One for the Road

When worlds collide, somebody always gets hurt. Jake Lachlan has been a vagabond for years. Ever since he tragically lost his high school sweetheart six years ago, he's been unable to stay in one place. He’d rather drift aimlessly across the country than settle down and make memories. He knows that in an instant, the happiest memories can become the most painful. Preston Hawthorne is old money. But with excessive wealth comes excessive expectations, and Preston has never lived up to what his parents think he should be. They always overlook him in favor of his more successful siblings. On his way to a family vacation in Aspen, Preston finds Jake stranded on the side of the road and takes pity on the down-on-his-luck hitchhiker. He offers a deal: if Jake pretends to be Preston’s boyfriend for a week in Aspen, Preston will help him out of near-homelessness. For Preston, Jake is supposed to be a means to an end. His parents have been nagging him to settle down — this is his chance to get them off his back. If it upsets them that his first “serious relationship” is with another man, at least they'll be paying attention for once. But after spending more time with Jake, he’s enchanted by the man’s good looks, free spirit, and tenacious attitude. Jake instantly dislikes Preston. He’s rich, he’s entitled, and as far as Jake can tell, he's never faced a day's hardship in his life. But his deal is too sweet to pass up. Unfortunately, no good deal comes without a catch, and Jake’s dislike soon pales in the face of Preston’s charm. When they reach their destination, their fake relationship and their real feelings will be put to the test. This 40,000 word M/M romantic comedy features road trip and fake relationship tropes. Things might get angsty and intense at times, but this story comes with a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhangers! Content warning: homophobia.