Nobody knows where Araylia came from. She arrives at Briar with no famous name, no social life and a past she refuses to talk about. But on the ice, she’s impossible to ignore. An exceptional skater. A brilliant law student. And suddenly, everyone wants to know her. Especially Tate Tucker. The cocky hockey star is used to girls chasing him. Araylia doesn’t even look twice. So naturally, Tate becomes determined to change that. But the more he gets under her skin, the more he realises there are parts of Araylia’s life she keeps locked away. Her parents died when she was eight. She survived. She built a life. And she learned never to need anyone. Until Tate. Now the quiet girl everyone wants to know might be the one person Tate can’t walk away from. Because getting Araylia to notice him is easy. Getting her to let him in? That’s going to be the impossible part.
One unexpected performance. One unforgettable first impression. Araylia Carter has no idea that stepping onto that stage will put her directly in the path of Blackwood’s hockey captain, Roman Blackwell. She’s confident, sharp-tongued and impossible to intimidate. He’s intense, competitive and used to getting his way. Two rival universities. Two stubborn personalities. One dangerous amount of chemistry. And this is only the beginning.
He forgot her. She never forgot him. Y/N Graham has spent years trying to forget the boy who broke her heart. Now, Braxton Connelly who is Jake Connelly’s son has transferred to her college—and he doesn’t recognise her. Not until he hears her name. Suddenly, the memories come rushing back. The girl from his childhood. The connection they once shared. The heartbreak he left behind. But there’s a problem. He’s now playing hockey alongside Y/N’s twin brother, Griffin Graham—the team captain. Y/N wants nothing to do with him. He wants answers. And Griffin has no idea about their past. With ice skating, hockey, old family connections and feelings that never truly disappeared, the past is about to collide with the present. Can old connections be fixed, or are some hearts better left broken?
She was never supposed to get under his skin. Araylia transfers to Briar University to be closer to her twin brother and continue her life as a competitive ice skater. Then she meets Tate Tucker. Brooding. Arrogant. Irritating. Their first few weeks are filled with arguments, sarcastic comments and enough tension to make everyone around them notice. Until one night, during a game of Truth or Dare, Tate is dared to kiss Araylia. One kiss. That’s all it takes. Afterward, Tate can’t seem to look at her without remembering it. He starts noticing her everywhere, finding excuses to be around her and getting jealous when other guys pay her attention. But Araylia doesn’t know any of that. Because Tate Tucker is determined to hide just how badly she’s gotten under his skin. One kiss was supposed to mean nothing. Instead, it completely unravelled him.
Seven years of love. One devastating betrayal. And the one man she should never want. Araylia Carter catches her boyfriend in the ultimate betrayal—with the best friend who knows everything about their relationship. She doesn’t scream. She doesn’t cry. She simply walks away. Then Roman Blackwell enters her life. The ruthless captain of the rival hockey team has one proposition: let him help her get revenge. One fake relationship. One jealous ex. One rivalry that could turn explosive. But Roman was never supposed to fall for her. And Araylia was never supposed to want the enemy. Because revenge is easy… until you start falling for the person you’re pretending to love.
Everyone knows Dean Di Laurentis. Nobody knows his daughter. Araylia Di Laurentis couldn’t be more different from her father. She’s snarky, sarcastic and fiercely independent, but beneath it all, she’s guarded and closed off. She’s not coming to Briar for a fresh start. She’s running. After a toxic relationship left her carrying memories she’s determined to bury, Araylia leaves everything behind and transfers to Briar University. She keeps to herself, spends her time drawing, rides her motorbike and avoids getting too close to anyone. Then there’s Tate Tucker. Tate can’t figure her out. She’s the girl who never goes to parties. The girl who sits alone with her sketchbook. The girl who can shut down a conversation with one sarcastic comment and somehow make him want to know more. He’s intrigued. But one night, Tate catches Araylia skating alone after dark. And everything changes. For the first time, he sees the girl behind the sarcasm. The vulnerability she works so hard to hide. The part of her that she’s convinced nobody should ever see. Tate doesn’t try to force his way through her walls. He simply stays. But Araylia has spent too long keeping everything bottled up, and letting someone close means risking everything she’s worked so hard to protect. She isn’t looking for someone to save her. He’s not trying to. He just wants her to know she doesn’t have to face everything alone.
One night. Two strangers. No expectations. A year later, Araylia arrives at Briar as the newest star of the figure-skating program, ready to focus on her skating and law degree. Until she walks into the rink. And sees him. Tate Tucker. The hockey player from that one unforgettable night. He remembers her. And this time, he doesn’t want to walk away. Araylia might be determined to keep things in the past, but Tate has other plans. The more he sees her, the more he wants her attention—and the harder it becomes for him to pretend she’s just another girl at Briar. One night was enough to leave a mark. A year later, Tate wants more.
Eight years ago, Roman Blackwell disappeared. No goodbye. No explanation. Just gone. Araylia Carter eventually learned how to live without him. She built a life, found happiness and finally found someone she was ready to marry. Today is her wedding day. She’s walking down the aisle. Her future is waiting at the altar. Everything is exactly as it should be. Until the doors open. And Roman walks in. The man she loved. The man who broke her heart. The man she never thought she’d see again. Mason is frozen. Lexi is speechless. Jaxon can’t believe his eyes. And Roman? He’s staring straight at Araylia. Eight years ago, he walked away. Today, he walked back in. And this time, he’s not leaving without telling her why.
She was only supposed to stay for an hour. One party. One mask. One unforgettable night. Araylia Carter arrives at Briar University determined to focus on figure skating. But before her first training session, she makes one reckless decision—she goes to the masquerade. Then she meets Tate Tucker. Briar’s cocky hockey star. They don’t exchange names. They don’t make promises. They just click. Until Araylia disappears before the night is over. Now Tate can’t stop thinking about the mysterious girl behind the mask. Then morning comes. And the quiet, polite figure skater who walks onto the ice looks nothing like her. But why does she feel so familiar? He has no idea he’s already met the girl he’s searching for. And Araylia? She’s not telling. He fell for the mystery. Now he’s about to fall for her.
Everyone at Westbridge knows Araylia Carter. But nobody really knows her. Off stage, she keeps to herself, surrounded by her music and her two Cane Corsos, Prince and Panther. Then one night, during a late walk, she finds Roman Blackwell. Unconscious. Injured. Alone. She takes him home. And when Roman wakes up, the first person he sees is the mysterious girl he’s barely ever spoken to. He has questions. Araylia has secrets. And neither of them realise that one unexpected night is about to change everything.
She came to Briar to chase gold. Instead, she became the one thing two hockey players can’t stop wanting. Araylia thought her past was safely behind her—until she steps onto Briar’s ice and comes face-to-face with Tate Tucker. The problem? Tate isn’t the only one who knows her. Chase knows her too. And neither guy knew about the other. Now Tate and Chase are competing for more than ice time, while Araylia is caught between two teammates who refuse to back down. Jealousy. Secrets. Rivalry. Forbidden tension. Because at Briar, everyone knows the rules. Tate and Chase are about to break every single one. And when the line between competition and something more starts to disappear… someone is going to lose.
Six months after Milan, Araylia thinks the past is buried. Then Riven walks into Beaumont University—and recognises her instantly. She doesn’t remember him. He remembers everything. And the tension between them is impossible to ignore.
