Figure Eight

Tropes: sports (hockey and figure skating)/childhood best friends/best friends to lovers/fake dating/opposites attract

Carter Knox knows exactly what he wants - a chance to play hockey with the pros, the Arthur Baker award, and the promise of attention and money that comes with all of it.

And damn it, he needs the money. With the way he carries himself, not many people know he's on a scholarship and that his future depends on getting the award and going pro.

With his good looks, charm, and skills, he also has puck bunnies following him everywhere he goes. He can't really say no to them all the time - can he?

But something's not quite right lately, and none of those women is like the fire-on-ice, former childhood best friend Julia Stern who has just returned from overseas. He tells himself that it's only because of the award that he's trying to get her into a fake dating contract that can boost his reputation, but is it?

Jules Stern is not your average girl, no matter how many times you may puke at that description. She's literally gravity-defying and hella smart. After all, she has been training for the Olympics since she was a little girl. She has been brought up with only the best, with tutors, trainers, and nutritionists. Her family leaves their small town of Brooks Haven just so she can train with the best in figure skating, and her juniors' run has her winning trophies and medals left and right.

However, an injury has her questioning whether figure skating is all there is to her life and starting over is rough without the maddening Carter presenting another chance to be in the limelight again. Will this chance to make herself less of an object of pity turn into a love-and-hate relationship with her former best friend?