Max Williams has spent six years pretending he’s fine being stuck in the friend zone with Ali, his high school sweetheart, the girl he never truly got over, and the one person who no longer trusts him after a reckless Christmas in Manchester changed everything between them.

 

When Ali starts dating someone new, Max panics, determined to finally prove he’s ready to fight for her. Enter Stacey Vaughn, a world-famous tennis star, media darling, and exactly the kind of distraction Max needs. After sparks fly when Stacey and her friends attend an Hartgrave Tellers concert, the two strike a deal. A fake relationship that helps Stacey’s sponsorships and shuts down unwanted dating rumours while making Ali jealous enough to notice Max again.

 

What begins as a publicity stunt quickly turns into whirlwind tour dates, late-night adventures, and a connection neither of them expected. But when Ali gets engaged, Max is forced to face the truth: is he still chasing the ghost of his first love, or is the future he’s been searching for standing right in front of him?