Christina Berry

Rico Rodriguez was my first friend, first kiss, and first love. Then he was my first heartbreak. Seven years ago, he left me and this small town to join the Army. Now he’s back, a single dad in search of a second chance.

The plan was to fix up the farmhouse, sell it, and leave. Then I met Drew... and his cat Bodhi. I’m a stranger in this place. When a car accident nearly killed me, Mom took me away from my father and this small Texas town.

It's been five years since I found my family. Not my bio-family—my found family of friends. I love them to pieces, but lately they aren’t enough. I want a baby. All my friends have family units with cuddly babies, and I want that too. But I turn thirty-five in less than a month.

When I agreed to my wife’s request for an open marriage, I didn’t anticipate she’d fall in love with another man and leave me.

As frontman of Austin's most popular metal band, I have it all. But when a car accident nearly kills my best friend, I'm rocketed back to memories of that horrible night, all those years ago when I lost my family at the hands of a drunk driver.

Am I happy? How would I know? What is the measure of happiness? Deep thoughts to indulge on my birthday, while at a funeral. As I stare down into my grandfather-in-law’s grave, it’s all I can think about. When was the last time I felt truly happy with my life?