When the quiet audio tech meets the magnetic new drag queen, their fling feels inevitable. But far more than their hearts could break.

Considering he never expected to make it to adulthood, the life Lee Jones has cobbled together is surprisingly fine. His audio tech job at a gay bar is steady, and his chosen family—Tara, Sunny, and Blanche—is ride-or-die. Deep down, he wishes anyone wanted him for more than a casual fling, but he’ll take what he can get.

Picking up the pieces of his old life after giving up on chasing fame in New York, Antonio Flores settles for performing drag at Confession for the sake of stability. Fresh out of rehab is a terrible time to be crushing on anyone, but the charming beefcake in the booth is irresistible!

But the delicate equilibrium of Lee’s family crumbles as their emotional rock falls for Antonio. The tough but fragile Tara falters when Lee’s newfound happiness doesn't include her. Without Lee to rein in her impulses, Sunny pushes the soft-hearted Blanche into a clandestine relationship that threatens their friendship.

Lee helps keep his demons at bay, but Antonio’s bad habits could yet-again sabotage the best part of his life. As his family falls apart and the fairytale stops being easy, Lee sees the end of their relationship in every minor conflict. Is their relationship worth jeopardizing everything good in their lives?

Tropes

• Workplace Romance: Gay Bar Edition

• Found Family

• Instalove with an aromantic-spectrum twist!

• Drag Queen LI

• Cinnamon Roll MC

• M/M (with M/F, F/F, and F/X side plots)

When newfound confidence coincides with an attractive new frenemy, Sunny's heart is torn between happiness and family obligations.

After recovering from an uncomfortable breakup, Sunny Boonmee sets out to find love. Or at least get laid before her mother pushes her to start a family. Fortunately, the emotionally unavailable Richard Carter—whose red flags are no match for his blue eyes—is willing to help with the latter. He's perfect for a secret fling: a boring snob in the streets, bossy and adventurous in the sheets. No feelings, only orgasms.

The quiet and reclusive Richard is overwhelmed by this argumentative and intelligent woman who understands him better than anyone, including himself. Refusing to ruin another relationship, he endeavors to woo her properly, but Sunny brushes off every romantic gesture he’s been taught. His attempts to show that he likes her go unnoticed by everyone except Sunny’s ex, Blanche.

When Sunny and Richard discover that Lee and Antonio are conspiring to get them together, they double down on the secrecy by hatching a counterplot: pretending to hate each other. For Richard, their plan is mere amusement until Sunny is ready to go public with their relationship. But for Sunny—oblivious that Richard thinks they're already dating—the act is a desperate ploy for more time before their situationship fizzles out. Even if she accidentally caught feelings, Richard doesn't fit into her mother's plans for her future, and family comes first.

Tropes

• Frenemies-to-Lovers in a Secret Relationship (aka Fake Hating)

• Subverted Cinderella Story

• Forced Found Family

• Miscommunication but Funny

• Millionaire Love Interest

• Intelligent Airhead MC

• T4T MF (with cis MF and MM side pairings)

With a former fling now a cherished friendship, Tara secretly longs for more. But is desire enough to bridge two damaged souls?

Tara Sanderson is determined to be a good friend when Lee and Antonio's upcoming wedding means countless hours in close company with Gabe Cooper, the best man and her secret ex-flame. Armed with her many rules and meager emotional resilience, she hides her feelings to protect herself. Friendship is more than enough; the man who unknowingly broke her heart has become a beloved friend.

After years of therapy and seclusion to recover from a string of abusive relationships, Gabe feels whole enough to love again. His obsessive infatuation with the stranger who stole his shattered heart has healed into manageable yearning for the Tara he’s come to know. Instead of pining after yet another person who will never love him back—or worse, pursuing her and losing their friendship—he reluctantly agrees to the blind dates his mom sets up for him.

Tara’s self-control slips after learning he’s looking for love with anyone but her, revealing she's not as content to be “just friends” as she pretends. Ever the hopeless romantic, Gabe tries to show Tara how good they could be together. Tara must break all her rules to accept the happiness she longs for, but her habit of running from her feelings may be more than Gabe’s still-fragile heart can bear.

Tropes

• Second Chance Romance

• Found Family

• Friends to Lovers

• Angsty Himbo LI

• Chaos Grump MC

• M/F (with M/M, Trans M/F, and M/X side plots)