Pretending to date Brady in exchange for giving his bar some of the limelight had seemed like a straightforward, simple idea at the time. It wasn’t until the next morning that all the holes in that plan became glaringly obvious.

First of all, Sloane didn’t know Brady. Not in any way that counted.

She’d stalked his social media profiles the night before to the best of her ability, all the while ignoring the onslaught of notifications, messages, and friend requests through hers. The most interesting thing she’d found was his apparent love of the John Wick movies and a few tagged photos of him with people she recognized but didn’t quite know. His profile picture was also interesting but for different reasons. He was wearing a white button-up, dark blue blazer, and tie that had been loosened at his neck. It looked like a candid picture, taken of him talking to an equally dressed-up Dixon. There was a carefree air to it. Just a normal moment frozen in time.

Sloane saved it to her desktop. It made sense to have her beau’s picture saved somewhere, right?

The second but equal problem adding to their plight was the fact that Brady didn’t know her. How could they possibly fool anyone into believing they were a couple? He didn’t have a clue about her current life, never mind the good, the bad, and the heart-shattering of the past.

The third problem, and not even the least, was the one that had Sloane’s stomach knotted up the most.

Their lie that he was Guy wouldn’t just affect her life while she was in Arbor Bay. It would also cement her chance at having literary agent Rizzie Caplan represent her and the blog.

Just as much as it would jeopardize it.

Rizzie had been endeared by the blog as a whole but, like most, had focused on the girl who had been too afraid to tell a boy she had feelings for him. However, she’d been the first to address Sloane about it with a slightly different opinion.

“It needs an ending. It needs closure,” Rizzie had said in her email. “Whether that’s a happily ever after with Guy or a happy for now with yourself, readers want an end as much as they want to ride along. At least when it comes to love. It’s an uncomfortable itch to stay in Limbo.”

The agent had also been very candid about the fact that the chances of selling a book in which Sloane took an inspiring chance would be a lot better.

So lying and telling Rizzie that she’d not only told Guy about how she’d felt but also landed him?

Well, there were things to gain from the arrangement, sure, but there was a lot more to lose if it went south.

Public humiliation.

Online humiliation.

Lying awake at night, alone in bed humiliation.