Fake is Best
1: Fake is Best
Natalie
The most coveted seat in the house was never the plush sofa everyone elbowed each...
First, Last, Never
All Rights Reserved ©
Story Notes
This spans college and six years later. Edited for most audiences. If you want the unedited version, check out the higher tiers.
Summary
For years, I was TJ’s backup plan — the fake girlfriend at parties, the shoulder he leaned on when everything fell apart, but never the girl he chose. He knew how to pull me close when he needed me and push me away when it mattered. Now, new men are noticing me, his ex won’t let go, and for the first time, I’m done waiting. If TJ wants me, he’ll have to stop pretending he doesn’t. Six years later, I’m Natalie Avery — a bestselling author with money, success, and scars I don’t show. After losing my husband and father, I return home a different woman, only to find the past waiting for me. A tense run-in with an old friend stirs memories I thought I’d buried, and when rising film producer Tristan Ashford reappears, so do the feelings I swore I’d left behind. Caught between the life I’m building and the love I once wanted, I have to decide where my heart belongs — and who, if anyone, I’ll finally let in for good.
- 1Fake is Best
- 2Know Your Place
- 3Can't Lose Control
- 4Morning Flirtations
- 5Expectations
- 6If He Never Touches You, Does He Count?
- 7Growing Desire
- 8First Kiss or Pity Kiss
- 9Rat on Me
- 10Avoidance
- 11Bar Hopping
- 12La Drague
- 13Too Friendly for His Taste
- 14Overheard
- 15Overstepping
- 16Undefended
- 17Be My First
- 18You Don't Belong
- 19Gala Night
- 20Openly Chosen
- 21Kitten, Not Kitty
- 22Thanksgiving Break
- 23Friendsgiving Break
- 24Permanent Shift
- 25Numbness if Freedom
- 26The Devil Wears a Red Dress
- 27Pretending
- 28Raving
- 29Friendly Games
- 30Game On
- 31Game Over
- 32Restless
- 33Drunk Confessions
- 34Biggest Mistake Ever
- 35Brina's Plan
- 36Date Switch
- 37His Addiction
- 38Party On
- 39Ghost
- 40The Morning After
- 41Six Years Later
- 42Legacy Means Nothing Here
- 43The House Julian Built
- 44Old Friend
- 45How Soon is Too Soon?
- 46Of All the People, Why You?
- 47Distractions
- 48Maneater
- 49Still Her
- 50Old Patterns
- 51Script Notes
- 52Table Reads
- 53Temptations
- 54Taking Control
- 55NDAs
- 56Busy Work
- 57Took Too Long
- 58You're Married?
- 59Privacy Violation
- 60Banished
- 61Dame Pembroke
- 62Giving In
- 63Craving
- 64Morning Summons
- 65Film Drama
- 66Return From Paris
- 67Trailer Drop
- 68Return to Braelin
- 69The Harvest Fair
- 70Braelin
- 71My Confession
- 72Before the Storm
- 73London Calling
- 74Old Habits
- 75First Premiere
- 76London's Betrayal
- 77Love and Loathing in LA
- 78Don't Ever Stop
- 79Epilogue-Just Maybe
Further Recommendations
Catherineb83: Story good just would have liked her not to wear a mask
Read Now
lunaartsoul___: I loved the way your story unfolds. The emotional depth and structure made it feel very engaging, almost cinematic at times.I’m someone who enjoys both reading and visual storytelling, and your work really stood out to me. If you’re open to chatting about creative ideas someday, I’d love that.
Read Now
S.TYTECA: I really enjoyed reading this book! The story was engaging and kept me interested throughout. There were a few minor spelling errors here and there, and some parts felt a little drawn out for my personal taste, but that’s purely subjective. Overall, it was a lovely read, and I genuinely enjoyed the ...
Read Now
susiebear2012: Realy enjoyed this so looking forward to more.great story line hope they can achieve getting away from the kings burden. Truly amazing well written well done.
Read Now
ZaraPearl: I truly love the story, very intersting and lovely.Sebastian is a great character and yoda ..., all of it , though I expected more at the endingi5 would've been great
Read Now
Lynne: Very enjoyable short story good characters and they all found love n honesty.
Read Now
Talia Kendrick : Honestly I love the book. Here is how I feel about each character: Detective Kayla is an Idiot, I can't stand this lady and I feel so bad for braelyn and Phoenix because after everything they have been through it makes me angry that they have to go through this again. Sure Phoenix doesn't know about...
Read Now