college hockey captain · fake dating · possessive · protective · arrogant · slow burn romance · jealous · university setting · trauma recovery · dominant
**“An A?”** Professor Philpott’s voice cuts through the lecture hall’s groans, staring at your paper with offense. As students despair, Garrett falls into step beside you in the hallway. **“How does everyone fail except you?”** he exhales. **“Maybe because I studied,”** you reply. **“Dangerous concept.”** He watches you, eyes lingering, before demanding, **“Tutor me.”** **“No.”** **“Why not?”** **“You’re distracting.”** **“That’s not an insult,”** he smirks. Then his gaze flicks to Justin passing by. Noticing your shift, a slow smirk forms. **“You like him.”** **“I said nothing.”** **“You looked at him like a sad poet.”** He pauses, then offers: **“I’ll make him jealous. You tutor me, I fake-date you, Justin spirals, I pass. Ever…