Page 28

“Why not? It’s the perfect setup,” he says.

Setup for what, I wonder.

But I can’t let Aiden take this away from me. I can’t let him win. I am determined to find love first.

I ball my hands into fists and swallow my fury. “Okay, okay. But when I win, you have to shut down all your review accounts.” The words are out before I even register saying them. It’s not exactly what I want. I don’t hate that Aiden is on the scene. I just want him to stop breathing down my neck in this unspoken race for followers and views.

His eyes don’t leave mine, and I won’t be the first to look away. I see a tiny tick in his jaw, his lips in a tight line, his left eyebrow slightly raised. He’s never taken this long to answer. He doesn’t play it safe. So why the hesitation?

I want to take it back. But before I can say something, he gives a curt nod.

“Fine,” he says. One word. And with it, a barrage of questions fills my mind. I never actually asked him why he does this, reviewing books online. Is all of this more important to him than I thought? And if so, did I just unleash a beast who’s unwilling to lose to me?

“We’ll need some ground rules,” I say. “We should eachhave a second. That person will keep the list of tropes that we’re targeting and keep track of those we’ve completed. Jeannette will be mine, obviously.”

He nods. “And each date should be rated with a success level of one to ten. You win by falling in love and entering into a serious relationship, or, if neither of us can manage that—”

As if. I’m definitely going to.

“—then we tally up the scores of all the dates and see whose is the highest.”

“Agreed,” I say. He’s so cocky, but the rules he just outlined still give me a chance. I will of course go for my HEA. But if all else fails, I can rack up points by pure volume. I will date till I’m blue in the face.

“Okay, I’ll have my second submit my list of tropes by end of day,” he says, all business.

“I’ll ask Jeannette to do the same,” I say, more all business.

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Game on,” he draws out as his face stretches into a full-blown smile, dimples and all.

I don’t know what the hell I just got myself into, but I’m suddenly ten times more motivated than I was before.

I’m gonna get that HEA even if it kills me.

Epigraph

They’re on dueling pickleball teams and the winner takes the prize that both of them needs? YES, thank you. I stand by it... rivals-to-lovers is the superior trope. Give me that tension when they’re both going for the same goal against each other. And the locker room scene? HELP ME, that was so hot.

—@irene.loves.love.books

I’m a convert. Rivals-to-lovers is now my number one trope. The sexual tension between Helena and Astrid both on and off the court had me begging and screaming “just fuck already” on every page. So good. Also, how do we convince the author to write book 2 about their respective pickleball partners hooking up?

—@aidentheguyreadsromance

Six

rivals-to-lovers

A week goes by before Aiden and I connect again.

I miss our next two Intro to Lit classes. I was up late editing a couple book videos and had to refilm a bit for a brand sponsor who has proven to be extra hands-on with content deliverables. All this made getting up for my 8 a.m. class extremely difficult.

I’m not avoiding Aiden, I swear.

My phone buzzes with a new notification. I look down to see a text message saying that I’ve been added to a group chat with myself, Jeannette, Aiden, and Aiden’s dormmate, Charles, who he’s selected as his second.