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By: Taj McCoy

Emma Sparrow is in a period of transition. She is dropping the men from her dating roster, much to the surprise of her friends who are hopeful that the change means she is ready for something more serious. For years, she has said that she won’t date a woman again until she is ready to fall in love. Is she now? Maybe.

But Emma doesn’t have time to focus on the DC dating pool, because she is moving into her own place for the very first time, having gone from living with her parents to becoming her best friend’s roommate since their college dorm years. Now that best friend Zora is getting serious and moving in with her boyfriend, Emma feels ready to try something new and create her own space. When she finds the perfect building, the place seems just right for Emma, but she’ll have to deal with the no-nonsense landlady.

Sadeqa “Sadie” Evans seems to have it out for Emma, but it’s not like Emma means to lock herself out of her apartment or break her key. Even underneath all of Sadie’s grouchy exterior, Zora and her granny sense sizzling chemistry, and when they implore Emma to take a closer look, she begins to notice the sexy woman behind the smoldering glares and snarky remarks.

When they find themselves in close quarters, Emma opens herself to the possibilities, but after, Sadie is just as closed off as before. When the pair are drawn together like magnets once more-unlocking sparks and a fiery connection-Sadie bolts mid-date, leaving Emma questioning whether she’s romantacized everything that happened. Was Emma ready too soon? Will Sadie ever be open to more?

THROW AWAY THE KEY is a queer landlord-tenant, grumpy sunshine romance set in Northeast DC.