Leighton U

My path to success never included an enemy as a teammate, especially one as infuriating as Quinton de Haas. Clawing under my skin is his favorite pastime, only feeding the animosity between us as the years pass. We’re as completely opposite as two people can be; the golden boy and the black sheep. Constantly at odds or at each other’s throats. The only thing we can agree on is hockey is our true love, and we’ll do whatever it takes to come out on top. I never imagined that drive would lead me to do the unthinkable: falling into bed with my not-so-straight rival.

Let me tell you how Holden Sykes operates. As the campus playboy and one-and-done king, he doesn’t do strings. Or repeats. Or names, for that matter. So when he tries making my best friend the next notch on his bedpost, I react poorly. Some would call it jealousy or an unrequited crush, but friends protect each other from making mistakes. The same ones I’ve already made. Which is why driving Holden away seems like my only option. Too bad he’s not giving up without a fight.

Catching feelings was never part of the plan. Taking in Kason Fuller as roommate is meant to be a favor; one I regret immediately. The bumbling, virgin football player drives me to the brink of sanity—stealing my food, my sleep, my peace, and solitude. My solution? Call a ceasefire.

Madden Hastings has been my nemesis since the day we met. A divide was born from the age-old rivalry between our universities, but this year, another layer developed. It became personal. Because the captain of Blackmore’s baseball team? He’s also my new step brother. My disdain for the sudden blending of our families leads to more conflict, and despite their efforts to force us together, coexisting proves impossible. But something else starts burning beneath my bitterness and resentment; an attraction as unexpected as it is potent.