Title: Besties in Crime

Author: Rob Loveless

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 02/24/2026

Heat Level: 1 – No Sex

Pairing: No Romance

Length: 252

Genre: Contemporary, Genre/lit, crime/thriller, comedy, best friends, mafia, robbery, divorce, on the run, Atlantic City

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Description

Childhood best friends Jay and Gia haven’t spoken since Gia’s marriage drove them apart, until one tearful night when she shows up at Jay’s door with devastating news: her husband, Frank, is leaving her. Rekindling their bond over heartbreak and bad decisions, the pair hatch a reckless plan for a weekend escape to Atlantic City, funded by some “borrowed” cash from Frank’s home office.

But when the house goes up in flames, and Frank is found dead in the wreckage, their impulsive getaway turns into a full-blown manhunt.

Before Jay and Gia can clear their names, they’re caught in a dire twist of fate when mobsters kidnap them, claiming Frank owed them money. Soon, the former besties are swept into a chaotic whirlwind of car chases, gunfights, bank robberies, and…burlesque shows? But as they scramble to outsmart the crooks, one question remains: will the FBI find this ridiculous mix-up as humorous as their quick-witted candor?

Besties in Crime
Rob Loveless © 2026
All Rights Reserved

“So,” Paul began, “are you seeing anyone?”

Jay took a gulp of his drink to stop himself from scoffing and rolling his eyes in annoyance. Paul always asked him that, which only made Jay feel more like an outcast.

“No,” he replied flatly.

“Well, it’ll happen when you least expect it,” Paul said nonchalantly.

Jay grumbled internally at his friend’s sentiment. It was easy to have that outlook as a married straight man, but as a single gay man, he had his doubts. A chill prickled his spine, which was unrelated to the air conditioning blasting through the packed bar to protect its patrons from the summer heat.

He was lonely, although he tried to convince himself that his loneliness was soothing. After all, being alone allowed him to prioritize his own needs and wants. It wasn’t loneliness. It was solitude, right? However, having all that time to listen to his needs and wants made him realize how discontented he was.

At twenty-seven years old, he thought he would have had his life a little more figured out. He had always hoped to be married and start a family someday, but that seemed like a distant wish. Maybe it was because he had always relied on apps, but dating never came naturally to him. The men he ended up going out with always seemed to have excessive baggage and were emotionally unavailable.

Since he had no one to call his own, he fully dedicated himself to the digital marketing agency he worked for. He excelled at his job, launching online marketing campaigns and overseeing the development of various collateral needed to support them, and he earned a decent paycheck. But between his rent, grad school loans, and miscellaneous expenses, there never seemed to be much left over for him at the end of each month. And despite being in his role for three years and receiving stellar performance reviews annually, there didn’t appear to be much room for advancement. Even worse, he was still viewed as the “young newcomer” and was often spoken over in meetings. His supervisors told him that he did great work on a regular basis, yet it felt like he still wasn’t taken seriously. Meanwhile, all around him, it seemed as if his friends were flourishing with promotions, home ownership, and weddings.

Jay had determined a while ago that this was the beginning of the end. First, they get married, then they have kids. And if you’re still single at that point, then you’re forgotten. It was essentially an unspoken law of science: married couples with children can’t have single friends. None of his friends had begun having children yet—thank God—but he knew it was on the horizon.

He was one of the few in his friend group who wasn’t married and the only one who was still single. He had noticed the subtle shift in dynamics when he hung out with his coupled friends as two individuals merged into a singular we. We think, we like, we decided. It was only a matter of time before one of those wes had a baby. Not only did he fear that he would be distanced from the group once they began having kids, he’d also be reminded of what he wanted so badly in life. But being the sole single friend in his late twenties served as a cruel indicator that he might never settle down and have children of his own—and not for a lack of trying.

If he thought he was alone now, he worried how isolated he’d feel once his friends succumbed to baby fever. While his concerns might be considered far-fetched to some, he had reason to worry. It had already happened once before.

The beginning of the end, he thought with a bitter taste in his mouth.

 

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Rob Loveless is a corporate communications professional, and currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA. He has been an avid reader and writer from a young age, being influenced by authors like Dan Brown. When he’s not working or writing, Rob enjoys being active, exploring what the Steel City has to offer, and traveling.

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