They were always meant to be—everyone saw it but them.

Anna Fitzgerald

I am so lucky to have a best friend like Ben Howard. There aren't many people who would hold your hair back after dollar margarita night. But hey, it sure made for a memorable Homecoming Weekend. Only it's not just the drinks I'll remember. My roommate, Leilani Kealoha, asked for my blessing to date Ben. Of course I approved. I mean, who wouldn't want their roommate to date their best friend? It's a match made in heaven.

The pit in my stomach has nothing to do with Leilani and Ben. Maybe if I say it enough times, I'll believe it. My friends tell me to be honest with myself and admit that I'm in love with Ben. Even the campus pastor wants me to tell Ben how I feel. Honesty is not the best policy in this situation. Ben doesn't love me back and I can't risk losing my best friend.

Ben Howard

People keep calling us an old married couple, but Anna Fitzgerald and I are just friends. I'm dating her roommate for crying out loud. Trust me, Anna and I are purely platonic. If only everyone on campus would accept that. It's not fair to me or Leilani to be on the receiving end of our classmates' dirty looks. My own teammates keep making comments about us. How many times do I have to say that Leilani is my girlfriend, not Anna?

I'll admit our friendship has changed since I began dating Leilani. Something's going on with Anna, and she won't talk to me about it. We tell each other everything. Did someone hurt her? If so, they'll have to answer to me. No one hurts my best friend and gets away with it.

If you like friends to lovers and soccer player MMCs, then this closed-door romance novella is for you!

The Chemistry of Love is book one in the interconnected Hollow Bridge College Series. While they can be read as standalones, it is recommended to read the series in order.

This story includes a medical emergency in which a character experiences an allergic reaction leading to anaphylactic shock.