When a bad boy brings you hell instead of heaven, call your gay best friend.

In a Straight Girls Series twist, this harrowing story is told from the straight girl's perspective. Kary (her name is Karen, but anyone who goes by Karen anymore is a Karen) is eking out young adult life as a bank teller when one lucky transaction brings her Prince Charming. Things heat up fast with Liam, Mr. CrossFit, almost-six-figure car finance guy, and they move in together. Everything’s great, of course, except how much Kary’s best friend, Alex, and Liam hate each other. Liam is alcohol; Alex is fresh cuts.

As with all of us who have been in love with an oblivious best friend, Alex has been pining for Kary for years. A solid decade. She can’t stand Liam because he treats her a million times worse than Alex ever would. And at least ten times worse than anyone should. When Alex catches Liam with a firm grip on Kary’s wrist during an argument, Alex’s feelings about him turn from bad to beastly. Alex pleads with her to get out. Kary does–but with Alex, not Liam. Which turns out to be a decision that may cost her life.

After she’s hurt and abandoned the person who loved her most, will Alex come to her rescue?

From the author: This story goes deeper and closer to the nerve than my usual fare. I definitely felt like I was hitting above my weight class with every page I wrote. I was shaking so bad after writing the climax, I had to take a clonazepam to get to sleep that night!

The book is spun from a short story I wrote in 2001 or 2002. Doing the research was really tough. I know people who have been through this. My sister being one. I wanted to say something with this book, not just entertain.

If you or someone you know is experiencing verbal, emotional, physical or other abuse by a partner, please get help. Visit thehotline.org, call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or Text "START" to 88788.

Tropes: Friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, bad boyfriend, glacial burn, toaster-oven/first-time

Triggers: Abusive relationship, assault, nonconsensual sex, full-description straight sex, (sadly) no gay sex.

Excerpt

“What is is, K? Are you in pain?” Alex asked.

“No, no,” Kary said. “I just…figured something out. And I’m kind of sad I didn’t understand it before.”

Alex waited. She wouldn’t interrupt Kary’s processing or invalidate Kary’s feelings. Alex hung on every word as if they were read from a holy book and Kary was the last person on earth.

“This is love,” Kary said, keeping her eyes fixed on Alex’s. “Isn’t it?”

Alex didn’t look away, didn’t flinch and didn’t hesitate. “It always has been, K.” Alex kissed the back of Kary’s casted hand where she’d drawn an elaborate comic-book-worthy “POW” with lightning and shock waves. Alex’s smile was a quirky, knowing little thing.