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Chapters (68)
  1. Partner Pursuit
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Re: Whitaker retirement party
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Friday, New York City
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Subject: Deposition of Plaintiff in James case
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Subject: Mentors Found
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Jake: While you’re stuck at work, think about this: I thought you might want to do a yoga session while I’m surfing in Santa Teresa. Should I book?
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. Chapter Forty-Eight
  53. Chapter Forty-Nine
  54. Chapter Fifty
  55. Chapter Fifty-One
  56. Chapter Fifty-Two
  57. Chapter Fifty-Three
  58. Chapter Fifty-Four
  59. Chapter Fifty-Five
  60. Chapter Fifty-Six
  61. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  62. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  63. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  64. Chapter Sixty
  65. Chapter Sixty-One
  66. About the Author
  67. Acknowledgements
  68. On any top-ten list of best Sunday plans, today’s brunch with my former crush and his new girlfriend would rank number eleven … hundred. Times five. But I couldn’t say no. We’re still friends.

Finally, but not least, thank you to you, my reader. Thank you for buying and reading my book. I hope you enjoyed spending time with my characters as much as I enjoyed writing about them and escaping to their world.

Kathy Strobos

For Rory’s story, read on for an excerpt from Is This For Real? by Kathy Strobos, an opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, fake dating romantic comedy.

Chapter One

On any top-ten list of best Sunday plans, today’s brunch with my former crush and his new girlfriend would rank number eleven … hundred. Times five. But I couldn’t say no. We’re still friends.

And I’m over him.

Just keep telling yourself that.

Still, there is no chance I will ever say “I love you” to Jamie again.

The subway is oddly crowded for this time of day. I squeeze on, snagging the prime real estate spot leaning against the metal doors, right up against the “Do Not Lean on Door” warning, and hold on to a small sliver of a handrail. As the train approaches Times Square-42nd Street, the conductor announces that this local train is now going express, and groans erupt. Works for me. At 42nd Street, half the train empties out, but it quickly fills back up, as if we’ve all just exchanged dance partners.

Three stops later, the train car shudders to a stop, spitting me out along with a stream of passengers jostling each other for a place in the ant line marching up the stairs. The last brush-by without even a “’Scuze me” skews my hat, my favorite 1920s-style cloche. So much for all the time I spent positioning it just right, so I’d look more poised—less cute little buddy—when Jamie sees me again. He’s back to New York for a brief visit. I haven’t seen him in over a year since he’s been living in Singapore. Now if only I can live up to the Hat’s “superpower sophistication.” I adjust it and push through the turnstile.

Even before I reach the top of the steps to the street, the smell of honey-roasted nuts from the Nuts4Nuts vendor cart at the top is making me hungry.

At least my close friend Rory agreed to join me at this brunch with Jamie and his new girlfriend, so I’m not the rejected third wheel sitting across from the happy couple.