This story will be available as Viper's Regret for purchase on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on 4/27/2026! Pre-order it here: https://a.co/d/0cQJQy1I

Lucas Sawyer has gotten used to being forgotten. His twin brother Mark, captain and star quarterback, everyone's favorite, gets the spotlight. Lucas doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't go to parties. His life is safe and logical, and that's exactly how he likes it. But when his brother's football rival and worst enemy, Damien Castillo, starts work at the same small bakery, everything changes. Damien is Lucas' worst nightmare: an arrogant heartbreaker with a bad reputation, who threatens to ruin all his careful plans. Lucas hates him. Right? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This story was inspired by @hipstateasee's "Knight", and I have her permission. All credit to her for the great premise!

You love your best friend, he doesn't love you back. He has met a girl, a pretty little thing, he's in love with her. He's your only friend, but he has new friends. They're toxic and no good for you, either of you. They treat you like sh*t, and when you get treated like sh*t often enough, you start to believe it's what you deserve. And before you know it, you're drowning. You're drowning in deep, cold water. William and Aydan have been inseparable for ten years, due to an arrangement William's wealthy dad made to make sure his asocial son has at least one friend. During those years William has secretly fallen in love with Aydan. Once Aydan starts going out with a girl named Claudia, William wants to keep his friend close even if it hurts. Soon things start to change between them and Aydan's first love has more dangerous consequences than anyone could have guessed. CW: violence, depression 2020 (original), 2021 (edited)