The Sweet Bride by Ciara Knight

Zoey Dixon grew up with her two sisters in a small, football-obsessed town. She managed to escape the Friday night lights and the turmoil of tutoring her high school jock crush by running into the arms of a college professor. A relationship that must remain secret to protect his advancing career in academia. A situation she doesn’t mind since her parents proved long ago that happily ever after only exists in stories. But when Zoey returns to her hometown for Christmas vacation, her high school crush confesses he’s always loved her. Between his confession and her college professor’s growing emotional distance, she’s questioning her entire view on life, her future, and more importantly her concept of love and being loved.