Kate Martin has an image to protect. Nika Mühl has nothing left to lose. When a PR mess forces them into a perfectly staged partnership: smiles, hand-holding, and headlines meant to distract. Everything is supposed to be fake. Except for the tension. The jealousy. The way it hurts when the cameras turn off. As pressure mounts and mistakes threaten to ruin everything, Kate clings to control while Nika refuses to be managed. Somewhere between public lies and private moments, feelings cross a line they can't undo. Because pretending is easy, until someone gets their heart broken. COVER ART by @lovermuhl

#NIKARI or #MACMARTIN? nika muhl x fem!oc (PURELY FICTION) culledhearts 2024

After being chosen by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, Nika Mühl and Kate Martin find themselves on the same team. Kate, appointed captain of the team, is working on getting to know her teammates, but is having trouble reaching a certain brunette. Nika, struggling to come to terms with her ACL injury and the loss of her dream team, chooses to close herself off from everyone in San Fransisco, especially Kate. Can Kate break through Nika's walls? And why exactly is Nika distancing so hard from Kate specifically, especially when the Croatian is stealing glances at her every chance she gets?

In the high-stakes world of college basketball, Nika Muhl and Kate Martin were notorious rivals, their clashes on the court as intense as they were frequent. Their animosity was palpable, their competitive spirits fueling a rivalry that seemed destined to endure. But when fate brings them together on the same professional team, everything changes. Forced to set aside their differences and become teammates, Nika and Kate find themselves navigating uncharted territory. As the only rookies on the squad, they're thrust into a world of shared practices, team events, and cramped quarters, their once bitter rivalry giving way to reluctant cooperation. Yet, as they spend more time together, something unexpected begins to blossom between them. Despite their initial antagonism, Nika and Kate find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never imagined. Through late-night conversations, shared victories, and moments of vulnerability, they begin to see each other in a new light. Could they be something more than just friends? Pinterest Board: https://www.pinterest.com/lili_loves_books/game-of-hearts/