Kingston Wells I like to party. To have a good time. Life’s too short not to. I learned that when I lost my grandpa. He told me to have fun while I can, and I intend to. Although sometimes when you’re having a good time, you forget others may see you as irresponsible. And sometimes you screw up. I’ve definitely screwed up a time or two. But I’m still determined to have fun. And along the way, I’m hoping I’ll convince my best friend, Camden, to do the same. He’s too serious. Too focused. Too busy taking care of everyone to just relax. And that’s where I come in. Camden Prescott I may only be eighteen and a senior, but I have too much on my plate to be a kid. Too many people depend on me, but I can handle it. I have to handle it. My mom needs my help. My little sister needs me. And Kingston, my best friend in the world—yeah, he definitely needs me. Because while he’s busy having fun, I’m busy cleaning up his messes along with everyone else’s. It’s not all bad though. He’s there to make sure I occasionally have fun, and I’m there for him when he needs to take life seriously. Because that’s what I am . . . The Keeper.

Jameson Bates I have a secret. We all have secrets. I’m nothing special. It just so happens, however, that my sworn enemy also knows my secret. He’s the absolute worst person to know this, and there’s nothing I can do about it. What he does with this information is totally out of my hands and completely in his. This is why I’ve never let anyone in. I don’t trust easily. I keep to myself. I’m closed off. Angry. Guarded. Garrison Dixon I shouldn’t have seen what I did. I shouldn’t know what I do. But how Bates can think I would ever say anything is beyond me. Everyone thinks I’m just a big, dumb football player with nothing more to him. The truth is I’ll never say a word about what I witnessed. I don’t care about it the way he thinks I do. I wouldn’t hurt him. And I’d let him know that—all of it—if he wasn’t so damn . . . Guarded.

Travis Wyatt All I’ve ever wanted was to go to college and get out of Kensley. That small town is all I’ve ever known. I want to be free to be myself, not stifled by small minds in the football-loving town where I grew up. And then I blew my one and only chance. So now, I’m just stuck. Stuck in small-town life, with the same small-town people I’ve always known. Stuck where I don’t want to be. Constantly on the defense and hiding secrets about myself. To never be the real me. I’m lost, and I’m angry. But those people I was desperate to get away from, they don’t stop. They insist on showing me that maybe it’s not about my location. That maybe I can be free right where I am. Oakley Easton Travis is way too uptight. I don’t know why. He has everything a guy could want—a steady job and friends who would do anything for him. A great simple, small-town life. But I guess that’s not what he wants. He’s always been different. Better. Smarter. Stronger. Still, I find myself wanting to show him everything he’s dreamed of is within his grasp. That he doesn’t have to be so serious all the time. That he can be himself wherever he is, and I’ll back him up. Because that’s what I’m good at—on and off the field. I’ll always be his defender. If he’d only let me.

Noah Asher Coach. That’s who I am. The strong, levelheaded, always-dependable coach. But then my wife left me. And my daughter—well, according to the town—she ran off and left me too. Now I’m branded with scandal. My reputation is at stake, and I have to play by the rules if I want to keep my job. But then . . . Along comes Chance Leighton—a rule breaker with a scandal of his own. And worse, he’s not from here. He’s a Big Bend Bear. I need to keep my head down and follow the rules of this town. This town that’s kept me in their perfect package since day one. But he makes me want to rebel. To break free and live my life how I want. So I have a choice to make. A choice that rivals all others. One that’ll change everything. Chance Leighton He’s the coach. I’m an outsider. There’s no bigger rivalry than the one between the Big Bend Bears and the Kensley Panthers. But here I am, forced to work alongside Kensley’s stubborn, grumpy coach. There’s no way he’ll give me a shot. He sees me how they all do—wrapped up in scandal and exiled from the only place I’ve ever called home. Just for being who I truly am. He follows the rules. He believes in a strict structure. It’s worked for him. But I want to chip away at this town’s idea of him and see the real man. Can rivals become friends? Can they become even more? I don’t know the answer to that, but we’re about to find out. Because he’s so much more than who this town makes him out to be. It’s up to him, but I’m ready for the challenge if he’ll just reach out and take it.

Zachary Olson I screwed up. Big time. I hurt someone, and I hate myself for it. I’m barely eighteen and already completely exhausted. Tired of being haunted by secrets and guilt. My biggest regret, though, is keeping it all from Adam—my best friend, teammate, protector. My everything since I can remember. And how do I repay him? By keeping these secrets locked up inside. Secrets I know would destroy us. But I’m not sure how much longer I can do it. No matter how catastrophic the consequences. Adam Bates He won’t talk to me. He’s never kept secrets from me before. We’re both quiet guys who keep to ourselves. But that’s never applied to each other. I know something is wrong, but my best friend has shut me out. How can I keep him safe if he won’t talk to me? All my life, I’ve taken on this role—doing what’s right, no matter what. Watching out for everyone, on and off the field—especially Zach. And I won’t fail him now, when he needs me more than ever. Because this is who I am and what I do . . . I’m the protector.