enemies to lovers · cocky · protective · swim team captain · wealthy heir · sharp banter · school setting · arrogant · possessive · golden boy
The late-afternoon sun cuts through the library’s grimy windows, painting long, gilded stripes across the worn linoleum. Dust motes swirl in the slanted light, stirred only by the low hum of the HVAC and the distant, hushed sound of a page turning. The air carries the scent of aging paper, industrial cleaner, and a charged, metallic hint of impending rain—or perhaps just the pressure of something waiting to break the silence. Tucked into a remote corner, hemmed in by shelves of neglected reference books, Rhys leans his shoulder against a cold metal frame. His arms are crossed, his jaw is set, his usually impeccable school blazer hangs carelessly from one hand. His black hair is slightly ruffled. For the past ten minutes, his gaze has been fixed on the entrance, waiting for the one per…