Ben and Olivia are either laughing or at each other's throats-there's no in-between. To the outside world, they're chaos and charm. Banter and barbs. But underneath the teasing nicknames and constant one-upping, there's something deeper neither of them dares to name. Olivia hides her feelings behind sarcasm and a smile that rarely reaches her eyes. She cries in the shower, keeps people at arm's length, and refuses to let anyone see the cracks-especially Ben. Ben, the guy who masks his anxiety with bravado and charm. The one who's terrified of being alone and finds comfort in the noise... even when that noise is Olivia yelling at him. They weren't supposed to fall. Not for each other. Not like this. But sometimes, love doesn't arrive quietly. Sometimes... it collides. It tangles. And sometimes, it clashes.

When two rival hearts tangle themselves in one another, when push comes to shove and sacrifices have to be made, what will they choose? Lizzie Myers a Junior at Meadow ridge university is both beauty and brains. Being the hotshot of her campus she has lots of guys throwing themselves at her but she only has eyes on one thing and one thing only and that's completing her degree in biology, growing up with a poor family she prioritized her academics and now in college she still does. But when she meets the captain of the rival hockey team Luke Becket, her priorities change. Luke Beckett a incoming power force in the hockey world who wants to go sign with the Vancouver vipers to excel past his fathers footsteps but he has an obstacle in his path when he meets Lizzie Myers from his rival school. What happens when he tells her about his twisted past and she stays. When all is said and done opposites attract. Second book in the 'Winning hearts' series BUT can be read as a standalone! ༺♡༻ { Started: 4th February 2024 } { Finished: 30th April 2024 } #2 in offcampus #1 In studentathlete

"Why is it that whenever I try to get closer to you, you always shy away from me?" Aiden asks, hurt dripping from his voice I look at him and instantly i'm filled with regret and fear. "You wouldn't understand Aiden." I say pleading with him "Try me," He challenges. "Listen," I pause. "I need you to understand that when I push you away, it's because it's the only thing I know how to do anymore." He opened his mouth to say something but she stopped him, holding her palm up like a white flag. "You need to understand that everyone else has left and my problem," I say raising my voice. "My problem is that I'm scared," "I'm scared of getting too attached to someone, until eventually, that someone has the power to control me. To end my world when they feel like it." Aidens eyes bore into mine but he doesn't say anything. "Are you attached?" He asks. I glance away and then back at him nodding "With you? Too much." I say as a tear rolls down my left cheek "I'm scared that you are going to leave." I whisper as Aiden wraps his arms around me. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A grumpy figure skater and a golden retriever Hockey Captain.