: The setting of Saddle Creek, TX, emphasizes tight-knit community dynamics and the impact of local gossip.
, the town sheriff, intervenes by offering to enter into a fake relationship with her to protect her from the gossip and her ex's advances. Unbeknownst to Madison, Caleb has been in love with her since the tenth grade and views this "fake" arrangement as his long-awaited opportunity to finally claim her. Key Themes and Tropes
: The dynamic between the rule-abiding "stick-in-the-mud" sheriff and the "troublemaker" gossip columnist.