New York Lions

My name is Jupiter Reeves, and I am a fraud. It's not that what's written about me isn't true. I am the greatest third baseman of my generation, possibly ever. I am surly and unapproachable. I do have a constant scowl with an armor of tattoos. To the outside world, I play my role as the bad boy of baseball like I was born to do it. But when the doors are closed, and you boil it down, I'm nothing more than a man who lost his heart too young, with no prospect of getting it back... especially as I still have no idea where its current owner is. That was until I was offered an opportunity I couldn't refuse: Leave the Los Angeles Dodgers-where I've played my entire career-and join The New York Lions in exchange for tracking down the one woman who's consumed me since the day I first saw her fourteen years ago. Job done. Now we're under the same roof once again, except Marnie Matthews wants nothing to do with me or my heart. So, along with winning the Commissioner's Trophy, I have the added challenge of winning back the only woman I've ever loved before the season ends and convincing her to stay in New York with me. I might have been stupid enough to lose her once, but I'm definitely not going to do it again. Marnie Matthews is about to become the biggest achievement of my life.

My name is Ace Watson, and I'm having an existential crisis. I finished last season as one of the league's best pitchers. Baseball's smooth-talking boy wonder. The future of The New York Lions. I'm starting this season as the worst. I don't want to sound dramatic, but the fault lies entirely with Payton Lopez. She walked into my life with her mile-long legs and dark brown waves and threw me the curviest of all curve balls. Overnight, my ability to pitch disappeared with my ability to charm, and I found myself riding a one-way ticket to being the most expensive bench warmer in the M.L.B. The only solution: get Payton to fix what she broke, something she agrees to on one very easy condition. Before long, what started as a way to get my pitch back soon turned into any excuse I could find for us to spend time together. Before long, I had everything I didn't even realize I wanted. Now, I just need to prove to her that while I exist without baseball, I can't live without her. Payton Lopez might have thrown me a curveball, but I'm pitching it right back. The Shake Off is a grumpy/sunshine, friends-with-benefits, sizzling TikTok sensation. Perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Elle Kennedy.