It’s true what they say, you really are wiser when you’re older, because I’ve hated my younger self for years. After leaving behind the girl that I spent my entire life loving from afar, younger me deserves the hate, though. But when her dad told me I was ruining her life, I let my own insecurities consume me and knew I had to set her free.

Now, I’m a defenseman for the New England Bay Sharks, living my dream. At least, that’s what everyone thinks. Inside, I’m haunted by past mistakes, wishing I had a clock to turn back time and right my wrongs.

Just as I lose hope that she’s ever coming back, she shows up in Portland, bruised and battered—claiming she was in a car accident. She isn’t the same strong-willed girl with the bright eyes she was before. No, replacing that girl is a woman in pain. A woman who’s scared. And a woman who really hates my guts.

Right away, I knew there was no car accident. No…those bruises were put on her perfect body by a monster. One that was supposed to care for and love her till the end of time.

Worried for her safety, I craft a plan to keep her safe. One that includes her living in my house while pretending to be my girlfriend. After what I did to her all those years ago, I’ll do anything to earn her forgiveness.

I may have promised her that it’s all for show and that I have no motive for wanting to keep her so close, but the truth is…I never stopped wanting her, and that’s not about to change now.

𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘔𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘞 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦: 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 & 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.