May 18, 2026

ice hockey, contemporary, college romance, plus-size FMC, golden retriever energy, strangers to lovers, fake dating, he falls first (and harder)

How much can a fake relationship endure before it rips apart?

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Alana DeVille never wanted the spotlight. Eden Desrosiers-King has never lived without it.

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When fate—and a desperate need for favours—throws them together, pretending to be a couple seems like a harmless deal. No feelings. No mess. Just pretend.

It's simple: he helps her gain confidence, and in return, she teaches him how to bake.

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At least, it was supposed to be simple.

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Somewhere between baking lessons, secret glances, and late-night talks, the line between fake and real starts to blur. Trust builds. Walls fall. Feelings grow in places never of them thought possible.

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For the first time, Eden feels like he's found someone who sees him, not the rumours, not the expectations, just him. 

And Alana finally feels like she belongs somewhere.

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But when doubts, fears, and outside pressures threaten what they're building, Alana and Eden are left wondering:

What if it was never real?

What if trusting each other was the biggest mistake of all?

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But...

What if they soar?

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