In a Heartbeat

When so much is uncertain, how can love be the next step?

Even though her lymphoma is in remission, Cara Samuel feels anything but normal. After years of preparing for the worst, she has no idea what kind of life she wants, now that she's (probably? maybe?) going to live. So she hopes completing a "bucket list" she abandoned a few years ago will help her find herself again. She's already crossed one thing off the list: meeting her favorite band, the Heartbreakers. Well, it's only because her sister Stella's dating the lead singer, but it's a start.

It's not long before Cara's taken a polar plunge, started planning the tattoo she'll get, and also... is playing fake girlfriend to JJ Morris, the Heartbreaker's drummer. Okay, that definitely wasn't on her list, but weirdly enough, the band's brashest, most obnoxious member has turned out to be a surprisingly great listener and a sweet friend. And when he needs to get some distance from his tricky ex, Cara's happy to help out.

Trouble is, JJ might be catching feelings, and while she'll never admit it, Cara is too. By now she knows better than to count on the future, and the last thing she wants is for him to get hurt. Can't they keep pretending there's nothing between them?