Page 1 of The Heart Breaker

1

COLE

They say there’s a thin line between love and hate.

I call fucking bullshit.

Anyone who believes that has never met Aurora Prescott. If there’s a line, it’s miles wide and on fire.

There’s nothing complicated about what I feel for her. Not even close. It’s pure and raw, a burning, relentless certainty that’s lived in my veins for years.

And because the universe is apparently in the mood to fuck with me, my attention snags on the door the second she steps inside.

My grip tightens around the plastic cup, my body tensing up.

I shouldn’t even be here. If any of the frat guys who live here recognize me, they’ll toss me out before I can finish this beer. I broke someone’s nose last semester—one time—and now I’m “bad for their image.” There’s a freshman in the kitchen right now, drunk off his ass, throwing up in the sink, but sure, I’m the problem.

I needed to get out. Needed a break from my own head, and since everyone was here, I decided to come too. Figured I’d grab a drink, maybe two. Maybe even find someone willing to distractme for a couple hours. But the second I walked in, I realized it wouldn’t work. It never does. The noise is still there, gnawing at the back of my skull, and nothing in this place is loud enough to drown it out.

I drag my gaze away and act like I don’t notice her stepping inside.

But I do. Every fucking detail.

Aurora is tall as hell—five-eleven, only a few inches shorter than my six-five. She moves through the crowd in a short dress that shows off those endless legs, her blonde hair falling down her back as she tosses it over one shoulder and turns to look at something behind her. Even from here, I catch those sharp, cold blue eyes.

That familiar knot in my gut twists, already bracing for whatever fresh hell she’s about to bring with her. It’s bad enough that she’s here—that she somehow always ends up exactly where I least want her—but then I realize she’s not alone.

My gaze catches on Chase coming in right behind her, his hand sliding to her waist before he ducks his head and kisses his girlfriend.

Chase Johnson. Westbrook’s golden boy. Star forward of the Falcons. The smug prick everyone acts like walks on water, and the same bastard I’ve wanted to lay out since before I could legally drink.

And Aurora brought him here to a Colton U party.

Unbelievable.

The back of my throat burns as I watch them move through the party. Part of me wonders if she did this on purpose. It wouldn’t surprise me if she got a kick out of dragging the enemy straight into our house.

I watch them weave through the crowd, Chase stuck to her side, but he barely makes it two steps before his attention wanders toward some girl near the kitchen, his gaze draggingdown her body like Aurora’s not even there, and he throws the girl a cocky smirk.

I let out a disgusted scoff and lean back against the wall, lifting the cup to my mouth for another sip. I don’t know what she was thinking, bringing her boyfriend to a Wolves party. She’s either clueless or asking for trouble.

Knowing Aurora, it’s probably the second one.

What I do know is that I’m about two seconds away from making a mistake. Saying something. Starting something. Anything to wipe that smug look off Chase’s face.

I watch Chase make his way over to the beer pong table and start talking to a few of the guys from the Colton U hockey team. I don’t know if he expected a warm welcome or if he’s arrogant enough to think they’d forget what a dirty piece of shit he is on the ice, but if looks could kill, he’d already be face-first on the floor. Still, none of them look quite as ready to swing as I do.

From the second he walked in, my fists have been itching for a fight I know I can’t actually have. I already caught shit from Coach for losing my temper once this season. One more screw-up and my ass is riding the bench.

Not that it does a damn thing to kill the urge.

Chase laughs and pulls Aurora in closer, staking his claim. Maybe that’s smart. Half the room would sell a kidney for a shot with her. All they see is that blonde hair, those long legs, and the way that tiny dress clings to every inch of her body. They don’t know her the way I do. Don’t know she’s all venom under that pretty packaging.

They turn and head deeper into the room, and as they pass, Chase gives the blonde another slow once-over, his gaze dragging over her body while his hand stays planted on Aurora’s waist. The girl smirks right back, not giving a shit that his girlfriend is standing right there.

I scoff and take a long pull from my beer as they walk past me without so much as a glance, like I’m not even there. Like none of it ever happened. Like they didn’t torch my life years ago and walk away without looking back.

My jaw goes tight, the muscle ticking the way it always does when she’s anywhere in sight. I crush the empty cup in my hand, letting the plastic fall by my feet.