Notes About Vodka

LAURA never thought she’d break free from the trailer park she grew up in, let alone survive two spine surgeries and a failing marriage by the age of 23. Now, juggling a second shot at college and playing piano at a bar by night, she dreams of becoming a doctor—if life will finally let her breathe.

VALE?EY—or Val—is a 26-year-old Russian mixologist with an expired visa, a talent for crafting the perfect cocktail, and a heart that longs for home. Stuck between his past and an uncertain future, he dreams of opening his own restaurant while figuring out how to reunite with his family.

When Laura and Val meet at Pianissimo, their connection is instant—sharp-witted banter, stolen glances, and late-night napkin notes ignite something neither expected. But what begins as playful flirtation turns into something much deeper, something worth fighting for.
Just as they’re ready to take a chance on forever, reality comes crashing in. Laura’s acceptance into a prestigious medical internship in another state and Val’s battle to legalize his immigration status threaten to tear them apart. In a desperate gamble, they marry, believing love will be enough to conquer the odds.

But love, no matter how fierce, is never easy. Will Laura and Val defy the forces pulling them apart, or will their love story end before it’s truly had a chance to begin?