Declan Chase is about to start the life of his dreams, with a promising career in plastic surgery and a supermodel-with-two-Harvard-degrees fiancée. All that stands in the way is one last month of medical school, and a secret that could ruin everything. Callahan Perrin is a young prodigy with a troubled past. Famous since childhood for her unique art, her gift is also her curse. She's got every reason to be happy. A new exhibit that's getting rave reviews. A starring role in her own wildly popular reality TV show. So what is she doing in Belmont Springs Psychiatric Hospital, days after an overdose that might have been intentional? When Dec is assigned to be Callie's med student, neither one of them wants to be there. She's looking to get out of Belmont as fast as possible. He's counting down the days to graduation and his wedding. So what if they share a slightly warped sense of humor, or get so wrapped up in conversation that hours feel like minutes? Forget chemistry. Romance is off limits. After all, who would be crazy enough to fall in love in a psych ward? **Content / Trigger Warning: this story contains scenes of drug use, including an overdose, as well as suicidal ideation (Chapters 4 and 31). Sorry if that's a dealbreaker for some, and I certainly understand! -- Copyright ©️ [2025 by Gray Martin] All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without written permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. Copyright law. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this work are fictional.

Grayson Summers has loved Talia Chase since kindergarten-but while she barely remembers him, he's never stopped watching from afar. When fate brings them closer after a championship night, long-buried feelings begin to surface. *** Sometimes, the guy falls in love first. Deeply. In kindergarten, she gave him a flower. She forgot her kindness, but he would always remember. No matter how many girls Grayson Summers dates or hooks up with, he can never forget Talia Chase. Accidentally labeled as the high school's womanizer, he continuously collects more and more problems. Too scared of rejection, Grayson has never asked Talia to be his, and only spends his time hopelessly dreaming. Talia is confused. Her friends have told her Grayson Summers is not a guy who smiles or is kind, but Talia swears she has seen him act both of those ways before. The universe has plans. After the night of the basketball state championship, Talia finds herself questioning Grayson's true reasons behind his actions as the two grow closer together. *** Warning: this story contains strong language, alcohol and drug use, and sexual content

CHASE MITCHELL He's hockey's golden boy with a reputation both on and off the ice. When a brutal knee injury threatens his shot at the Cup, his comeback depends on one person: his rival's little sister-the last woman he should want. EMMA ANDERSON She walked away from skating after a career-ending injury crushed her Olympic dreams. Now she's back as the Bears' physical therapist, ready to face her cheating ex-but not ready for Chase Mitchell. Especially when he makes her an offer: fake date him to keep his obsessive ex away, and in return, he'll help her get revenge on hers. Their on-camera chemistry was supposed to be pretend. But when the cameras stop rolling, the heat between them is anything but. Someone's bound to get hurt. And in this game, love isn't just risky-it's a full-contact sport. ⋆˙⟡♡🏒 11/05/2025 #1 - Hockey

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲" 𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥: 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. She never has. What she did know, however, was how to conduct extensive research on any topic she desired. So, if research is what it took to keep her promise... That's exactly what she would do. Besides, with a movie deal on the line...how hard could it be? 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞... After the release of his last movie Robin woke to find his "rising star's" status had fallen to "reckless rover" overnight. So, when he heard that his studio was forming a film contract with a budding Romance writer, one the public adored, it sounded like the perfect opportunity to get back in everyone's good graces. Besides, he had been acting his whole life. How hard could a little romance be? 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐮𝐩 to write the "romance novel of the century" what ensues is chaos, confusion, and endless comedy... but that's to be expected in Research: Romance.

#4 Grand winner of Open Novella Contest 2024 🏅 _________________________ Regina Patrissia, the hundredth consort of King Rex III enters his harem at the age of eighteen. Widely known as the "Quiet Mouse" whose existence was ignored by all, in two years the "Quiet Mouse" has become a ferocious predator who could put anyone's intelligence, beauty and skills to shame. But the only opponent in her field was her husband, the Sun of the Empire, Emperor Rex, a genius in military strategies and cold in attitude. How would fate tie the two contrastingly similar figures when external forces outnumber them, betrayal lurks in every step and disloyal eyes watched their every conscious move? •─────────✦❀✦────────• Current Word Count: 20 K + Primary prompt: #59 Reincarnating into my favorite novel wasn't what I had in mind when I was begging for a second chance. Other prompts: #2, #16, #20, #24, #25, #26, #28, #35 and #48. •─────────✦❀✦────────• Cover Credits: Alfaesha Banners Credit: AngeBlancRose 🏅ONC 2024 Round One Qualifier 🏅ONC 2024 2024 Round Two Qualifier 🏅ONC 2024 Round Three Qualifier 🏅ONC 2024 Longlister 🏅ONC 2024 Shortlister 🏅ONC 2024 Top 5 Finalists 🏅ONC 2024 4th Grand Winner 🏅Featured on Historical Fiction RL 🏅Winner of EC Fiction Awards