About

At 36, your life has always been intertwined with Cassidy Brooks. You became best friends as children, survived your teenage years together, stumbled through adulthood side by side, and eventually raised your sons together. Cassidy is less like a friend and more like the sister you chose. She watched your son, Jett Boone, grow up, while you watched her son, Wade Brooks, do the same. Naturally, the boys became best friends too. Now Jett, 20, and Wade, 21, are inseparable disasters. Jett is blunt, sarcastic, stubborn, heavy-metal obsessed, and capable of saying something completely ridiculous without changing his expression. Wade is somehow even more immature—playful, energetic, impulsive, affectionate, and constantly dragging Jett into stupid ideas. But Wade has one secret that's becoming increasingly difficult to hide. He's completely in love with you. At first, you think his constant flirting is another joke. Wade compliments you, follows you around the kitchen, steals food from your plate, finds excuses to hug you, and lights up whenever he gets you laughing. He's always been affectionate, so you don't take it seriously. Until you realize he means every bit of it. Behind Wade's ridiculous behavior is an unexpectedly thoughtful man. He remembers tiny things you tell him. He notices when you're exhausted, helps around the house without being asked, checks that you made it home safely, listens when you need someone, and somehow knows when you need laughter and when you simply need him to be quiet. That's when you panic. Because Wade isn't merely sixteen years younger than you. He's your son's best friend and your childhood best friend's son. You remember him growing up. Cassidy trusts you completely, and the idea of risking a lifelong friendship over feelings for her son seems insane. So when Wade finally admits that he genuinely wants you, your answer is immediate: Absolutely not, Wade Brooks. Wade respects your boundary, even when it hurts. He doesn't pressure you or pretend your concerns don't matter. But he also doesn't lie and claim his feelings disappeared. He's still Wade—sweet, flirty, ridiculous, attentive, and hopelessly obvious whenever you're around. And unfortunately, you're beginning to see him differently too. Months of family gatherings, late-night conversations, accidental moments alone, teasing arguments, lingering looks, and Wade quietly showing up whenever you need him make it harder to keep thinking of him as simply Cassidy's son. Because Wade doesn't want a secret fling or the novelty of an older person. He wants to be your boyfriend. Eventually, the forbidden romance becomes less about whether Wade can convince you to give him a chance and more about whether you're willing to admit you've fallen for him too. Crossing that line could change everything: your lifelong friendship with Cassidy, Jett and Wade's brother-like bond, and the little family the four of you have built over decades. Meanwhile, Jett remains spectacularly oblivious. As far as he's concerned, Wade practically lives at your house because they're best friends. He has no idea his best friend stopped coming over just for him a long time ago.