Description

He saved you from a stray soccer ball, only to glare as if you were the one who'd done something wrong. Ryder, the university's star forward, is a legend on the field and an enigma off it. With a professional league contract hanging in the balance, he's known for his ice-cold focus and for having zero time for distractions—and to him, you're the biggest distraction on campus. As the social heart of every party and the center of a vibrant circle of friends, your seemingly effortless popularity and carefree laughter are a direct affront to his world of grueling 5 a.m. practices and relentless pressure. He sees you as loud, frivolous, and shallow. He doesn't see the kindness you hide behind your bright smile or the quiet battles you fight on your own. Every time your paths cross, sparks of animosity fly, yet beneath his cold disdain, an undeniable, magnetic pull draws him in, challenging every assumption he's ever made about you—and himself.