Worth The Wait

by TK Fletcher

Miranda Cole has spent years loving Zaire Hayes from a safe distance.

As her brother’s best friend, Zaire has always been close enough to want but completely off-limits. Miranda learned a long time ago how to keep her feelings to herself—even if letting them go was never an option.

But after a championship win lands them under the same roof for a week in the Bahamas, distance is no longer on her side.

Zaire knows some lines shouldn’t be crossed. Miranda has already spent enough time waiting. And one week in paradise might be all it takes to find out if some things are worth the risk.

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2026

About the author

TK Fletcher is a Louisiana-based indie author who writes Black romance and romantic suspense. Her love for storytelling began in high school during the Wattpad days, where writing became a creative outlet long before she considered becoming a published author.

After losing her mother in 2025, TK decided it was time to stop keeping her stories to herself and share them with the world. She made her author debut in April 2026 with Worth the Risk.

TK writes about Black love in all its forms. Her stories are filled with complicated relationships, family, humor, real-life conversations, a little drama, and plenty of spice. Her characters aren’t perfect. They make mistakes, grow, fall in love, and figure life out along the way.

Outside of writing, TK holds multiple degrees and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Reviews

[Jay DaBibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Wait 📸

The title did not lie because Worth the Wait was absolutely worth it!

Miranda is beautiful, smart, ambitious, and ready to be known as more than “The Marcus Cole’s little sister.” Zaire is a handsome, charismatic, and ridiculously sexy pitcher for the Eastgate Titans. He also happens to be Marcus’s childhood best friend and teammate, making Miranda the definition of forbidden fruit.

When Miranda joins Marcus and his wife, Elena, on a vacation to Zaire’s home in the Bahamas, all that attraction becomes much harder to ignore. Close quarters, tropical scenery, and years of unspoken feelings? Baby, something was bound to happen! 😂 Their chemistry was undeniable, but I also loved that Miranda had her own goals and identity outside of being someone’s little sister or love interest.

Even though this was a quick read, TK Fletcher gave me romance, friendship, family tension, and enough emotional conflict to keep me invested. Zaire had to decide whether pursuing Miranda was worth potentially damaging the friendship he had shared with Marcus since childhood. What will he choose?

This was a sweet, sexy, and satisfying brother’s-best-friend sports romance. Readers of the previous book will also enjoy seeing Marcus and Elena again. I flew through it and finished with a smile on my face. Five stars, easily!

[Cozyreadsbycrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

This was a cute novella that gives all the feels. Miranda Cole has been WAITING waiting! 😂 Sis has been in love with her brother Marcus’s best friend and MLB teammate, Zaire Hayes, since she was a teenager. For years, she was just his best friend’s little sister…until suddenly, she wasn’t. 👀

When Marcus suggests Miranda and Zaire join him and Elena on a Bahamas vacation, the two finally give in to all that attraction and decide to SNEAK AROUND BEHIND HIS BACK. 😂🤦🏾‍♀️

I love a good brother’s best friend/forbidden romance, so I was here for it! Miranda finally getting the man she’d been crushing on for YEARS was cute, and their chemistry made it easy to root for them.

After vacation and back to reality, a PR scandal hits and ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! 😩 Now they’re dealing with careers, reputations, outside opinions AND figuring out if what they have is worth standing on when things get messy.

I also loved getting an update on Marcus and Elena from Worth The Risk. 🥹❤️ And although familiar characters appear, Worth The Wait can absolutely be read as a standalone.

Overall, this was a fun read with a brother’s best friend, longtime crush, MLB romance, forced proximity, sneaking around with some spice and drama. 😂

[Taylor Chantáe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda & Zaire was such a good sport romance novella - Imagine loving someone half of your life, thinking you’ll never be able to be with that person. For more reasons than one. Years later only to find out, they feel the same way about you but convinced themselves they couldn’t have you because of the odds stacked against both of you. This was a reminder to not overthink it, stand on what you know feels right. The love that festered for years finally being shown out loud. Regardless what social media, PR or paparazzi said - Zaire wouldn’t let them tell him who to love. To get married at the same location where it all began was such a beautiful touch! Elena from Worth The Risk so messy!! All that smirking & side eyeing LOL.. This novella had me laughing, rolling eyes & wanting to smack Zaire head for taking so long to tell Miranda his truth. He did admit he was slow LOL! Sometimes, love from the right person is Worth The Wait!

[Crystal Demby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is a standalone, I actually read Worth the Risk before to get the backstory of other characters. You really wouldn't be missing any vital info if you start with Worth the Wait. Miranda has been in love with her brothers best friend Zaire since she was a teen. Zaire is blind to the fact of her crush but also trying to refrain from crossing the line with his own feelings. Sometimes the best things come to those that wait... isn't that the saying? Zaire and Miranda's love story is one that blossoms in its own time. I low key feel that if it would have happened earlier they may not have lasted. But it's a beautiful telling of how friendship and career can come in between what the heart desires.

[Vonetta Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

This book gave a little forbidden romance with Zaire being the best friend to Miranda's older brother. Miranda has been pinning for Zaire since she was a teenager but Zaire always saw her as his friend's younger sister and at the time didn't want to cross those lines. Now as adults, while away on vacation, he Zaire is looking at Miranda with a different set of lenses. He can no longer deny his attraction to her and he doesn't care what anyone has to say about it.

I liked the fact that Zaire let Miranda know that what she was feeling all these years wasn't one-sided and that what they had was not just a fling, he wanted to be with her. He didn't want to keep her a secret even given his status as professional athlete and he was just going to have to deal with whatever her brother had to say to him but he wasn't coming up off her. I also liked that he was a man of action and he showed as much as he told so Miranda could feel secure in what they were building and know that he meant business.

Overall I thought this was a cute read with a good storyline, some spice, and great chemistry between Miranda and Zaire.

[CT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC. This was my second book by T.K. Fletcher, and I really enjoyed it!

Miranda and Zaire were such a sweet couple. What made them special to me was the genuine connection between them. I loved how comfortable they were with each other and how their feelings felt natural rather than forced. There was a warmth to their relationship that made their story especially cute and easy to root for.

This was a quick, feel-good novella that I enjoyed from beginning to end. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!

Tropes:

* Friends to lovers
* Mutual pining
* Small-town romance
* Second chance/missed timing
* Low angst
* Sweet romance
* HEA

[Shae B. Readin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @authortkfletcher so much for this ARC!

This is a 4.5 ⭐️ read for me.

She has been in love with him since she was a teenager. He is her brother’s best friend and teammate.

Usually vacations are for relaxing but this one will change everything.

If you enjoy: brother’s best friend tropes, a little bit of a slow burn, and vacation vibes this is definitely a great quick read for you.

It’s funny, a bit spicy and a great love story. Zaire and Miranda compliment each other so well.

While this is a standalone it mentions characters from another story (Worth the Risk) that can be read before or after to get a look into their story.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book from the author***
It is mentioned that it is a stand alone, but it is connected to her other book Worth the Risk.
With that said, this was a cute little read!
Miranda has always had feelings and Zaire is done fighting what he really feels. And then BOOM! Instant love.
I do wish there was some more in depth background to the MCs. But then, it would turn into a full blown novel and not be a novella. 
But no long drawn out chapters with unnecessary drama and a dozen POVs. Just a sweet short love story with a dash of drama and a little spice 😉. 

[MariebeReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read

I enjoyed this little novella. It was short, sweet, and a great read. Miranda has wanted Zaire since they were kids. Seeing them as adults finally get together was well earned and deserved. I enjoyed this story for more reasons than one. And now I have to go read about Marcus & Elena.

[Kim Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most definitely worth it.

I had stars in my eyes the entire book. Great sports ROMANCE. I absolutely love how this progressed. I got some great quotes for my motivation wall out of the book. Definitely an author to watch in the romance books.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up immediately after reading the first one and it didn’t disappoint. I loved this little story line!

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun & sexy vacation romance. I really enjoyed the banter between everyone in this book. I love a couple that talks trash to each other. That playful banter always helps a connection feel authentic, and Zaire & Miranda really seemed to have fun together. They also had great physical chemistry. What I enjoyed the most, though, was seeing that balance between being a fun couple while also being able to be tender & vulnerable with one another.

Having to transition from vacation mode back to real life proved to be challenging for them, and while I don’t think everything was handled in the best way, I was able to empathize with both of them and understand where they were coming from. The conflict was also resolved pretty quickly, which worked for me given the novella length.

I will say that the brother’s best friend trope is always a risky one for me because sometimes these brothers make it WEIRD! 😂 Like, why do you care what your grown sister is doing with her pocketbook? 👀🥴🤣 Thankfully, this one wasn’t nearly as high in tension as some others I’ve read.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fun summer read with good vacation vibes, great chemistry, and that “it was always you/what took you so long?” kind of energy, you’ll enjoy this one.

✨✨ARC copy provided in exchange for honest review✨✨

[Nerissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a ARC.

Worth The Wait is a forbidden-love sports romance following Miranda and Zaire. Miranda is the little sister of Zaire’s best friend and teammate. Zaire is the MMC and instantly likable; what stood out most is that he refuses to let anyone pressure him into a decision that isn’t his, and he’s steady and reassuring about building a real happily ever after with Miranda rather than treating things casually.

Miranda is a standout FMC. She is confident, plus-size, and refreshingly written as exactly Zaire’s type rather than an exception to it. She carries some insecurities that surface under the pressure of being in the spotlight, which feels honest rather than overwrought, and it’s satisfying watching her end up with the man she’s loved since she was fifteen. The reveal that Zaire had secretly been wanting her too adds a great slow-burn payoff, and both leads feel fully realized rather than one-note.

Add in a sports romance backdrop and a cover that’s genuinely gorgeous, and this one checks a lot of boxes. It’s a cute, flirty, quick read that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

[KellenInBloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brief journey with Zaire and Miranda showed what it looks like when someone gives you the safety and reassurance to finally go after something you've wanted for a long time. It projected the intentionality in ones decision to choose what they loved, even when they once believed it was something they couldn't have.

I loved Zaire because he was certain. He never wavered or allowed anyone else to sway his feelings or intentions. From the beginning he made it clear that he wasn't going back to how things were and he was thoughtful, unmovable and decided. Even when Miranda wasn't sure, Zaire held firmly to what he wanted and continued to show her that this was exactly where he wanted to be.

It was beautiful watching him choose her confidently. He was compassionate through her doubts. Everyone else's opinions became background noise for Zaire. What mattered was what they wanted, and he stood on exactly what that was.

Something that you value is always worth the effort and WORTH THE WAIT.

[Tamika Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Miranda and Zaire’s story! The chemistry between them was there from the beginning, and I loved the brother’s best friend aspect. The Bahamas setting made it even better because once they were around each other nonstop, I already knew those feelings weren’t staying hidden for long. Zaire is definitely one of my favorite MMCs, especially seeing how long he had been holding back. Once he got Miranda he did everything to keep her. She kind of pissed me off for a second but she redeemed herself.
This story was sweet and an easy read that kept me entertained. I also loved seeing familiar characters from Worth the Risk. Like the author said you don’t have to read Worth the Risk but I enjoyed that book too.
One thing I loved was Miranda having her own identity outside of baseball and being Marcus little sister. She was a whole photographer. And the HEA was chef’s kiss.

[Rashida · Rating 4 out of 5]

TK Fletcher is a new to me author, and this first read did not disappoint. Worth The Wait is a cute vacation novella that follows Miranda and Zaire. Miranda is accompanying her brother and his teammate/best friend on vacation after a championship win(I love that the sport was baseball). One of them has been holding back their feelings and the thought to act on those feelings. This novella has a little bit of everything, spice, drama, humor, romance, and is a quick fun read. You have to read to find out if it was in fact worth the wait.

[A Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute! It is a quick read but manages to cover all the points in a short literary ride. It's refreshing to read a realistic portrayal of black love that doesn't have a lot of unnecessary drama. I especially love how Miranda and Zaire got ahead of the drama that could have occurred before it started and how they acknowledged their feelings for one another.

[Inez Moon The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC READ 📚

I absolutely loved this cutesy read by Author TK Fletcher.

Loved how Zaire wanted to love out loud no matter what🥰
Miranda ticked me off at first but I understood where she was coming from more towards the end.🫡
Loved how clueless to everything Marcus was🤭
Elena peeped game a stayed quiet 🤫

A very adorable read
Must add to your TBR!!!
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

[Alison Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read. Seeing Zaire and how much he cared about his Randi was amazing. He simply didn’t care what anybody said when it came to her and he made sure he did whatever he could to prove that. This was an amazing story.

[ShayEveryday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the wait is definitely worth the wait , it was short but jammed packed with so much!!! Ion wanna say too much I’ll let yall read for yourself but this book was so good I was locked in from the first chapter I just love love and I love seeing true love unfold!

[Demeika · Rating 5 out of 5]

TK has done it again. I was wondering if Zaire or Miranda was going to get their own stories, I was flabbergasted when I saw it was a forbidden love story about them!! This short read was very refreshing, I’m such a sucker for any type of love story.