The Relationship Quo Series by Nicole Strycharz

Chloe: Moses has been my best friend since kindergarten. We met when I shoved him face first in the dirt and took his action figures. Ever since, we’ve been tighter than blood, but we’re not blood, and my body knows that. My heart has known that for years. The fact that being a pole dancer has interfered with my relationship status is an understatement. Moses is literally the longest I’ve been with a man, except I’m not really ‘with’ him... moreChloe: Moses has been my best friend since kindergarten. We met when I shoved him face first in the dirt and took his action figures. Ever since, we’ve been tighter than blood, but we’re not blood, and my body knows that. My heart has known that for years. The fact that being a pole dancer has interfered with my relationship status is an understatement. Moses is literally the longest I’ve been with a man, except I’m not really ‘with’ him. Now I’m approaching a place where I’m curious enough to tell him about my feelings. I’ve gotten close, but a man as hot as my bestie has had really small gaps between girlfriends. I know it could be a big mistake, and he’s never seen me that way, but I won’t know for sure unless I act right? Only problem is, I might be too late again. Moses: I’m not blind to the fact that my best friend is dangerously hot. She’s basically every man’s dream but she’s not mine. I’m the one that protects her, councils her, and encourages her, knowing she will do the same for me. She’s my girl. But now something is different, and I can’t put a name to it. Something feels changed, but I’m putting all that on the back burner because I think I found my perfect girlfriend. Still, Chloe is in my head; I’m not sure she would handle knowing that. After all, I’m in the friend zone… less

Brianna: My life has always been a little ironic. I’m afraid of the dark, and I’m blind. My parents were my world, but they died in 9/11. I wouldn’t mind a relationship but men perceive me as a burden. So it shouldn’t have been a shocker that the guy I fall in ‘like’ with ends up being a top of the line player from the UK. It also shouldn’t have shocked me that the guy that was meant to be a sexy fling; just an erotic encounter to reminisce over, left me more than just a memory... moreBrianna: My life has always been a little ironic. I’m afraid of the dark, and I’m blind. My parents were my world, but they died in 9/11. I wouldn’t mind a relationship but men perceive me as a burden. So it shouldn’t have been a shocker that the guy I fall in ‘like’ with ends up being a top of the line player from the UK. It also shouldn’t have shocked me that the guy that was meant to be a sexy fling; just an erotic encounter to reminisce over, left me more than just a memory. He left me with a bump. That’s okay, because when life bitch slapped me into being blind, pregnant and single…I just called ‘plot twist’ and carried on. Besides, this little surprise in my belly is relying on me to get it all right. So do we really need him? Gabriel: Party, drink, sex, work, repeat. Sometimes I’ll throw sleep in there. Aside from that the life of a millionaire has brought me everything, but in the night is when I realize I still have nothing. Being a party animal might be frowned upon but it led me to her. She’s the most fascinating woman I’ve ever met and her body and flaming hair make me wild. Can’t trust women, though. That’s why I left. Best not to give women power, but now she’s carrying my child. Brianna’s unique, though. She doesn’t want my money, she wants my partnership. She wants to ‘co-parent.’ What the bloody hell is a man like me supposed to do with a child? I still live like one. So here’s my options. Persuade her to forget it. Walk away or Stay. But can I stay? Can I be the co-pilot she needs and the father our child deserves? less

Adam: I swore off men years ago to protect myself. I don’t trust guys. Guys break hearts, they take, and they don’t give like women do. That’s why for the past ten years I’ve entrusted my heart to a tattooed, multi-hair colored, vixen named Trix. Trixie is my safe haven. She doesn’t just back up my voice in our band she backs me in life. Sadly, I don’t reciprocate like I should. My phobia of PDA and my over-protectiveness are hard to put up with. It might be because I need more than I let on... moreAdam: I swore off men years ago to protect myself. I don’t trust guys. Guys break hearts, they take, and they don’t give like women do. That’s why for the past ten years I’ve entrusted my heart to a tattooed, multi-hair colored, vixen named Trix. Trixie is my safe haven. She doesn’t just back up my voice in our band she backs me in life. Sadly, I don’t reciprocate like I should. My phobia of PDA and my over-protectiveness are hard to put up with. It might be because I need more than I let on. More than I would dare to admit to. We moved to NY to grow as a band but then I met ‘him’…our boss; a sexy as hell, bad boy with a convict’s past and a talent for breaking men and women’s hearts alike. He’s bad news… An urban beast with too much edge and he’s prowling around my comfort-zone relationship. Now I’m not sure who my significant other is… my girl or the man determined to remind me who I really am and what I truly want. Trixie: Coming to the city was our ticket to fame. It was me and Adam against the odds of notoriety but since we arrived in the Big Apple, we’ve also been made aware how small our bubble of safe love is. I know what my boyfriend probably hasn’t admitted to himself… that I’m not enough for him. We both are just too chicken to do anything about it. New York is changing us. The people we meet here, the emotions we face, even our music… and if there is anything you learn from these streets, it’s this… Traffic and life, they both wait for no one. You have to go with the flow, ride the current, and keep up the pace. Both Adam’s love and mine is being tested, or it’s about to end. Hopefully we can figure it all out. Oh and add that to my list of to do’s like keeping my twin away from a dangerous drug lord, struggling not to fall for a stranger, keeping the band from falling apart and not becoming a bumbling idiot in front of our criminally hot boss. Yeah…criminal… less

From the Author of The Divorce and The Friend Zone ~ Includes a Q&A with the author ~ Lydia: That is not lipstick, it’s a ketchup stain or a smudge of jelly from a jelly doughnut. Why do I know this? One, I do not wear lipstick and two, my husband loves jelly doughnuts. Boom. Mystery solved. My gut started to whisper. It was that little voice. Not paranoia. Paranoia is loud and frantic, and it screams suspicion. This was different... moreFrom the Author of The Divorce and The Friend Zone ~ Includes a Q&A with the author ~ Lydia: That is not lipstick, it’s a ketchup stain or a smudge of jelly from a jelly doughnut. Why do I know this? One, I do not wear lipstick and two, my husband loves jelly doughnuts. Boom. Mystery solved. My gut started to whisper. It was that little voice. Not paranoia. Paranoia is loud and frantic, and it screams suspicion. This was different. This was so softly spoken in the back of my mind that I almost didn’t hear it. It was intuition. Lorenzo: Sometimes I wonder if she would even enjoy these affairs if she didn’t have a husband. I wonder if she lays under whomever the man is and just imagines me sitting here knowing and hurting. Maybe it pushes her over the edge. My pain, her pleasure. Now, I’m looking at this woman, who says she understands. She wants to be friends. Like some broken hearts club. But there’s a fine line between what constitutes a friendship or an affair. Between what separates us, from them. That line is called a lie. less

Includes a bonus chapter and a Q&A with the author at the end of the story! Josefina: My story isn’t sweet or easy to hear. It’s the truth. A brutal truth anyone you know could be living through right now. I’m the person people talk about, asking, “Why does she stay?” My story will tell you why. It will tell you how it starts, where it leads. When does it end or will it ever? This is a different side of love, a darker, and deadly side that isn’t always discussed... moreIncludes a bonus chapter and a Q&A with the author at the end of the story! Josefina: My story isn’t sweet or easy to hear. It’s the truth. A brutal truth anyone you know could be living through right now. I’m the person people talk about, asking, “Why does she stay?” My story will tell you why. It will tell you how it starts, where it leads. When does it end or will it ever? This is a different side of love, a darker, and deadly side that isn’t always discussed. People think it can’t be love, that it starts with pain. Trust me, it starts with love. A love that hurts. Ridge: Because if love doesn’t hurt, it can’t be real. *This book contains strong language, violence, and graphic descriptions of domestic abuse. Please read with caution. Only for readers 18 years and up. less