Coming home was never part of the plan.

Twelve years ago, I left my hometown—and Deacon Langford—behind. I had my reasons, and I told myself they were good ones. But now? Let’s just say life didn’t exactly go the way I thought it would. My shiny New York career crashed and burned, and now I’m back at Kensington House, my family’s crumbling estate, trying to figure out what comes next.

Spoiler alert: I have no idea.

What I do know is that Deacon, who lives next door, still has every reason to hate me. He’s built a life here—his farm, his friends, everything I left behind. But then my mother, ever the schemer, starts dropping not-so-subtle hints about “reconnecting.” And when my nosy uncle mistakes us for a couple, the next thing I know, I’m begging Deacon to fake it with me.

It’s just a way to help Mom. A few shared smiles, and a little PDA and we both get what we want. That’s the plan.

Except being near Deacon again feels like coming home in a way I wasn’t ready for. And the more time we spend together, the more I realize this might be my last chance to fix what I broke.

I just have to convince Deacon to take a second chance on me—and hope I don’t screw it up all over again.

Making It Real is part of the Making It series and can be read as a standalone story.

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