Between the Boards by Tanisha Headley
Kairi has spent years trying to break out of the friend zone with Zale, her teammate and long-time crush. But no matter how hard she tries, he only sees her as a friend—with the occasional benefits. Frustrated and heartbroken, she doesn’t know how to make him realize she’s the one he’s been looking for.
Colton has loved Kairi from the moment they met, even though her heart has always belong to someone else. Watching her chase Zale has been torture, but he’s willing to put his feelings aside to help her find happiness. When he offers to help her win Zale’s heart by becoming her love coach, it seems like the perfect plan—fake dating, lessons in attraction, and maybe a little jealousy to push Zale in the right direction—until it isn’t.
As their fake relationship heats up, Colton’s resolve begins to crack. The closer he gets to Kairi, the harder it becomes to remember it’s all just an act. And when they cross lines they swore they wouldn’t, Colton knows he’s falling deeper for her, even as he prepares to let her go.
When Zale finally notices Kairi, it’s everything she thought she wanted—until she realizes her heart was never chasing the right person. Now, Kairi must choose the man she thought she loved or the one who’s been by her side all along.
