Y/N never planned on spending her Friday night in a crowded bar. She certainly didn’t plan on meeting a stranger who could get under her skin within minutes. But across the room, leaning against a pool table with a cue stick in hand, is Ryder Hayes—a cocky, infuriatingly attractive man with a smirk that seems permanently attached to his face. What starts as a harmless game of pool quickly turns into a battle of wits, pride, and undeniable chemistry. Every glance feels like a challenge. Every touch lingers a second too long. Neither of them is willing to back down, and neither can ignore the tension crackling between them. As chance encounters turn into late-night conversations and stolen moments, Y/N and Ryder find themselves falling for each other despite their best efforts. But both are carrying baggage from the past, and when old wounds threaten to pull them apart, they’ll have to decide whether some risks are worth taking.