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Risking the Field

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Dear Author,
See these boys and how happy they look? Hmm, yeah, me too…
But what happens if all is not as it appears? If your best friend, the person you love is in danger— if sacrifices/hard decisions need to be made. Will you be strong enough to make them, to see them through? Can you risk your friendship? Can you risk letting your friend know your true feelings? Are you willing to risk anything to keep him safe?

Photo Description:
Two young men embrace and kiss passionately in a green field, one with a leg kicked out behind him, like he has just run across the field to tackle his friend and kiss him. They look like they are laughing and smiling, happy just to be together.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

46 pages, ebook

First published June 3, 2015

99 people want to read

About the author

Jean McGray

1 book16 followers
A true New Englander, Jean McGray was born and bred in a small town in Massachusetts. She has spent her entire life with her nose in a book, preferring the worlds in the pages to the world around her. In high school, she would spend her time writing stories about her friends, rewriting their lives to suit her needs. Now a mom, she still spends time with her nose in a book and writes stories about hot guys finding their true love. She thanks her mom every day for giving her the gift of reading and plans to give that same gift to her own little girl.

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5 stars
32 (16%)
4 stars
78 (39%)
3 stars
73 (36%)
2 stars
11 (5%)
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5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~.
3,503 reviews1,058 followers
June 4, 2015
Lightly steamy and fully adorable, Risking the Field is a sweet, no-angst short story about two best friends who fall in love on high school graduation day.

I do think perhaps the move from "straight" BFFs to lovers to boyfriends was a bit too easy, and I didn't see the point of the drama with Pen's estranged father.

But sometimes you need a story like this: full of friendship and young love.
Profile Image for Lori.
Author 2 books100 followers
June 3, 2015
Oh wow. *sighs*

This story was written for my prompt - and truly. for the second year running I feel like such a winner. What an amazing story.

Friends-to-lovers is my all time favourite storyline. There is something about the trust and love that already exists in a friendship that just makes the move into more just wonderful. Therefore my prompts tend to be of a friends-to-more variety - and Jean McGray has truly captured everything I was hoping for.

This short story shows us basically one day and night in the lives of these two friends - but it's the day and night when everything changes for them. Jean McGray has captured the moment so perfectly. i swear, the first (proper) kiss had me melt into a gooey puddle. It was so perfect, I'm such a sucker for kisses - I need those kisses more than sex in my books. Pen and Davey's first kiss in most definitely one of the best snogs I've read. It was beautiful.

Although this was set within just a twenty-four hour period (save the epilogue & prologue), I believed in the friendship between Pen and Davey, therefore I believed in teh developing relationship. Jean McGray did a wonderful job. The writing was light and witty and so easy to read. I swear I could read more and more about these two.

In fact, more than just those two, I also loved the secondary characters. Mom 1 and Mom 2 especially. I could feel their pain at having graduating sons! Children grow up WAAAAAY too quickly. It struck a chord.

Thank you so much Jean McGray for this story. It was everything and more than I hoped. <3 I love DAvey and Pen. xx

Thank you to everyone involved in making this event happen. You are all fantastic!
Profile Image for Catherine.
1,608 reviews268 followers
June 4, 2015
*** 4.25 Stars ***

First of all, that prompt picture? *dies at the cuteness*

I don't know why, but this story made me think of the intro to Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary" - you know the part where's Tina's all like:

"You know, every now and then
I think you might like to hear something from us
Nice and easy
But there's just one thing
You see we never ever do nothing
Nice and easy
We always do it nice and rough
So we're gonna take the beginning of this song
And do it easy
Then we're gonna do the finish rough"


It's not so much the words themselves, but the vibe of the song's intro that this story reminded me of - like warmth and comfort and easy joy. Like sunshine and smiles and happiness. That's how Pen and Davey's friends-to-lovers story felt to me. There was just this bravery on Pen's part and this beautiful, easy acceptance on Davey's that warmed my heart and made me feel good as I was reading it. I loved these boys! I loved this story!

Kudos to the lovely Lori for the prompt (it was aces!) and to the massively talented Jean McGray for scooping it up and doing such a wonderful job with it. I'm begging you: please write more soon!
Profile Image for Amy.
1,030 reviews100 followers
June 5, 2015
As soon as I saw the picture and Lori's story prompt, I knew I had to read this one. I love YA! Especially new love, coming out, first times, etc. *dreamy sigh* I loved Pen and Davey. It may be a bit of a stretch to go from thinking you are 100% straight to kissing your best (male) friend in one day, but they were so cute I'm willing to play along. I loved their story and hope to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Trisha Harrington.
Author 3 books144 followers
June 4, 2015
4.5 stars!

This was a really lovely story. I love best friends to lovers stories when done right, like this one. And this really worked for me.

Pen and Dave had gone through similar things with divorce and their fathers leaving, which brought them closer together. Each thought the other was straight until a confession at their graduation.

The epilogue was the perfect touch. It was nice to see their main families (their moms and Pen's sister, Kari) were supportive!
Profile Image for Susan.
2,327 reviews455 followers
October 23, 2015
Pen and Davey are best friends about to graduate from high school.

I’ve said this many times, but best friend to lovers, OH YEAH BABY!

description

These guys were always joking with each other. Until one joke ends in a kiss. Davey never thought about Pen that way, but Pen admits he has been thinking about Davey like that for a while now.

I took a step forward and grasped his chin, raising his face until his eyes met mine. “You want to kiss me again? What’s stopping you?” I asked.
“Nothing now,” he breathed before leaning forward to brush his lips across mine.


This was a very very sweet story. I loved it. There is some light sex and no angst at all.
Profile Image for * A Reader Obsessed *.
2,624 reviews564 followers
June 14, 2017
This is probably the easiest, sweetest, quasi-double gfy out there!

BFF's Davey and Pen are graduating high school. The freedom of summer and going off to college together is all they can think about, until one kisses the other seemingly as a joke.

High on the emotions with a surprising amount of smexiness... Oh if only life and love were that simple!

Profile Image for Meags.
2,438 reviews675 followers
January 3, 2022
4 Stars

The whole friends-to-lovers trope is one of my all-time favourite book themes and this particular story delivered it in spades.

In the limited number of pages available, Jean McGray was able to establish some pretty impressive character development, allowing the reader to feel fully engaged in every moment of Davey and Pen’s on-page journey. Granted, the story predominantly spans one 24 hour period of their lives — chronicling their High School graduation and the night ahead — but due to the remarkable writing, I was fully immersed in the changing relationship between these two adorably sweet boys.

The intimate scenes were both erotic and tender; everything from the sweetest of first kisses, to veiled hand brushes, to the first skin-on-skin action — it was all beautifully portrayed. This story elicited some pretty audible ‘aww’ type sounds from me, not to mention the stupid grin I had plastered across my face for the entirety of this story.

Basically, I loved everything about this one, from the fricken adorable prompt photo (seriously, guys, it's the sweetest thing ever), to the awesome writing prompt provided by Lori. To McGray, I say, thanks for participating in this years event and I sincerely hope you write more beautiful stories for us to gobble up in the future!
Profile Image for Finnegan.
1,246 reviews60 followers
July 17, 2016
Another great story in this year's collection of DRitC. Davey and Pen are best friends, constantly bickering and teasing each other, until a kiss change everything.

I liked this story, the dialogue was snappy and funny, and the affection they feel for each other felt deep and real. There was less angst than I thought there will be, but that might be good, because this was sweet but not too much fluff. Great story, thank you!
Profile Image for Ele.
1,319 reviews40 followers
June 5, 2015

*3.5 stars*

So much cuteness and fluffiness! Adorable story and steamy enough for YA.
Nicely done!
Profile Image for Dana.
235 reviews63 followers
July 16, 2016
★ ★ ★ ★ ★   Five stars!   ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The perfect little gem to help me start the day with a smile on my face.

I've fallen in love with Davey and Pen!


Risking the Field is a wonderfully sweet story about two best friends discovering their love for each other on high school graduation day.

Although I'm usually not a big fan of young adult romances or friends to lovers, I absolutely loved Jean McGray's short story. I thought the writing was great - simple yet thoroughly detailed - I could envision everything as I read along. The interactions between Davey and Pen felt so real and believable. And the secondary characters were a fantastic addition.

I'd definitely love to read more Davey and Pen as they go through life's adventures together.
Profile Image for Tess.
2,171 reviews26 followers
October 2, 2015
*4.25 stars* Pretty darn sweet! I'm a huge fan of the friends to lovers trope. GFY? Not so much. In this one, I thought Davey embraced the change in relationship with Pen a little too quickly to be completely believable BUT, that being said, I still enjoyed this one a lot.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,201 reviews489 followers
June 4, 2015
3.5 stars

All I can imagine right now is Lori being deliriously happy with how her prompt turned out :)

It is a really cute friends-to-lovers tale. Since the narration is written from the perspective of Davey, the object of his best friend's crush, it toned down the angst that usually came up from this kind of set-up. You know, with the pining, tension, and uncertainty. Sure Davey was surprised with the first kiss from Pen, but Davey quickly realized that he cared for Pen a great deal, and he didn't need a lot of time to 'go' for it. In addition, the story also happened in a day and a night -- on the day of their high school graduation -- so we didn't have to deal with too much drama.

I loved the kisses, I didn't care for the sex scenes. I also really didn't like the endearments used (baby, blech) but that was neither here nor there, because I'm sure no one will have the same problem *lol*.

Bottom line, it was another good prompt-turned-into-story coming from this event.
Profile Image for Fritz42.
1,565 reviews
June 3, 2015
A great short story about Pen and Davey, two guys who had bonded when they first met in grade school, both having asshole, divorced and absent fathers, among other things. It's their graduation day, and both of them are looking forward to finally being out of high school. Amidst their normal teasing bantering that day, Pen kisses Davey, and suddenly, an awareness wakes up in Davey that sets his world right.

It was a nice, comfortable, feel-good story. I loved how their close and strong friendship helped them transition into being boyfriends. I loved how Davey was there for Pen in all the ways that he needed to be.
Profile Image for Kristan.
379 reviews41 followers
June 4, 2015
3.5 stars

This is an adorably sweet YA/NA story about two best friends finally realizing their feelings for each other. What's really remarkable about this story is that it really reads like a YA book; there wasn't a moment where these two boys didn't read as teenagers.
The author did a wonderful job with the prompt and the prompt picture is just too cute for words.
Cute with a lot of spice, and guaranteed to leave a smile on your face.

My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
Profile Image for Alexis Woods.
Author 47 books84 followers
June 3, 2015
Excellent, just...really, really great. A lovely story written from Davey's point of view. He's taken by surprise when his BFF, Pen, kisses him and emotions that he hadn't quite realized rose to the surface. The best part of this is the story is that it takes place in Massachusetts. The New England states are the most liberal in the nation and I'm proud to have spent a good chunk of my life there, including marrying one. Thank you, Ms. McGray for your wonderful addition to this years's stories.
Profile Image for kasjo_peja.
459 reviews4 followers
June 8, 2015
It didn't work for me. Too fast and cheesy, from one daring kiss to love declaration in the span of few hours. As one of the MC says:
When I had woken up this morning, I had considered myself a normal, straight eighteen-year-old guy, getting ready to graduate. Now, I was a high-school graduate and suddenly in a relationship with my male best friend.
Also, I didn't care for the generic sex scenes, so I skipped whole paragraphs.
Profile Image for Justin.
600 reviews153 followers
June 8, 2015
4+ stars

Fantastic story!! I loved Pen & Davey and their friends.

Awesome prompt and a great story. Thank you to the author for your story and thank you the all the volunteers of the MM Romance Group!!!
127 reviews5 followers
September 8, 2015
Okay. This was... I literally can't.

Okay.

First of all, when you read gfy books and so on. The guy who just found out he wants the D, he usually freaks out. And runs away to deal with all alone and kinda denies It.

But no, this was not the reaction we got.

Davey -the supposed to be straight guy- was all cool with It like everythings fine, nothing wrong with kissing my best friend for over two years. It's all cool. I don't give a shit If you don't like It, and If my friends doesn't accept It, then they never really was my friend to begin with.
Like attitude on point!

Thats the spirit we want boy!!!

Granted, not everyone can stand up for themselves, and It's fine.

While Pen was all shocked, like wut?
I've been hiding my feelings and sexuality for two years, and suddenly I kiss you which was "supposed" to be a joke and you don't even pull away, scream at me or punch me? Are you kidding? Is this for real? You feel the same way? Ohmagod

And the epilogue, was the sweetest and cutest epilogue ever.

These guys was soulmates, bestfriends and lovers.

It was like reading a fairytale, with everything falling into place. Well except a couple of haters who decided that what those boys do Is their business. Kill yourself!

This was amazing, I cant explain, read It people and love It.
Profile Image for Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~.
1,870 reviews137 followers
September 4, 2018
3.5 stars

This is a cute friends-to-lovers story. The romance moved pretty quick, but considering they're horny teenage boys and have known each other for years, that made sense. The author tagged this GFY, but again, considering their ages, I read it more as an OFY, or "just realized I'm gay because I totally love you like woah." And they actually act and talk like teenage boys would. I like that Davey took his realization of his feelings for Pen in stride and didn't freak out over it or have some dramatic meltdown. Instead, suddenly everything just clicks and he's happy and whole.
Profile Image for Meep.
2,167 reviews226 followers
dnf
June 4, 2015
Thanks to the author for participating and offering this freebie.

Got to 40% but it's not working for me. Y.A. high school friends becoming more.
Felt too melodramatic - the showdown with Pen's father came from nowhere and seemed extreme. Then the kisses - I got the friends vibe but that came from nowhere. Perhaps that was the point with this being from the viewpoint of the crush, but I wasn't feeling it.

I've got a feeling it's one others will like.
Profile Image for Lila Hunter.
Author 11 books87 followers
June 12, 2015
Such a lovely short story. It has to be read taking into consideration how young the characters are. The author did a great job capturing graduation time from a teenager's POV.

It'd be great if all coming out stories were this easy, and fill with family, friendship, and love. A great utopian story.
Profile Image for Anke.
2,504 reviews97 followers
June 12, 2015
Looks like I'm the odd man out - it started out very well, but after the first kiss it moved on in breathtaking speed. After reading 'The Beginning' I waited for something truly 'life crashing'. So it's totally my fault but I felt as if the story didn't really fit the prompt.

Profile Image for Dani.
555 reviews32 followers
July 2, 2015
Rating: 3 stars

It’s a cute friends-to-lovers story. It’s an entertaining, sweet, and short read. The characters are likable and the writing’s enjoyable.
116 reviews
October 3, 2017
Perfect short story. Friends to lovers: one of my favorite themes and beautifully done here because they were made for each other. I adore bantering lovers because they just push each other to be better (or into explosive angry sex!) These two are clearly meant to be, even their mothers were not really all that surprised.
Another thing I loved was the openness of our main character to have his best friend turn into his soulmate. Like I said... made for each other. Mom one and mom two very easily accepted them as a couple. Truth be told, they might have perfectly seen it coming anyways. So in a way, this was a bromance turned into romance.
The setting of graduations was a nice way to make this story circular: it starts with their High school graduation and ends with an epilogue right before their University graduation. It was great to see them have an obvious Happily Ever After, even if we did miss out on how their relationship grew over those 4 years.
Would recommend? YES!
Would read again... HELL YES!
Profile Image for SJ.
2,019 reviews32 followers
August 26, 2023
I liked this happy story! The two longtime friends who realize that they love and want each other made for a very good read.
Profile Image for Julesmarie.
2,504 reviews88 followers
June 10, 2015
Friends to lovers and gfy/ofy is my favorite trope combo, and this story was a spectacular example of both.



Favorite Quote:
"What are you going to do now that you caught me?"
"Spend the rest of my life kissing you."
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