It started with a crush. The best stories always do. Our story sounds predictable, short-lived, and destined for failure. Lincoln Beckett is the star wide receiver at Brighton University—smart, funny, and like many would guess, heartbreak shines in his dark eyes and is etched across his jaw. He's popular, a guaranteed draft pick, and worst of all: my brother's best friend. I tried not to like him. I have an entire list of reasons, reasons that have become my rules for dating. Rules that Lincoln continues bending.

Sticks and stones might bruise my bones, but these rules are guaranteed to break me. The Romans have a famous "The stars incline us, they do not bind us." The words hold so much weight, and importance, They're stained on my skin. Just like she is. The ink may not be visible, But the binds are indisputable, Pulling me back to her like a rough tide. Impossible to leave. However, time has proven, freewill or not, it will take more than bending the rules to be with her, it will require breaking them.

It started with friendship. The best stories always do. Our story sounds unlikely. Bizarre. A fable. Like wine and cheese and my favorite pair of jeans, Things got better over time—Too good, it seemed. Arlo Kostas was the starting running back for Brighton University. His quick smile and sharp wit Was enough to disarm even the biggest cynic. And his perfectly defined abs and more perfect face, Convinced the rest. I was homesick, Counting down the days until I returned home for spring break when we met. Clinging to memories I’d been trying to hold onto for years And then he tipped my world upside down. Maybe it was bad luck. Perhaps we were jinxed, But things between Arlo and I were doomed, Right from the very start. We were supposed to be friends but like everything, Lines kept getting blurred, Now, we’re Defining the Rules. Defining the Rules is a complete standalone and a part of The Dating Playbook series.

Chloe Robinson is determined to be more spontaneous, exciting, and ‘fun’—whatever that means. Her resolve is put to the test when she learns her twin sister has arranged for them to return to their junior year at Brighton University with a road trip across the country with their best friend, Cooper, and the one person Chloe works to avoid at all costs: Tyler Banks. Tyler Banks is the heir to Banks Luxury Resorts and Hotels, and this year’s “star football player.” Tyler’s life and future appear bright and endless as the universe, except, his life is in a constant state of balance and currently his greatest balancing act is allowing Chloe to ignore him and believe he’s her enemy when she’s becoming his reason to succeed. Two and a half weeks. Seven cities. And one game of truth or dare that is about to expose everything.

Rose Cartwright has one rule when it comes to college: no dating. She’s focused on finding the best mocha in Seattle, completing her senior year at Brighton University, working on the school’s newspaper, and starting her own company. However, her focus begins to stray when lies start impacting the one person who makes her consider forgetting her rule. Ian Forrest is the starting middle linebacker at Brighton University, known for his grandiose parties and incredible strength and speed on the field. His college career has been focused on one thing: getting drafted into the NFL. His dream has required constant sacrifices, ones he’s taken with little regret—until meeting Rose. Has he found the one thing he wants more than a future in football? Two opposing dreams. One conflicting rule. And a website filled with lies that keep threatening to tear them apart. This is book five in The Dating Playbook series but can be read and enjoyed as a complete standalone.

Poppy Anderson was nailing her sophomore year at Brighton University. She liked her classes, had the greatest best friend, and was finally ready to start dating again. Or she was … until her ex, Mike, transferred to Brighton and started exchanging long stares and inside jokes that Poppy thought he’d forgotten. Paxton Lawson was long ago labeled ‘The Golden Boy.’ Starting quarterback and team captain at Brighton University, his future was brighter than the sun until a short path of indiscretions tarnished his name and potentially his future. When he learns that his sister’s best friend, Poppy, has backed herself into a corner and is facing as many doubts and uncertainties as he is, Paxton suggests the biggest ruse of the year: a fake relationship. Writing the rules was supposed to make things clear, defined, and definite. Only, their relationship becomes increasingly complex as the lines are blurred, days become weeks, and kisses for show begin to feel like confessions. Can lies lead to truths? And what happens when the rules they wrote begin to expire? One lie, Two hearts, And fifteen years of friendship are about to be put to the ultimate test. Writing the Rules is a complete standalone and can be read independently, but is book 6 in The Dating Playbook series.

Five years later, Lincoln Beckett and I are still finding ways to stretch and bend the rules, breaking those that threaten to hinder us. To an outsider, everything looks perfect. But with each day apart and each new obligation, I’m learning that even strengths have their weaknesses, and perfection has its flaws. Now, one night—one question—is blurring our entire future. Will we be strong enough to forge our own rules? Or will we be lost missing them?