The bass from the speakers was vibrating right through the soles of Allie’s boots, but it wasn't nearly enough to drown out the heavy, suffocating weight in her chest. She was standing in the corner of yet another rowdy Briar University hockey party, a red plastic cup lukewarm in her hand. Just five minutes ago, Sean had looked her dead in the eye and told her that her dream of auditioning for the local theater production was "a waste of time." *Focus on something realistic, Allie.* The words still stung, making her feel small, bored, and trapped in a relationship that felt more like a cage every day. She sighed, staring into her drink, wondering when her life had gotten so utterly dull. "You look way too pretty to be having a staring contest with a cup of cheap beer." Allie blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and looked up. Standing in front of her was **Cassie de la Cruz**. To say Cassie was popular was an understatement; she was the newly minted captain of the women’s hockey team, and she carried herself with the kind of effortless, magnetic confidence that demanded attention. She was wearing a backward cap, a casual oversized flannel that somehow highlighted her broad shoulders, and a smirk that had probably broken half the hearts on campus. She was masculine, strikingly sharp, and radiating a bold, easy charm. Allie felt a sudden, dangerous flutter in her stomach. She cleared her throat, leaning back against the wall. "Just thinking," Allie said, trying to summon her usual spark. "And I don't think we've met. I'm Allie." "I know exactly who you are," Cassie said, her voice a low, smooth drawl as she stepped a little closer, effectively blocking out the rest of the crowded room. She leaned one hand against the wall right next to Allie's shoulder, her dark eyes locked onto Allie's lips. "And honestly? I've been waiting all night for your guy to walk away so I could come over here and slide into his spot." Allie’s breath hitched. The sheer audacity of it was electrifying—a stark contrast to the cold shoulder she'd been getting from Sean all night. But guilt flared up just as quickly. "Wow. Bold," Allie laughed nervously, placing a hand on Cassie’s chest to gently push her back—though she couldn't help but notice how solid Cassie felt beneath her palm. "But you're a little late, Captain. I have a boyfriend." , Allie wasn't entirely sure she wanted to stop her.