"Shane Sanderson’s first college semester is winding down, and he’s starting to regret ever going to a school halfway across the country. Since he can’t afford a plane ticket home for Christmas, he dreads staying cooped up in his dorm room over the holiday break, knowing his parents and siblings will be together without him.
Corey Williams, another freshman, couldn’t be any more different than Shane. There’s no large family waiting to hear from him, only postcards from his last foster family. He plans on making the best of any situation, but a hard life has taught him to expect people will let him down.
Shane meets Corey through his roommate in an embarrassing, naked moment, and the two are instantly attracted to each other. But Shane deals poorly with various dramas and the constant pressure of the lonely holidays approaching, and he finds himself snapping at Corey, potentially ruining their burgeoning friendship.
While helping a friend, Shane learns about the myth of the Krampus, an ancient horned monster who teaches snotty children the meaning of Christmas. But it will take more than a myth for Shane to accept missing his family. Will the homesick freshman learn his lesson in time to salvage a relationship with Corey, or will he forever feel like he’s away for the holidays?"
Chapter 1 Shane Sanderson massaged his right temple with his index and middle fingers while he tried to make sense of Intro to Economics. His eyes started blurring whenever “micro” and “macro” were used in the same long-winded sentence. His wooden chair was uncomfortable and it was cold in his dorm room. The mid-December snow covered the trees outside, giving Shane a claustrophobic feeling. He considered closing the blinds, but that would only make him feel even more shut in. “Econ that bad?” Devon joked from his side of the room. He lounged on his twin bed, a thin paperback clutched in his hands. “Huh?” “You look like you’re going to shoot yourself in the head, buddy,” Devon pointed out. He set his book down and leaned up on bony elbows. Shane’s eyes rolled to the right and he realiz