Bud, Not Buddy

Mistakes? I’ve made plenty. The biggest one? Falling head over heels for Brian Lockwood—my brother’s best friend and the captain of the school’s basketball team. For years, I lived in the shadow of my one wish: for him to see me as more than just Simon’s little sister. But how could he, with Lyla, his perfect girlfriend, glued to his side? Then everything changed. Lyla cheated, Brian’s heart shattered, and he was desperate for a distraction. That’s when he came to me with a deal—a no-strings-attached arrangement where we could give each other exactly what we wanted. I saw my chance. I thought I could make him fall in love with me. But I didn’t account for how messy things could get—how keeping it all a secret from Simon would twist everything. And when Brian crossed a line I couldn’t forgive, I knew it was time to let go of my high school crush. Fast forward three years. I’m over him. Or so I tell myself. Except now Brian’s back, no longer the heartbroken boy I knew but a leading basketball star with one goal: to win me over. I swore I wouldn’t fall for him again.

You could ask me if I’m in love with my brother’s best friend, and I’d tell you with a straight face, absolutely fucking not. Kane Wilder has been ruining my life since I was six years old. He cut off my pigtail, threw me into pools fully clothed, broke two of my fingers “practicing karate,” and scared away every guy who’s ever looked in my direction. He’s loud, reckless, impossible to control, and somehow always manages to drag me into his chaos. Unfortunately, he’s also been there for every scraped knee, every bad day, and every moment that mattered. We’ve spent years pretending we’re nothing more than enemies who happen to share the same last name by association. He’s my brother’s best friend, and I’ve spent my entire life reminding myself that he’s completely off-limits. Then one night at a college party changes everything. Suddenly, the teasing feels different. The stolen glances last a little too long. Every argument ends with us standing a little too close, and every touch leaves me questioning fifteen years of certainty. Falling for Kane Wilder was never part of the plan. Especially when loving him could cost me my brother, my family, and the only friendship that’s survived every fight we’ve ever had. Some lines are meant to be crossed. I just never thought he’d be the one asking me to cross them.

I've been in a secret relationship with Ian Bradford for five years. Ian is the captain of the Yorkson Bears hockey team and one of the league's biggest star players. I, on the other hand, am always his Left Wing who sets up goals for him from the shadows. On my 24th birthday, he gets married to Katie Terrell, the captain of the cheerleading squad. Even when faced with my silent accusatory stare, Ian seems completely unconcerned. He says, "Katie has cancer. She only has one month left to live. This is her only wish. I can't let her leave this world with regrets." Katie leans against his shoulder, taunting me blatantly with her eyes. The birthday party that is originally planned for me becomes their wedding celebration instead. My teammates and my brother, Cale Manning, take turns offering their congratulations. When it's my turn, I remain expressionless. Ignoring the warning look in Ian's eyes, I calmly raise my glass and say, "Congratulations on your marriage. May you stay together forever."

''Sometimes I sit alone in my room, not because I'm lonely but because I want to. I quite like it but too bad sitting by myself always leads to terrifying, self-destructive thoughts. When I'm about to do something, he calls. He is like my own personal superhero and he doesn't even know it. Now my superhero never calls and there is no one to help me, maybe I should get a new hero. What do you think?'' ''Why don't you be your own hero?'' I didn't want to be my own hero I just wanted my best friend, too bad that's all he'll ever be to me- a friend. Trigger Warning so read at your own risk.

Zach thought he'd left the drama of high school behind when he started college, eager to focus on his studies, make new friends and enjoy a peaceful campus life. He didn't expect to see the last person he wanted there; Ryder. Ryder Summers, the star jock and notorious player in highschool was infamous for his charm and skills. Girls swooned over him, Guys wanted to be him. He was adored by all. But not Zach. To him, attractiveness aside, he was nothing but a bully that tormented him through high school and his worst enemy. As it seemed, things weren't so different now, whether it was people's reaction to Ryder, his hatred for Ryder or Ryder’s equal dislike for him. He was a different person from the nerd Zach knew before however and he'd show it. When they are paired in a high-stakes project in their class he is sure it's doomed from the start. Forced to work together, Zach is forced to confront Ryder on a daily basis. Yet, amidst the tension, Zach can't help but notice Ryder’s gaze lingering on his lips. Wasn't he supposed to be straight? Shouldn't he hate him? Why then does Ryder seem drawn to him now? And worse, why doesn't he hate it?

In the elite, glass-walled towers of Upper Hill, Adrian Vale is a masterpiece of clinical perfection. A top-tier law student with a future mapped out by his tyrannical father, Adrian survives by the "Rule of Three": precision, discipline, and total emotional detachment. He believes that by controlling every second of his life, he can remain untouchable. Then comes Kai Reyes. A tattooed, underground muralist with silver in his lip and chaos in his veins, Kai is the living antithesis of everything Adrian stands for. When Kai publicly humiliates Adrian by smearing charcoal over his pristine silk tie, the "Ice King" snaps. Driven by a desperate need to re-establish dominance, Adrian offers a high-stakes wager: One week. Kai must move into Adrian’s minimalist apartment and obey his every command. As the doors lock, the psychological warfare begins. Adrian intends to use rigid discipline to crush Kai’s rebellion, but the forced proximity turns the apartment into a pressure cooker of forbidden desire. Kai isn’t just a subject; he is a mirror, reflecting the hollow ghost Adrian has become. When the rules finally shatter, Adrian is forced to confront the "Master" who truly pulls his strings—his father. To save himself, Adrian must trade his golden handcuffs for the raw, uncertain freedom of the streets. In a world of rigid statutes and vibrant paint, he discovers that power isn't about making someone stay—it's being the man they don't want to leave. "Be My Good Boy" is a gripping tale of control, surrender, and the courage to finally be a mess.