreams. Mixed-race, disabled, and out of the closet since he was fourteen, Eli is unapologetically himself. He has no qualms about voicing his disapproval of celebrity jocks who make homophobic jokes on Twitter and park their flashy cars in the handicapped spaces outside of ice rinks. After an antagonistic introduction, Alex and Eli's inexplicable friendship both baffles and charms the internet. But navigating relationships is hard enough for normal teenagers. It's a lot harder when the world--much of it disapproving--is watching you fall in love with your best friend.

Like Real People Do

Mary Carmona

“I won’t. Hey, come here. Can I hug you?”

Alex looked at him like he was certifiably insane. “I guess?”

“It’ll help. Probably. The books say it helps.”

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