Tanner

I spent years watching football steal my dad piece by piece. By the time he died, I knew the cost: loving a player means watching them break.

My roommate comes home from games with bruises blooming across his ribs, and everything I swore I wouldn't feel crashes through anyway. He's quiet strength wrapped in a uniform that represents my worst nightmare.

He stays when I push him away. Sees past my grief. Makes me want to believe not every player ends up like my father.

I know better.

My heart doesn't care.

Seth

I'm a senior playing my final season who’s holding out hope of going pro. The smart move? Walk away from the guy whose father's dementia came from the game I play.

But Tanner's the first person who looks at me and doesn't see stats or potential. Just a guy trying to figure out who he is.

Every game day, he hides with noise-canceling headphones. Every time I come home hurt, he flinches. And I keep suiting up anyway.

He deserves someone who doesn't make him relive his trauma every Saturday.

The problem? I'm falling for him anyway.

And I'm starting to think what I'm wearing might cost me the only thing that's ever felt real.

Fourth and Long is an emotional, slow-burn gay sports romance featuring roommates who can't stay away from each other, a caretaker learning he deserves to be cared for, grief that doesn't have easy answers, found family who shows up when it matters, and two men choosing love even when it scares them. HEA guaranteed.

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