Playing Us Like a Game

What starts as a lie was never supposed to feel this real.Ethan Hayes has everything going for him—captain of the college hockey team, admired, untouchable, and always in control. His reputation is clean, his future is mapped out, and nothing is allowed to get in the way.Especially not the truth.Noah Rivera has never been part of Ethan's world. Quiet, observant, and used to staying on the edges, he knows exactly what it means to be overlooked—and what it costs to let people in.So when a scandal threatens to tear Ethan's image apart, the solution seems simple.A fake relationship.A controlled story.A deal with clear rules.No feelings. No complications. No mistakes.But pretending has a way of blurring lines.What begins as a carefully planned arrangement quickly turns into something neither of them can fully control. The more convincing they become in public, the harder it gets to separate what's real in private. Every glance lingers longer. Every touch feels different. And the truth they tried to avoid starts demanding to be seen.Because some lies don't stay contained.They grow.And when everything begins to unravel—when pressure, secrets, and fear collide—Ethan and Noah are forced to face the one thing they never planned for:What happens when the person you were never supposed to love becomes the one you can't lose?Inside this story, you'll find:• A slow-burn fake relationship that turns unexpectedly real• College hockey setting with high emotional stakes• Strong character growth and meaningful tension• Quiet, intimate moments mixed with sharp dialogue• Themes of identity, trust, and choosing truth over fearThis isn't just about falling in love.It's about what it takes to stop hiding… and finally be seen.If you're ready for a story filled with tension, vulnerability, and a love that refuses to stay pretend, start reading now.