Forget the jelly doughnuts. Hanukkah's about to get spicy....

Benji Roth couldn't be happier. His bakery in the small town of Serenity, Pennsylvania is thriving, and he doesn’t even mind being the only Jewish person in town. Except when his cousin, Issac, comes to visit, of course. Everyone is friendly—well, almost everyone. Gorgeous Gil Navarro, the owner of the spice shop across the street, comes in every morning for a muffin but barely looks at him and never says a word.

Benji’s parents worry about him being alone, so Benji reassures them—he’s serious with his boyfriend, and they’re in love. One little problem: the boyfriend doesn’t exist. But it’s no big deal; a little white lie never hurt anyone. Besides, it makes them happy and takes the pressure off him. They’ll never know.

Then a Thanksgiving storm finds him and Gil stranded together and having dinner with strangers. Even stranger is the kiss they share later that night. And the next morning.

Gil is funny and charming and in the weeks following, Benji is falling head over heels with a real, potential love. Now his parents are pressuring him to come home for Hanukkah, but he’s hoping to spend the holidays with Gil.

Cue the parents showing up unexpectedly at his front door. And wanting very much to meet the boyfriend he’s been with for almost a year. Whose name is not Gil.

Uh-oh.
This is a 25,000 word novella.