The Single Pact: The Chance Encounters Series, #41

By Monica Moss

Two straight best friends, Tyler and Alex, make a pact to stay single after both of their relationships end, which they call The Single Pact. But Alex is very aware that Tyler seems to be interested in him, but fearful of coming out he's refused to acknowledge his feelings. But the more time they spend together the harder it gets to ignore the obvious feelings that are brewing between them until both have to decide if their relationship is worth coming out for.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Short and Sweet Publishing
• Release date: Jan 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224583829

Monica Moss

Monica Moss is a short contemporary romance author. She's always loved short stories and flash fiction. She writes romance flash fiction about chance encounters, love enduring prejudice, and taking the leap of faith for the love you deserve. 

Book preview

TYLER

It was my junior year at Westwood High School when everything changed. I'm Tyler Mason Reynolds. Seventeen years old, quarterback of the Westwood Wildcats, and, well, the guy everyone thinks has it all. But if you really knew me, you'd understand that my life was more like a complex playbook, full of unpredictable twists and turns.

On the surface, I fit the mold of the typical American high school jock—confident, outgoing, and popular. The charismatic quarterback leading the team to victory on the football field. Everyone thought they had me figured out, the outgoing extrovert radiating infectious energy. Little did they know, there was more to me than the Friday night lights and the cheers from the stands.

Off the field, hidden away in the privacy of my room, I had a secret haven. I wasn't just the quarterback; I was also the guy who found solace in sketching and writing poetry. Yeah, I know, it's not exactly what you'd expect from the star quarterback. But my creative side was my escape, a sanctuary where I could express the parts of me that didn't quite fit the mold.

I'd spend hours with a sketchpad or a notebook, letting my imagination run wild. It was my little rebellion against the expectations that came with being the it guy at Westwood High. On top of that, I was a closeted music enthusiast, strumming away on my guitar when no one was around to hear.

But dreams have a funny way of getting tangled up in expectations. While everyone expected me to pursue a stereotypical athletic career, deep down, I harbored a secret ambition. I dreamt of studying art or creative writing in college, breaking free from the expectations that tethered me to the football field.

Growing up in a traditional suburban family, my parents, John and Lisa Reynolds, were supportive, but unknowingly contributed to the societal pressure that made me hesitant to reveal my true self. The fear of being different, of being judged, stemmed from an incident in middle school. Witnessing a fellow athlete face ridicule after coming out, I decided right then to keep my sexuality hidden, tucked away behind the armor of the quarterback.

And then there was Sabrina, head cheerleader and my seemingly perfect girlfriend. We were the it couple, the envy of Westwood High. But as perfect as it seemed on the outside, on the inside, I constantly felt a sense of emptiness. The true me remained concealed, obscured by the image we projected to the world.

My best friend, Alex, was my anchor in this storm. We'd been next-door neighbors since childhood, sharing a bond deeper than friendship, more like brothers. He was the one person I could truly be myself around, the one who knew the real Tyler. Little did I realize that my feelings for Alex were evolving, and the realization hit me like a blindside tackle.

Doubts about falling in love weren't just about embracing my own identity; they were about the fear of losing the people I cared about. The fear that being true to myself might come at the cost