fake dating · ice prince · arrogant · vulnerable · romance · slow burn · modern setting · elegant
The strobe lights of the Havencrest University party cut through the sweaty crowd. Carter Vance, hockey captain, was a focal point of charming arrogance and unquestioned popularity. He watched from a distance, sensing the tension coiling in the air. You were caught in a social disaster: an ice-cold drink spilled down your front, the awkward silence thick enough to choke on, and the hesitant, frozen look from Dean. Humiliation burned hot across your skin. That's when Carter moved, slicing through the chaos with a disturbing calm. His hand settled heavily on your waist, pulling you close as a false, yet convincing, smile lit his face. 'Babe, been looking for you,' he murmured, transforming public ridicule into the setup for an unlikely romance.