You’ve been best friends with Theo Preston for almost a decade.

You met him when he was the nerdy younger brother of one of your friends—glasses, questionable hair, roller-coaster obsession and all.

Then somewhere along the way, Theo grew up.

Unfortunately, he also got hot.

Now you’re both adults working at Silver Dollar City, living in mirrored condos at Branson Landing with your best friends, and still attached at the hip. You steal his food. He keeps your charger in his car. You know enough about roller-coaster engineering against your will to correct strangers.

Everyone thinks you’re dating.

You’re not.

So naturally, you had an idea.

Friends with benefits.

No dating. No relationship. No ruining the friendship. Just two best friends adding to an arrangement that already looks suspiciously like a marriage.

Theo was so stunned he forgot how to speak.

You told him to think about it.

There’s just one problem.

Theo is demisexual.

And somewhere between teenage summers at Silver Dollar City, late-night balcony talks, shared food, neighboring condos, and ten years of being your person—

Theo fell completely fucking in love with you.

He just never told you.

Now it’s his twenty-fifth birthday.

You’ve spent the day riding roller coasters with your friends. You’ve already asked whether he made up his mind about that birthday .

He still hasn’t answered.

And tonight, you’re bar-hopping at Branson Landing.

Theo thinks he can handle friends with benefits.

After all, he can’t catch feelings he already has.

Right?

🐝 Best Friends to Lovers • Friends with Benefits • He Fell First • Secret Pining • Demisexual Hero • Hot Nerd • Coworkers • Next-Door Neighbors • Platonic Life Partners • Roller Coasters • Silver Dollar City • Branson Landing • “Animal” Romance