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Looking for a steady supply of romance short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

150+ Romance Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From the thrill of a first date to a snapshot tour through an entire relationship, our collection of romantic short stories will give you everything your heart desires.

Romance Short Stories – Page 9 of 10

The Moth and The Flame

Submitted to Contest #311

I remember the day I first laid my eyes upon you.The scatter of trees, their shadows sheltering the forest floor from the late afternoon heat, the muffled crunch of fallen twigs underneath my feet, and the birds' harmonies floating between the branches—I remember the day vividly.I would often seek refuge in the forest, where there was nobody else to disturb me. That day, I was particularly stressed from the busyness of life and sought the forest's comfort as an escape.Lost in thought, I was strolling through the wood's overgrown terrain, whe...

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Six Moons Later

Submitted to Contest #311

I remember the comfort that creeps in when familiarity turns your bones warm. It is a feeling that slips in quietly, like a hot cup of tea between cold hands. Soothing. Undeniable. That is how it felt when I saw him again. Dash. His smile had not changed—could not have. It took over his entire face, like joy had muscle memory. The way his eyes crinkled and sparked at once, the flicker of white teeth, the nose that always twitched when he smiled sincerely. And this, this moment of seeing him again, gave me that ridiculous blush that blooms fr...

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When I see you again

Submitted to Contest #311

1970 The moonlight hits my eyes softly, just enough to illuminate our presence. Our dancing shadows are casting shapes beside the water, the whole summer’s eve spent with our embracing reflections. Her siren brown eyes are glowing under the moonlight, her tight brunette curls all watered down with sea salt. My scrawny arms are around her, my blue eyes looking through her smile, a smile full of elation, warmth, safety. As our bodies collide, brushing against each other, nothing matters anymore. No warm night, no humid water, no glowing moon. ...

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Love Interrupted

Submitted to Contest #311

Kaya rested her head on the subway window as she turned the music down on her headphones to get some sleep, as she was the only one in the car. As soon as she closed her eyes, her phone rang in her ears. It was a FaceTime call. "What are you doing up so early, Bree?" "Are you almost home, Mommy?""Soon, baby, go back to sleep, okay? ""I can't... Uncle Tommy is snoring again, and Grandma is making too much noise in the kitchen. " "Turn on your Moshi sound, and I will be home soon to give you some back scratches, okay? But I'd better see you i...

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Yearning For Summer

Submitted to Contest #311

I regret ever talking to you, not in a way where I hate you, but in a way where I should have known better. I couldn't help it because when I first saw you, I felt an instant spark, and I knew you felt it too. This spark would lead to a path of heartache and longing that I didn't even know was possible.As you walked up the stairs to the restaurant where I worked, our eyes met, and in that moment, I was captivated by your presence. I smiled and said, "How can I help you?""I'm here for an interview.""Oh, I'll get a manager for you, and by the ...

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Shot

Submitted to Contest #311

The police detective straightened her lapel before heading into the bullpen. She took pride in her looks. It used to be just because she enjoyed turning heads and using her good looks to get suspects to like her and manipulate them into incriminating themselves. But lately, she had noticed that her partner’s opinion mattered more than it should have. Partners are supposed to trust each other with their lives, but it was highly unethical (though not unheard of) for them to become romantically involved. She noticed him noticing her when she lo...

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Sealed With A Kiss

Submitted to Contest #311

CW: Contains themes and/or references to sexual content Even gods must sleep betimes.The words formed in his mind before Hermes opened his eyes.He stared up at the anonymous ceiling. Not Shakespeare. He had seen all the plays, some more than once, at the original Globe Theatre and still kept a hardcover Collected Works in this digital age, so he knew the Bard’s writing well.A hitch of breath brought his attention to the sleeping woman beside him, so he turned his head toward Gabriela. He did not attempt to perceive her dream as these seldom ...

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Chasing Ghosts

Submitted to Contest #311

There are a lot of things I regret, like when I shouted at Ma when she was just asking me if I’d eaten yet after Dad died. I regret not spending more time with him, because he felt like a ghost even before he passed. But I don’t regret my time with you, painful it might have been. There were moments of brevity where it felt like I was flying. You made me feel so special in those precious hours. Now, I stare at my phone wondering if it’s broken because you haven’t called even though you said you would. Each buzz sends an electric shock down m...

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Alex's coffee

Submitted to Contest #311

Oatmilk. Not regular, it makes her stomach hurt and almond milk leaves a weird taste in her mouth. She likes it sweet, not too sweet but just the right amount; so she can still taste the bitterness of the espresso. Two shots of espresso, three gives her the jitters. Sweet foam on top, she loves having a small white mustache. She will want it iced, no matter the seasons. It's 7:45 am. She will be here soon. Her drink is ready. The door chimes. "Welcome!" I turn and there she is. Her wild red curly hair. Each piece curls perfectly around her f...

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A Thousand Sundays

Submitted to Contest #311

A Thousand Sundays Claire hadn’t expected the quiet to suit her as well as it did. She’d spent years in the whirlwind of public life: committee hearings, campaign buses, news cycles that never stopped spinning. But here in this Midwestern college town, the silence felt soft instead of sharp. A hum of birdsong on Sunday mornings. The low murmur of NPR in the kitchen. Her own voice, singing alto in the Episcopal church choir, steady and certain. Her house was small. It was an old craftsman cottage with a porch swing, a tangled garden she was ...

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Draft 27

Submitted to Contest #310

I enlarged the font and reread the last paragraph. “Melody closed her eyes and inhaled the warmth of Jeremy’s breath on her cold face. Trudging in the snow, checking on sheep out to pasture was not her idea of a good time. But there was something about Jeremy–maybe the twinkle in his eye, or his wry, Irish sense of humor that made her follow him anywhere. Especially when they stopped to warm up in each other’s arms.” Then I quickly reduced it again and wanted to hurl. That story wasn’t going anywhere. Just like my previous twenty-five...

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Revenant

Submitted to Contest #311

Viscerally, I still remember the very day I met him. His tie was infuriatingly ajar, his hair messy and wild; a nonsensical smirk was plastered on his handsome face. He had looked at me and ruffled my hair as if we were old friends meeting once more. I disliked it. Truly. Yet, I did not comprehend or understand why my cheeks suddenly flushed pink.After that, our rivalry consisted of his merciless teasing and my equally quick retorts. I would endeavour not to focus on the mole near his mouth. He would tear his gaze from my eyes aggressively. ...

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Blissfully uncertain

Submitted to Contest #310

The AC is busted again, so we’re stuck on the porch trying to cool down. Even out here, the air feels like soup, that stifling summer-in-the-city weather that always has me looking up Alaska’s housing prices on Zillow. “I’m telling you, man. It’s like that white woman thing about actualizing your goals.” Benny stares at me, one eyebrow raised, as if I just told him I bought a time share. I can tell he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying, but I need to tell someone and he’s the only one I can say it to if I want to avoid grippy socks. “Seriousl...

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Trust

Submitted to Contest #311

Alice had always been my friend. My best friend. From childhood we became inseparable. We took the same AP classes in school and went to the same college. We even worked the same jobs throughout college just to spend more time together. Now as she runs away from me, as I chase her through the alleyways of our beloved city, I cannot help but wonder what made her do it. Matt and I started dating in the later years of college, he proposed at graduation, and we were married the very next year. Of course, Alice was my maid of hono...

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Revisions

Submitted to Contest #310

Christina had long given up on writing anything. The words were always in her head—swirling, swarming—but never making it to the page. They just festered. Like a cesspool. By day, she clanked away behind a screen—serving the man. By night, she’d stare into another screen, doom-scrolling to avoid the story looping in her mind. A story about a girl who couldn’t stop time but desperately needed to. She couldn’t decide if it was autobiographical or just pathetic. On an oppressively hot Tuesday afternoon, she stopped by Target. The moment she wal...

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RBE | RBE Romance | 2024-03

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