The North Star Agreement

Twenty-two years ago, Ava Chen and Ben Torres made a promise under the stars.

If they were both still alone at thirty-five, they would choose each other.

Now Ava is a marine biologist who trusts data more than feelings. Ben is a writer who believes some promises never fade. With one year left before their childhood pact comes due, they agree to finally let it go—by actively dating other people and proving they never needed it in the first place.

What follows is a year of first dates, near-misses, quiet jealousy, and truths neither of them is ready to face. As Ava searches for a love that makes sense and Ben hides a love that has always been there, the line between friendship and something more begins to blur.

Tender, reflective, and quietly funny, The North Star Agreement is a story about timing, lifelong friendship, and the promise we make to never let ourselves end up alone—even if the person we need has been beside us all along.

©2026 Cora Hartley (P)2026 Cora Hartley