Even if it Kills Me

COLE RIPLEY HAS NEVER BELIEVED IN LOVEIt's been eight years since I stepped foot in Joy Lake, and things aren't the same since I've been gone.My siblings are now adults who don't need me to protect them anymore.My relationship with my mom is strained ever since I killed my father.My old boss not only wants me to come back to work at his auto shop, but he wants me to take over for him when he retires. The problem with that?A criminal record doesn't exactly draw in customers.BUT LILY CASTILLO VOWS TO SHOW HIM LOVE IS REAL.There's one person who doesn't seem to be bothered by that though—Lily Castillo. She's my little sister's best friend. She's sweet, and way out of my league.But she treats me with kindness that I don't find in town, so when an ex starts harassing her, I offer to be her fake boyfriend in the hopes that he gets the message and leaves her alone.At the same time, something from my past shows back up, threatening everything I've been working for, including the relationship that's starting to feel more and more real.