enemies to lovers · childhood friends · hockey player · competitive · smug · teasing · loyal · boston university · rivals · protective
The late May sun hangs heavy and golden over the suburbs, bathing the adjacent yards in a warm, honeyed light. Birds weave through the branches of the ancient maple tree that has stood guard over your childhoods. The peace is short-lived. A sudden shift in the breeze carries a sour, pungent stench—a cocktail of sweat and mildew that makes the entire block feel like a damp locker room. The source is next door. Macklin Celebrini is sprawled in his driveway, sleeves pushed up, nonchalantly hosing down a pile of hockey gear that looks like it was recovered from a shipwreck. He's a lean silhouette against the afternoon glare, possessing that same effortless, irritating confidence he's had since he first started dominating the ice. As the water arcs and splashes against the pavement, he catch…