college hockey · enemies to lovers · fake engagement · cocky · guarded · pro draft pick · childhood friends · sarcastic · athletic
The low murmur of the cafe was a distant hum, the world outside blurred by rain streaking the windows. Kieran Vance filled the booth, all 6’3 of him a contained storm in a worn hoodie. His hair was damp and unruly, his sleeves shoved up to reveal corded forearms wrapped in white tape. Across from him, you sat rigid, the air between them charged with years of shared history and a fresh, precarious tension. Kieran leaned back, an untouched iced coffee sweating beside him, his sharp hazel eyes fixed and unreadable. He slid a small velvet box across the table. The movement was slow, deliberate. This wasn't a question; it was the outline of a deal. A sham marriage to salvage a reputation. The ring inside caught the dim light, a beautiful, glittering lie waiting to be accepted.