Confession

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.

After a lifetime of surviving, Blanche finally has the means to thrive. But how does one live after so much loss?Blanche Van Horne is tired. They finally have a place to rest but no clue how to make a house feel like home and no one to share it with. With their chosen family settled, Blanche is truly alone for the first time in years, haunted by memories more bitter than sweet. Desperate for companionship, they invite Lee's sister to move in while she finishes college.Jazz Jones jumps at the chance, thrilled to be free of her dad's control and live her life openly-except around her parents. No more sneaking out to parties with her "friends" (her polycule), hiding her septum ring, or lying about her major. Only her lingering teenage crush on Blanche stays hidden; her overprotective brother would make that everyone's problem.As their roommate and friend, Jazz leans on Blanche's guidance to unlearn the lessons of her strict upbringing. And, with her encouragement to live for themself instead of ghosts, Blanche's dreams turn to the future, dreams which increasingly include Jazz.But Jazz should be out having fun with her girlfriends, not playing house with a chaotic mess fifteen years her senior. Despite Blanche's good intentions, Jazz no longer accepts what other people decide is best for her. Especially when she learns her crush may not be as one-sided as she thought.