Lauren Paul never expected her holidays to turn into a whirlwind of fake romance, unexpected sparks, and heart-wrenching choices. Struggling to escape her family's relentless questions about her single status, Lauren does what any modern woman would do: she turns to the internet. Her quirky plea for a fake boyfriend catches the attention of Ken, an online gamer with charm and wit to spare. What starts as a harmless arrangement quickly spirals into something far more complicated when they meet in person. Ken is everything Lauren didn't know she needed: funny, confident, and surprisingly considerate. With his sharp sense of humor and unexpected warmth, he fits perfectly into her family's holiday celebrations. Their fake relationship feels natural, almost real. But just as Lauren starts to think Ken might be more than just her pretend boyfriend, a new complication arrives in the form of John, her brother's maddeningly attractive roommate. John is the opposite of K n quiet, steady, and effortlessly magnetic. From the moment he steps through the door, Lauren can't ignore the way he makes her pulse race. As the holidays unfold, John's gentle charm and lingering glances stir feelings Lauren never expected. Suddenly, the lines between her carefully constructed fake relationship and her real emotions begin to blur. Caught between Ken's fiery energy and John's quiet allure, Lauren finds herself in a love triangle that's as hilarious as it is heart-wrenching. Her family's meddling, her brother's overprotective nature, and her own spiraling emotions only add to the chaos. To make matters worse, both men have secrets of their own, and Lauren begins to wonder if she knows either of them as well as she thought. As Christmas approaches, Lauren is forced to confront her fears and insecurities. Can she let go of her need to please everyone and follow her heart? Or will her holiday charade leave her lonelier than ever? Holiday Hearts: A Love Game Gone Wrong is a heartwarming and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about finding love where you least expect it. Packed with witty banter, steamy chemistry, and moments that will tug at your heartstrings, this story explores the messy, beautiful reality of love in all its forms. Perfect for fans of fake dating tropes, slow-burn romance, and a touch of holiday magic, Lauren's journey will have readers rooting for her to find her happy ending. Will she choose the man who swept her into a pretend romance or the one who quietly stole her heart? One thing's for sure: this holiday season, Lauren Paul is in for the ride of her life.
Chapter 1 The Fake Boyfriend Proposal
I hated Christmas. Or, more accurately, I hated Christmas dinner. The food was great, sure, but it came with the inevitable conversation about my lack of a love life.
"Lauren, darling, you're not getting any younger," my mother would say, her eyebrows furrowed in that "concerned" way that somehow managed to feel more judgmental than caring. "Why don't you let us set you up with someone? There are so many nice boys out there."
Nice boys. Ugh. No, thank you.
I wasn't some hopeless romantic, and I didn't need to be paired up just to please my mom. I had a fairly successful career in digital marketing, a decent group of friends, and a cat who didn't judge me when I ate an entire pizza by myself. What I didn't have, though, was a boyfriend. Not for lack of trying, but... it was complicated. And by complicated, I mean that I was starting to believe I had an uncanny ability to choose the absolute worst men. The ones who either ghosted me after three dates or, worse, turned out to be complete psychos.
But with the holidays rolling in, the pressure was on. Family dinners, Christmas Eve parties, and New Year's Eve drinks, all events I knew would be peppered with the same questions:
"So, when are you bringing someone home?"
"Still single, huh?"
"Don't worry, sweetie. He's out there somewhere."
I'd had enough.
So, as I sat on my couch sipping my third cup of hot cocoa, trying not to cry over another failed online date, I got a wild idea. I logged into the gaming forum I frequented for stress relief, and with the desperation of someone drowning, I posted an unusual request:
Need a fake boyfriend for family events. Must be funny, decent at video games, and not a serial killer. DM me if interested."
I stared at the message for a while, wondering if I was going to regret it. Maybe I could just spend the holidays alone in my cozy apartment, binge-watching Christmas movies while eating way too much chocolate. But no, I needed a solution. If I could fake it until I made it, then that was what I'd do.
I hit send.
Within minutes, I had a response. It was from someone called Ken_Gamer420. I smirked at the name. Typical gamer handle.
"I'm your guy. I can pretend to be the perfect boyfriend. Bonus points if you like strategy games, and I can still get you through the awkward family dinners. Let's make it happen!"
I blinked. He was eager. And while it could have been some random guy trolling, something about his confidence made me hesitate. Maybe he wasn't a serial killer.
I read his message a second time, debating. Then, I typed back, cautiously:
"You sure you're up for the job? This is going to be a long weekend of pretending. Family, friends, all the usual stuff."
"I'm down for whatever. Let's meet up beforehand to plan it out."
Before I could change my mind, I agreed. This couldn't be any worse than the alternative, right? And hey, if he turned out to be as much of a disaster as my last boyfriend, I could always bail.
The plan was set.
The next day, I was pacing outside the coffee shop where Ken and I had agreed to meet. I had no idea what he looked like, and I was suddenly regretting my rash decision. Was I really about to meet a guy I knew nothing about and introduce him as my fake boyfriend? I almost turned around and left until I saw him.
Ken was leaning against the door of the coffee shop, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sleek sunglasses, looking like he had just stepped out of a video game. He wore a leather jacket and jeans, a look that screamed "I'm too cool for this." He was tall, with messy brown hair and a grin that made him look like he knew exactly how attractive he was. And, of course, the smug air about him didn't help.
I almost turned around and walked away.
But then he saw me, and that grin widened. "Lauren, right? I'm Ken. Your fake boyfriend for the next week."
I froze for a moment, stunned by his directness. "Uh, yes. That's me."
He chuckled. "No need to be nervous, I'm a professional at pretending."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're sure you can handle this? My family is... relentless."
Ken gave me a mock salute, his smirk not fading. "You got this, babe. Just follow my lead, and we'll make them think we're the perfect couple."
I wasn't convinced. But, at that moment, I didn't have any other choice. "Okay," I said, the words escaping my mouth before I could think them through. "Let's do it."
As I followed him inside the coffee shop, the beginning of what I hoped would be the most harmless fake relationship of my life began. Little did I know, things were about to get a lot more complicated than I'd ever imagined.
Other books by Belluxarose
More