Petty Roots

Blake desperately needs a fake date for their ex’s wedding. To their dismay, their frenemy Eris is the sole volunteer.

Two years after moving to the city, Blake is struggling. Friends are hard to make as an adult, especially for an introverted law student whose childhood sweetheart quickly moved on with their only friend. When the inevitable wedding invitation arrives, Blake turns to their brunch meetup of queer misfits for a fake partner. Someone to help prove that they’ve moved on, that they’re happy too…and because they lied to their ex about seeing someone.

Only the abrasive, rude, and heavily tattooed Eris volunteers—not exactly the date Blake pictured as evidence for thriving. Eris acknowledges that ze may be an asshole, but for one weekend, ze’ll be Blake’s asshole. With no other options, Blake hatches a plan to fool everyone back in their small hometown. A plan that, unfortunately, requires getting to know Eris.

As long-swallowed conflicts erupt at the wedding, Eris helps Blake stay grounded, and the sparks between them ignite. But opening their heart to new possibilities means revealing parts of themself Blake would rather keep hidden. This plan to find closure never accounted for real feelings—especially not their ex’s.