Fumbled Hearts

FUMBLED HEARTS TENNESSEE U BOOK 2 DENVER SHAW CONTENTS Note to Readers 1. Ethan 2. Maddox 3. Ethan 4. Maddox 5. Ethan 6. Maddox 7. Ethan 8. Maddox 9. Ethan 10. Maddox 11. Ethan 12. Maddox 13. Ethan 14. Maddox 15. Maddox 16. Ethan 17. Maddox 18. Maddox 19. Ethan 20. Maddox 21. Ethan 22. Maddox 23. Ethan 24. Maddox 25. Maddox 26. Ethan 27. Ethan 28. Maddox 29. Ethan 30. Ethan 31. Maddox 32. Ethan 33. Ethan 34. Maddox 35. Ethan 36. Ethan 37. Maddox 38. Ethan 39. Maddox Epilogue Thank You Crave About the Author Also by Denver Shaw © July 2023 Denver Shaw All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission from the author, except where permitted by law. Published by Denver Shaw This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. All products/brand names/trademarks mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective holders/companies. Cover Design by Furiousfotog Interior Formatting by Leslie Copeland Beta Reading by Jennifer Green Editing and Proofreading by Jenn ReadsBooks BLURB Can a fumbled heart achieve a true love touchdown? Ethan My dream is to become a lawyer, but since starting college, life has been one financial nightmare after another. Thanks to a partial scholarship, I’m well on my way, and I take any odd jobs I can find to pay the remaining tuition. Tutoring a jock in a subject I aced seems like easy money. Until I meet Maddox. He challenges me at every turn and stirs up feelings I shouldn't have for a straight guy. The football star will never be interested in me. Still, I can't get him out of my head... Maddox If I don't get my grades up, I’ll be benched for the season and miss my chance to be noticed by pro scouts. That’s not an option. I have to get drafted - it was my twin brother's dream, and this is the only way to honor his legacy and make up for what I did to him. Being tutored by Ethan is supposed to be a means to an end. Nothing more. But he sees me in ways no one else ever has. I'm not worthy of love. Yet something within me has awakened, longing to be worthy... of him. Fumbled Hearts is a bi-awakening, opposites attract MM romance. It is book 2 of the Tennessee U series. It features a college football star, his literary hero living a secret life, and a group of meddling friends. Tropes: hurt/comfort, size difference, bi-awakening, opposites attract, jock/nerd A happily ever after ending is guaranteed. NOTE TO READERS Fumbled Hearts deals with the aftermath of tragedy, something I am much too familiar with. It was important to me that I wrote this story in a sensitive and respectful manner without being too heavy-handed. No two people deal with loss and grief in the same way, and I wanted to show readers that Maddox is dealing with his loss and guilt in a way that is real and authentic for him. Overall, writing Fumbled Hearts was a deeply rewarding experience. Although it was challenging to write, I am proud of the story I created. I think it is a testament to the power of resilience and I hope it will help readers who have experienced similar losses in their lives. Content warnings: physical attack of a main character by a minor character, attempted sexual assault of a main character by a minor character, a main character’s retelling of a car accident, excessive drinking by one of the main characters, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief of a main character. The grieving of one, so deep and so strong. The ache of loss, like a dull, silent song. The emptiness of a life without them, Is the hardest pain; the heart's overwhelmed. The tears that have been shed, so many and so long. The questions asked of why our loved one...forever gone. The hope to find peace, the wish they could stay. The hardest part of life: they had to go away. The invigorating blue sky now reflects our pain. The stars that sparkle now twinkle in vain. The memories that once brought joy, now bring sorrow. Days once fulfilling, now too long, too fallow. Though we may no longer see, The beauty once so clear. We must try to believe, That soon our heart, our soul will reappear. We must not give in, nor give up on life. We must take our grief, and turn it into light. To find acceptance and strength CHAPTER 1 ETHAN I stare down at the tuition bill that is due in a few months. It’s more than I can possibly scrape together by January. Three months isn’t enough time to save six thousand dollars on top of paying for food and transportation. Hell, six months wouldn’t be enough time to save six thousand dollars. “Fuck,” I curse as I toss the letter onto my desk. I look at the other side of the room, thankful that my roommate Shane hasn’t come back yet. I don’t know where he is right now, but I’m grateful for the time alone, so I can try to figure out how I’m going to pay my bills. As much as I wish I could magically pull thousands of dollars out of thin air at will, it’s damn near impossible. If I could pull thousands of dollars out of thin air, my family would never have to