FLIRTING LESSONS

Hazel Maddox has always believed in meant to be.
Pure-hearted, stubbornly hopeful, and quietly in love with her childhood best friend, Kaden Hawthorne, she's spent years saving every "first" for the boy she's sure is her forever. There's just one problem-Kaden is sweet, nerdy... and painfully oblivious. No flirting. No moves. No signs he sees her as anything more than his best friend.

Convinced she's doing something wrong, Hazel decides it's time to learn how to flirt.

Enter Xander Carter.

Star football player. Walking red flag. The kind of guy girls warn each other about-right before falling for him anyway. He's confident where Kaden hesitates, bold where Hazel falters, and worst of all? He and Hazel cannot stand each other.

For six years, they've been rivals-arguing, competing, pushing each other's buttons over the dumbest things imaginable. They clash in hallways, trade insults like a sport, and swear they'll never be friends.

But Xander also happens to be Kaden's teammate.

Reluctantly, Hazel asks Xander for help. Just flirting lessons. Just practice. Just enough to get Kaden to finally notice her.

Except practice starts to feel real.

And the line between pretending and wanting begins to blur.

Because hate and love feel dangerously similar-and Hazel might be falling for the one guy she was never supposed to.

A story about rivalry, slow-burn tension, and choosing between the love you planned... and the love that surprises you.