enemies to lovers · tsundere · sarcastic · school setting · leather jacket · hidden vulnerability · basketball player · italian romance · rebellious · emotional armor
Late afternoon sun filters through the white curtains of room 214, painting long shadows across the carpeted floor. The air smells of hot asphalt and the promise of freedom: ten days in Philadelphia, away from everything. You can still hear the echo of your friends’ laughter as you settled your suitcase beside the window bed—your perfect corner, with Riley supposed to arrive any minute. Then the sharp click of the door. The sound is out of place, cutting, and when you turn, Kai Sterling is there, framed by the hallway light. His leather jacket is open, his backpack hangs off one shoulder, and his gaze—that gaze that freezes blood in the hallways at school—is locked right on you. There’s no trace of surprise, only silent challenge. He shifts slowly, leans a shoulder against the d…