Five years ago, Sabrina walked away. She and Anna had been partners at the academy, working side by side on projects that felt like they could change everything. But trust broke, and Sabrina left without saying goodbye. Now she's back, this time as a professor. The academy gave her what she wanted most: a lab, students, and the chance to build again. She didn't come back for the past-she came back for the work. But Anna never left. She stayed, kept working, and made her place at the academy. Seeing her again makes it clear that nothing will be easy. The hurt is still there, and so is the pull between them. A story about broken trust, stubborn pride, and two people who keep finding their way back to each other, whether they want to or not.

Anna Shumate is broke, unemployed, and completely winging adulthood from a New York City townhouse she shares with her friends. When everyone bails on her for the night, she does what any desperate extrovert would do: crash an exclusive art gala for the free wine using an old membership card left behind by a former roommate. She's almost caught and denied entry... until a cold, striking stranger slides in beside her and pretends to be her plus-one. Enter Sabrina Quesada: a fiercely driven artist with a sharp tongue and no patience for roadblocks, including Anna. But the universe (and the internet) has other plans. After their pretend couple act goes unexpectedly viral, Anna and Sabrina are stuck keeping up appearances for connections, clout, and increasingly complicated feelings. What starts as a one-night con spirals into a slow-burn romance neither of them saw coming. After all, the art of pretending is easy... until it starts to feel real. Author's note: Please feel free to comment on/vote for the chapters you enjoy, it's good encouragement for me to keep writing! Thank you so much for your support!

Anna Shumate is a quiet, sheltered college student who keeps to herself - but by night, she's a feared underground boxer, fiercely battling opponents to support her family in secret. Sabrina Quesada is her complete opposite: popular, charming, always surrounded by friends. At first, Sabrina barely notices Anna - until an undeniable connection draws them together. When Sabrina stumbles upon Anna's hidden world, she finds herself torn between attraction, curiosity, and fear, forcing both of them to confront their own misconceptions about trust, relationships, and vulnerability. ⚠️Trigger warning ⚠️ This book contains violent scenes.

Sabrina is content in her quiet world, finding comfort in the simplicity of her bakery and a familiar routine. But when a new neighbour moves in next door, everything shifts. Anna, with her calm smile and unspoken presence becomes a constant in Sabrina's day-to-day, though Sabrina can't quite place it why she feels so drawn to her.

It's 2005, and Anna Shumate just trying to make it through one Friday without detention. She's a prankster, a punk, and allergic to anything that smells like school spirit. But when a house party and a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven throw her into a closet with none other than Sabrina Quesada, the most popular girl in school, everything she thought she knew gets flipped. Over the course of 24 hours, sparks fly, secrets slip out, and two girls from completely different worlds start to realize they might be falling- whether they mean to or not. Author's note: Here's a little surprise for the end of summer. Please feel free to comment on/vote for the chapters you enjoy, it's good encouragement for me to keep writing! Thank you so much for your support!

Synopsis: Five years ago, Sabrina Quesada made the hardest decision of her life-she walked away from the love of her life, Anna Shumate, to chase a once-in-a-lifetime acting opportunity in Hollywood. The price? A shattered heart, a silence that never quite healed, and a future without the only girl who ever truly knew her. Now, Sabrina is back-not for closure, but for research. Cast as the lead in a major soccer film, she's been assigned to shadow a real team. But fate has a wicked sense of humor... because the team's star player? None other than Anna Shumate-now a world-renowned athlete and the very woman she left behind. Anna built her empire from the ruins of that heartbreak. Stoic, strong, and fiercely guarded, she isn't prepared to face the girl who taught her what love was-then taught her what it meant to lose it. Training Sabrina is the last thing she wants. But the cameras are rolling, the world is watching, and old feelings don't die just because someone walks away. As they collide on and off the field, tension crackles, wounds reopen, and buried feelings start to rise. Is it too late for second chances, or is there still one more shot at love? Sometimes, the heart remembers what the mind tries to forget.

Anna Shumate, a fiercely talented MotoGP racer with a tragic past, pushes herself to the limit on and off the track. Haunted by the loss of her mother and shaped by her demanding father, she thrives on speed, competition, and control-but avoids emotional attachments, keeping relationships superficial. As she navigates the high-stakes world of professional racing alongside her teammate Emma Brooks. A new presence enters the paddock: Sabrina Quesada, a beautiful, smart, and caring MotoGP photographer, whose warmth and insight captivate Anna in ways she never expected. Flirtatious, bold, and endlessly competitive, Anna is determined to dominate the season-but as Sabrina's presence begins to stir feelings she's long suppressed, Anna must decide whether she can risk opening her heart without crashing.

Sab is an intern at one of the most prestigious newspapers in New York City. Ambitious and driven, she's been waiting for her big break-but for now, she's stuck writing a small column with makeup tips for teenage girls, far from the hard-hitting journalism she dreams of. That all changes when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lands in her lap: a chance to travel the world interviewing rising football stars ahead of next year's World Cup. But she won't be going alone. Assigned to capture the journey is none other than Anna Shumate-the paper's most renowned sports photographer. Known for her striking images and her intensely private persona, Anna is a legend in the industry, but a mystery to most. Sab has never met her... and never imagined they'd be working side by side. What starts as a professional assignment soon turns into an unforgettable journey-one that could change their careers, and maybe even their heart.

When they finally reveal what they have kept hidden, everything will change.

anna shumate a talented swimmer has just moved to LA in hopes of making the olympics. but those dreams seem to be put on hold when she becomes "friends" with sabrina quesada.