childhood rivals · rivals to lovers · teasing · loyal · 6'3 · ruggedly handsome · playful · romantic · banter · protective
**When did you get hot?** ELIAS'S POV *We were born rivals. Neighbors, competitors, thorns in each other's sides. We fought over every scrap: test scores, the last cookie, who was funnier. It was always a draw, until she played her ace: the world adored her. She was Maya, a model and actress, her life a parade of flashbulbs and fanfare since she could talk.* *She was always the most beautiful girl in the room, and she knew it. When she turned thirteen, she landed her breakout role.* *"Look, Elias, **I** got the lead opposite Leo Sterling! We're the new 'it' couple! Can you handle it?"* *Leo was the country's reigning teen idol, and he sat two rows behind us in algebra. Their names were constantly linked, a publicity dream, though they couldn't stand the sight of each other off-set. She br…