The Right Move (Windy City, 2)

RYAN
She’s a distraction, that’s what she is.

I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting.

But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate.

The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural.

Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her.

INDY
I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy.

Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others.

Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero.

Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love.

I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all.

Liz Tomforde is a New York Times, Sunday Times, and #1 Amazon bestselling sports romance author whose novels offer a mix of witty banter, undeniable chemistry, a healthy dash of spice, and swoon-worthy men who look good in a uniform.

Liz’s debut series, the Windy City Series, is complete with 5 books that are being adapted for television by Amazon Studios. Her latest novel, In Her Own League, is a Windy City Series Spin-off following major league baseball’s first female team owner and Chicago’s favorite coach. Liz's next 4-book series, Wilder Woods, will take place in Northern California and feature 4 new athletes, 3 new professional sports teams, and one new family to love.

For more information, please visit Liz’s website and subscribe to her newsletter at liztomforde. com. You can also connect with Liz on Instagram @liztomforde.author.

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde is a warm, slow-burn sports romance that follows two very different people who end up sharing an apartment and pretending to be in love. Ryan Shay is the newly appointed captain of the Chicago Devils basketball team. He is disciplined, private, and known for keeping everyone at a distance. His general manager worries that Ryan is too much of a lone wolf with no work-life balance, which puts his leadership role at risk. Into this carefully controlled life comes Indy Ivers, his twin sister Stevie’s best friend. Indy is a flight attendant who has just been dumped by her fiancé and lost most of her social circle in the process. With nowhere else to go, she moves into Ryan’s spare room while she saves for her own place.

At first the arrangement is purely practical. Ryan likes his quiet routines and clean apartment, and Indy’s messy, emotional energy feels like a constant interruption. Yet when Ryan’s boss questions his ability to connect with teammates, Indy offers a simple solution: they should pretend to be dating. The fake relationship would make Ryan look more approachable, and in return Indy would have a high-profile date for an upcoming wedding where her ex and former friends will all be present. What begins as a convenient arrangement quickly turns complicated once they start spending real time together.

Ryan and Indy’s opposite personalities create both friction and unexpected chemistry. Ryan is rigid and emotionally guarded, still carrying the weight of past losses that have made him wary of letting anyone in. Indy is open-hearted and romantic, someone who has always defined herself through her relationships with others. As they attend games, family events, and the dreaded wedding, the lines between performance and reality begin to blur. Late-night talks on the couch, small acts of care, and moments of genuine vulnerability make it harder for either of them to remember that none of this is supposed to be real.

The story deepens as both characters confront the parts of themselves they have been avoiding. Indy learns to sit with her own company instead of rushing to fill every silence with someone else. Ryan slowly opens up about the pressures of his career and the reasons he has kept love at arm’s length. Their growing closeness is tested by outside forces, including media attention, family expectations, and Ryan’s lingering belief that he is not built for lasting relationships. Indy’s optimism keeps pushing against Ryan’s caution, forcing both of them to decide what they are truly willing to risk.

By the final chapters, the fake relationship has become something neither of them planned for. Ryan must choose whether to keep protecting himself or to let Indy all the way in. Indy has to decide if she can love someone who may never say the words she has always wanted to hear. The book ends on a hopeful note, with the two of them finding a balance between their very different needs and choosing to build a life together anyway. Liz Tomforde’s novel captures the messy, tender process of two people learning that the scariest moves are sometimes the ones that turn out exactly right.