Standing outside, her possessions in boxes, she wonders what happened to all those dreams she once had. Because right now, she's living a nightmare.
Admitting to her parents how much has gone wrong, and moving back home, feels like the ultimate defeat. So Isla decides to secretly crash at her brother's empty flat while he's out of town.
Only it isn't empty. Her brother's best friend, Cade Greenley, is staying there while his own place is under renovation.
Isla begs Cade not to say anything, she'll fix everything before her brother comes home, and Cade grudgingly agrees. But only if Isla helps him out in return. Cade needs to get some meddling colleagues off his back and, in exchange for keeping her secret, he asks her to pose as his girlfriend at a work event.
What starts as a simple pact between almost-friends soon gets more complicated, as Isla and Cade's pretend relationship has sparks flying between them.
But could Cade ever feel the same way about her? And will Isla finally find the courage to stop faking it, put her heart on the line, and live her life for real?