Worth The Wait

Maren Juliette Holt has spent years convincing herself she's okay on her own.Between teaching preschool, late-night romance novels, and quiet routines shared with her cat, she's built a life that's safe. Predictable. Manageable. But safe isn't the same as happy.After too many relationships that left her feeling unwanted, forgettable, or simply too much, Maren has stopped believing in the kind of love she reads about in books.Then she meets Beckham Wilder Tate. Charming bookstore manager. Professional over-planner. Owner of the kind of smile that makes her forget how to breathe for a second.The more time she spends with him, the harder it becomes to keep her distance. Because Beckham doesn't just notice her - he sees her. The messy parts. The anxious parts. The parts she's spent years trying to make smaller.And worst of all?He stays.But learning how to be loved might be even scarier than being alone. Slow burn romanceBookstore vibesFound familyMental health & neurodivergent repHe falls firstHappily Ever After