"Given the Circumstances" by Brad Vance

Roger and Brian are athletes who meet in college; Roger is the star quarterback, and Brian plays baseball.  Roger grew up with a loving, widowed father, while Brian was saddled with an abusive jerk for a dad.  The two men become best friends and cheer each other on in competition and in life, but Brian becomes hooked on drugs to manage his impulses and disappointments.  Only after their respective careers are over are they able to realize how deeply they care for one another and try to live a happy life.  The beginning threw me off, and I'm still not sure where it fits into the story.  However, the rest was well written with three dimensional characters.  I hope to read more by this author.  276 pages (Kindle edition).