Side by Side

Chris Wright has one shot at his dream. After years of late nights and countless revisions, an agent finally takes notice of Chris’s novel—but with one catch: he has a tight deadline to deliver a major rewrite. With bills stacking up and no extra time to pick up more shifts, Chris feels like he's barely holding his life together. Then, fate throws him a curveball in the form of Mia.

Chris Wright has one shot at his dream. After years of late nights and countless revisions, an agent finally takes notice of Chris’s novel—but with one catch: he has a tight deadline to deliver a major rewrite. With bills stacking up and no extra time to pick up more shifts, Chris feels like he's barely holding his life together. Then, fate throws him a curveball in the form of Mia.

Chris Wright thought life couldn’t get any better. His debut novel is gaining traction, he’s built a life with Mia, and everything seems to be falling into place—until Hollywood comes calling. A studio wants to adapt his book, but there’s one catch: he has to co-write the screenplay with their in-house writer, Zooey. Zooey is sharp, demanding, and impossible to read. From the moment they meet, the sparks fly—some from friction, some from something else entirely. She pushes Chris in ways he never expected, testing his patience, his talent, and his ability to ignore how badly he wants her.

Chris Wright thought he finally had it all figured out. He’s moved into a new home, his relationship with Mia and Zooey is solid, and the movie adaptation of his debut novel is finally in production. Then he meets the actress playing the lead role. She’s quiet, mysterious, and impossible to pin down—and her arrival brings with it a request that throws Chris completely off balance. What starts as a simple introduction quickly spirals into something deeper, something stranger… something he never saw coming.

Chris Wright thought moving to the country would be simple. A new house. Fresh air. Chickens in the yard. A quieter life with Mia, Zooey, and Echo, built on their own terms, far from the noise of the city. Ashbury has other ideas. The town is cool and watchful, tight-lipped, and clearly unimpressed with the life they’re trying to build. Doors stay closed. Smiles feel forced. And no matter how hard Chris tries to fit in, it’s obvious they’re being quietly shut out. Then he meets Hazel. Bright, kind, and endlessly generous, Hazel radiates a warmth that pulls people in without effort.