Sliding into Love by A.W. Scott

Some love stories take years to begin.

Royce Bellport has always known who they are. Growing up nonbinary in a small Southern town wasn’t easy, but with a supportive family and a fierce sense of self, they learned to hold their head high. Still, some scars never fade—especially the ones left by Kenneth Meyer, the quiet boy who stood by while his best friend made Royce’s life miserable.
Kenneth always noticed Royce. How could he not? Confident, bright, and unafraid to be themselves—everything he wished he could be. But back then, he didn’t have the courage to speak up, let alone admit his crush. Years later, he’s grown up, built a career, and tried to forget the one person he never really stopped thinking about.
When Royce’s brother makes a surprise bid to buy Kenneth’s baseball team, old memories and long-buried feelings resurface. Forced to work side by side, Royce and Kenneth find themselves navigating more than business deals. They’re untangling the past, rediscovering trust, and maybe, learning what love looks like the second time around.

Sliding into Love is a tender MX romance featuring a proud nonbinary lead, a remorseful man finally finding his voice, and the kind of slow-burn redemption that makes forgiveness feel like falling in love. Though set in A.W. Scott’s Bellport universe, this story can be read as a standalone.