Heartbreak List

I first met Theo Valentine in the women's bathroom. He was coming out, still tucking himself back into his jeans, a woman at his heel. He held the door open for me to pass and smirked. I rolled my eyes. Hard. Who cares if he smelled like excitement and trouble? Or that the proximity made my eye twitch like I was deficient in Vitamin D? Bad boys and their egos were something I'd spent my college years avoiding. I was this close to having all my ducks in a row. A career in risk management? Check. The perfect fiancé whom my family adored? Check. I couldn't be happier. No, really! I couldn't. Except the week I met Theo was also the week everything changed. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I didn't have a future. If I wanted to truly live in whatever time I had left, I needed to learn to do so in the moment. And Theo… He didn't just understand living life for the now. He'd made not caring about the future into an art form. But when the future isn't an option, that's when you want one. HEA included.

Sometimes, heartbreak leaves scars... When my best friend claimed the tall, handsome, and commanding sports agent whose baby blues featured in all my naughty fantasies, I vowed never to reveal my decade-long crush on the man who rescued me from my bullies back in high school. I dated men I hoped would make me forget all about Grayson Ford. When that didn't work, I moved to the UK to complete my doctorate, but really it was to put distance between us. But then my bestie chose to marry another man, leaving Gray shattered. I told myself he was still not for me. He could never be mine. Until I came face to face with him in a nightclub in Positano. His wounds were still so fresh. Acting on my feelings would only hurt all three of us. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and I was so tired of fighting mine. It was only supposed to be one steamy night, but it became so much more when he showed up three months later, looking to sign the soccer player I was dating. I should have known better. He should have remained my secret crush. Those scars my best friend carved into his heart are deep... If I'm not careful, I'll end up with them too.