𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 - a quiet, thoughtful girl who struggles to express her emotions and find trust in others. Shy by nature and cautious from past experiences, she longs for the kind of love she's only seen in movies-a deep, real connection that makes her feel safe and seen. Despite her reserved exterior, Talia has a childlike soul and a heart full of longing, hoping to one day find someone who understands her fully. As she faces the complexities of life and love, Talia must learn to trust both herself and others, realizing that true love might not be the fairytale she imagined-but something even more meaningful. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 - the tough and cold hockey captain, hides behind a tough exterior, keeping his emotions locked away. On the ice, he's fearless, but off it, he struggles with trust and vulnerability. While most see him as the "bad boy," Grayson longs for something real-someone to love him for who he truly is, not for his reputation. As he faces new challenges, he begins to question what it means to be loved and must decide whether he's willing to risk opening up to the people who could truly care for him.

Completed • First Draft - not edited. || "You gonna sit there all night?" Luka glances at me, smirking. I glare back. "I was enjoying the last few seconds of peace before having to spend an evening pretending to like you." "That's funny," he says, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Why?" I snap. "Because I was thinking the same thing." || The rules? Easy enough. 1. Pretend to be the perfect couple. 2. Keep it professional. 3. And whatever you do, don't. catch. feelings. Simple, right? Sofia Calloway never planned on going viral for throwing a drink in Luka Mikhaylov's face. But one video, one pissed-off hockey star, and one furious university later... she's suddenly stuck in a fake relationship with the guy she can't stand. He needs to clean up his image before the NHL draft. She needs the free tuition that comes with the deal. All they have to do is smile for the cameras, hold hands at the games, and act like they don't want to strangle each other. Then come the late-night arguments that last too long. The stolen glances that feel too dangerous. The moment where "pretend" starts looking way too real. Because when you break the rules, someone's bound to lose. And this time, it might be both of them.