Cold Front

I never questioned who I was—until Eli moved in.

Niall
I don’t do complicated. As captain of Michigan U’s hockey team, my focus is on the game, not on the charming transfer student who landed in my apartment and upended my routine. Eli shouldn’t get under my skin, but he does—with his easy smiles, late-night cooking, and the way he looks at me like I’m something more than just a closed-off hockey player.

Then I kissed him. I shouldn’t have. But for one reckless moment, I let myself want. Now he’s looking at me like he’s waiting for something—something I don’t know how to give.

Because wanting Eli is dangerous. And letting him in? That might be the biggest risk of all.

Eli
A fresh start—that’s what Michigan U was supposed to be. A clean break from my past and the toxic relationship that made me forget who I was. I wasn’t looking for complications, but then I met my roommate, Niall; grumpy, brooding, and frustratingly hot and cold. He barely speaks to me, yet for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about him.

Then he kissed me. And for a moment, I thought maybe—just maybe—there might be something real between us. But when he's too afraid to call me his anywhere outside of our apartment, I wonder if I've made the same mistake again.

I should let it go. I should move on. But I know those walls aren’t just for keeping people out—they’re for keeping himself safe. And damn it, I think I want to be the one to break them down.