she's the sweetest girl you'll ever meet. 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 A bright-eyed nineteen-year-old with dreams bigger than the night sky and a heart soft enough to love every star in it. She wants to become an astrologist one day, even if everyone around her says her head's always somewhere in the clouds. He's a man of few words. 𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐒 The grumpy bar owner with an attraction for her. he doesnt know why he's so drawn too her. her horrible catch phrases or her corny jokes. the way she laughs or the way she looks at him with complete awe. They are complete opposites. She's warmth and light and endless talking. He's silence and shadows and locked doors. Hallie becomes the brightest star in August 's dark sky. she brightens his world while he protects her from his. because some orbits are destined to collide. And some people pull you closer long before you realize you're falling. *** "You're pretty," I murmur. Oh heavenly father if you were to kill me any second, please let that be now. Just give me all you got. It's either I die in the hands of this man now or in embarrassment later. Both are totally fine with me. The tall figure goes still. His head tilts slightly, like he's trying to decide whether I'm serious or just concussed. His expression doesn't change. Not a smile. Not a frown. Just...blank. Like the words don't register. And maybe they shouldn't have. Of course they shouldn't have hallie! He shakes his head and holds out a tattooed hand for me to grab. I hesitate for a second before slipping my fingers into his, and he pulls me up until I'm standing-not even half his height.

𝐀𝐑𝐈 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 came from nothing. The poor kid from the Bronx who didn't even have a dollar to his name is now worth millions. He has it all now. The money. The fame. The looks. The women. He's the best shooting guard in the league since Curry and the franchise star of the Miami Waves. Ari West doesn't stop until he gets what he wants-or who he wants. 𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐇𝐀𝐌 has everything. As the daughter of NBA legend Aaron Graham, she grew up surrounded by basketball. Her father won three championships with the Chicago titans, and her older brother, Kyle Graham, is already following in his footsteps. But Sasha never cared about the spotlight. She loved her father and brother, but basketball was never her thing. If anything, she despised the sport-and the cocky athletes that came with it. Especially Ari West. The relentless basketball star who refuses to leave her alone no matter how many times she tells him no. __ "𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓'𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓?" I glare at the 6'5" basketball player who hasn't stood still since I walked into the gym. He laughs. "What?" "Your endgame. What are you playing for?" He dribbles the ball in his hand, ignoring my question. With one smooth motion, he launches it toward the hoop. Swish. Nothing but net. He makes it look effortless. Ari turns toward me with a shrug and a grin. "I play for keeps."

Once upon a time, 𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒 lost everything. The night her mother died, she lost more than just a parent. She lost her music, her laughter, and every piece of happiness she once carried in her heart. Desperate for a fresh start, Ryan moves from New York to Lakeshore, California, to live with the father she barely knows and the family he's built without her. But no amount of sunshine, therapy sessions, or new beginnings can erase the grief that follows her everywhere she goes. As she struggles with depression and the weight of her mother's death, Ryan finds herself trapped between who she used to be and the person she's becoming. Then there's 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 Lakeshore's golden boy. The town sweetheart. Rich, charming, and loved by practically everyone. The moment Brady lays eyes on Ryan, he's completely captivated. Maybe even a little obsessed. There's just something about the mysterious girl with sadness in her eyes and walls built sky-high. Unfortunately for him, Ryan's first impression involves slapping him across the face. Most guys would've walked away. Brady King isn't most guys. As Ryan learns to heal and Brady fights to break through the walls around her heart, they'll discover that sometimes love finds you when you're least prepared for it-and that moving forward doesn't mean forgetting the people you've lost. A heartwarming story about grief, healing, first love, and finding your way back to yourself.