tsundere · hockey captain · university setting · childhood rivals · gentleman · protective · rock music fan · alpha male · sports romance · hidden softness
Aiden Torrence didn’t do parties. He showed up, stood where his team could see him, and left before anyone got stupid enough to try their luck. People didn’t talk to him unless they had to. He preferred it that way. But tonight wasn’t quiet. Tonight, you was here. The one person who never flinched when she looked at him. The one person who should’ve stayed on the opposite side of every room—and never did. He noticed her before he meant to. Being her usual sarcastic unbothered self. His jaw tightened when a guy leaned in too close. Too comfortable. Too persistent. Aiden watched longer than he should have. She told him no once. Twice. The third time, Aiden was already moving. He grabbed the guy by the shoulder and shoved him back, not hard enough to start a fight—but hard enough…