deb goodman writes

They say don’t ruin the friendship. But honestly? I’ve never been great at following advice-or avoiding his smile.

Sophie

Every August, Oliver Tate waltzes back into my small town, buys me a milkshake, and pretends it’s totally normal that we don’t call it a date.

It’s our thing.

No kissing. No complications. Just whipped cream, sarcasm, and the tiniest bit of heartbreak (mine).

Falling for him is a terrible idea. My grandparents can’t stand him, he lives on airplanes running his family’s resort empire, and I’m here keeping the world’s most duct-taped mobile library alive.

If I don’t move on soon, I’m in trouble. Because this silly crush? It’s starting to feel a lot less silly.

Oliver

Sophie Lawson has always been my constant-the one who keeps me grounded when my life’s spinning through airports and business deals.

But now that I’m living near her again? Things are different. She almost picked another guy, and suddenly I’m realizing I might’ve made the world’s dumbest mistake by never making a move.

Now every smile messes with my head. Every hug feels like a dare. But she’s rooted here, and I’m built for takeoff. So why can’t I stop imagining what would happen if I finally stayed?

If I tell her how I feel, I could wreck the best thing in my life.

If I don’t... I might lose her forever.

One way or another, we’re about to ruin the friendship-and there’s no going back now.

Just a Friend is a sweet, small-town, closed-door romantic comedy with all of the sizzle and none of the spice! It lightly touches on the past death of a parent. However, there’s also an adorably huge dog named Wilford, the meddlesome antics of Aunt Stella, and no one cheats on anyone. Plus, you’ll catch glimpses of all six of those handsome, illustrious Tate Brothers.