The roar of the crowd was still echoing in Cole Matthews’ ears as he skated off the ice, helmet tucked under his arm, his smirk firmly in place.

“Another game, another win and yet another reminder to everyone on campus that I am not just good…I am the best” he said smiling to himself.

“Matthews!” someone shouted from the stands, a chorus of female voices followed with squeals and shouts

“Marry me Cole… I love you!” They yelled.

Cole gave them a little wink, enjoying the way they practically melted against the glass.

“Too easy” he chuckled , heading for the locker room.

He had long since gotten used to it. Being the star player of the famous GBY University’s hockey team came with its advantages…adoring fans, endless parties, and a great reputation. He was like a sports god that they all worshipped.

Jason Bennett jogged out of the locker room, throwing an arm around his best friend’s shoulders. Jason wasn’t as flashy as Cole, he was more grounded, more easygoing—but he was solid on the ice, the kind of player every coach trusted.

“Nice goal in the third,” Jason said, bumping his shoulder against Cole’s. “Are you planning on leaving any of the glory for the rest of us?”

Cole smirked. “What can I say, Captain? The puck loves me.”

“The puck, or the girls?” Jason shot back, grinning.

Cole’s grin widened. “Both” He raised his shoulders before dropping them slowly “ it's not my fault that I'm so great. Do you want to know the nickname I was given…Lord of the rink”.

Jason laughed until tears rolled down his eyes “Well then my Lord…you better not disappoint your subjects”

“That's not possible” Cole said smuggishly

They pushed open the doors into the cold night, the team spilling out behind them. Some of the guys were already making plans for the afterparty, but Jason shook his head when Cole looked at him.

“Not coming?” Cole raised a brow. “Since when do you turn down free drinks and bad decisions?”

“ Definitely coming,I just have to stop somewhere first” Jason said.

“Where are you headed?” Cole asked, running a hand through his damp mocha brown hair.

“The library,” Jason replied.

Cole blinked. “The library?” He looked at Jason like he’d grown two heads. “You? You don’t even know how to spell library.”

Jason laughed. “It’s not for me, genius. My sister just started working there. I promised I'd swing by.”

“Your sister?” He pondered,lost in his thoughts “Clara Bennett?” He yelled.

Clara Bennett was Jason’s little sister. The one girl on campus who hadn’t fallen at Cole's feet or even flashed him a real smile.

“I heard you guys had a showdown a few days ago, what did you do to her?” Jason asked with a stern look, his arms folded.

“The question should be…what did she do to me. It looked like she was ready to tear me apart” he shook his head.

Jason grinned “Scary”

“ More like cute” Cole smiled

Jason groaned immediately. “Hey, don’t even think about it, Matthews. That’s my sister.”

“Relax,” Cole said, holding up his hands. “She already hates me. I think I’m safe.”

Jason chuckled. “That’s because she has good taste.”

But it was true—Clara Bennett hated him. She wasn’t like the others, the girls who screamed his name from the stands or found excuses to “accidentally” bump into him in the cafeteria. She never came to games, never chased after him, heck…she didn't even know what he looked like until a few days ago and now she despised him.

And for a guy like Cole, who was used to having people trip over themselves just to get his attention, that made her kind of…interesting.

So when Jason headed toward the library, Cole followed behind.

The library was quiet in a way that made Cole immediately uncomfortable, he was never actually a book person to begin with. There was no cheers, no music, no girls calling his name. Just the smell of old books and the sound of flipping pages .

Jason walked in like he belonged here, but Cole slowed, scanning the room. He spotted her immediately.

Clara was behind the counter, a neat stack of books in her arms, her ginger curled hair falling loose around her face. She looked serious…scary is the word you would actually use. She wore a simple cardigan over her blouse, the kind that should have made her blend into the background, but somehow it only made her stand out.

Jason lifted a hand. “Clara!”

She looked up at her brother, and for a second, she smiled. But then her gaze slid past him, landing on Cole and her smile vanished.

Her mouth pressed into a thin line, she frowned instantly. “You brought him?”

Cole held his chest, faking injury. “What, no hello? No congratulations on another flawless win, Cole, you’re amazing?”

Clara scoffed lowly “And why will I do that?” she asked in a hush tone.

“Why won't you?” Cole said, rather too loud. “Okay I will admit…it wasn't a great first impression on your part but I forgive you”.

At that moment if Clara could, she would drive his hockey stick down his throat. She looked at him, bewildered “My part?... forgive? Who the hell do you think you are?”

“The person who is willing to look past our little feud and reconcile with you”. Cole smiled.

Clara's mouth fell open, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not only was he self centered, he was arrogant.

“I must say…you are very lucky, I'm only doing this because you are my best friend's sister . It's not easy to get Cole Matthews, star hockey player to forgive you” He said, with a smug expression.

“Well this is not a place for a so-called amazing player” she snapped back, sliding the stack of books onto the desk with a thud. “Some of us take silence seriously. I know you probably never had to be since you have different girls flaunting at you everyday”

Jason snorted. “Yep, she hates you.”

Cole leaned against the counter, cocky grin intact. “Hate is a strong word. Maybe she’s just pretending. Secretly, she’s obsessed.”

Clara didn’t even look at him. She picked up another book and opened it, flipping the pages with intense interest. “Secretly, I’d rather stab myself with a pencil.”

Jason was practically choking with laughter .Cole’s smirk faltered for a second, but then

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Careful, Clara. You might actually fall for me.”

“Watch it Matthews, that's my sister” Jason shot at Cole

Finally, she looked up, her brown eyes cool and steady. “In your dreams, Matthews.”

“Why are you even working ? Shouldn't you focus on your textbooks, Miss nerd ?” Cole asked.

“That's none of your business” she replied

“ And you’re disrupting the peace. So unless you’re here for Dostoevsky or Tolstoy, keep it down.”

With that, she turned back to her book, dismissing him like he was nothing more than a fly buzzing too close.

Jason shook his head, clearly enjoying every second of it. “Told you.”

Cole pushed off the counter, a smirk still plastered on his face . No girl had ever dismissed him like that and maybe that's why he would do anything to have her.

Cole Matthews doesn't lose on the ice or anywhere else and he had just found his name game—Clara Bennette