Books like 'Learning Curve'
Readers who enjoyed Learning Curve by N.R. Walker also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mlm sports university lgbtq friends-to-lovers forced-proximity athlete grumpy-sunshine
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Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe guy who broke my heart is now an arrogant, too-hot firefighter… who’s hell-bent on getting me back. This summer, I have one goal: field work. I need it to finish my PhD. I never expected Finn Rhodes to offer help. He broke my heart twelve years ago, and now that he’s back in town, I want nothing to do with him. Finn wants one thing—me. We were inseparable as kids until everything changed...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor multi-pov adult -
![Frat Wars: Master of Mayhem by Saxon James]()
Frat Wars: Master of Mayhem by Saxon James
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBro big or bro home. RobbieAs social chair of Sigma Beta Psi, I’m the life of the party. It’s what I’m known for, and if it’s not fun, I’m not interested, simple as that.I’m not someone who overthinks.So when one of my brothers hooks up with a dude from another frat house, it catches me off guard when I can’t stop thinking about them … together... -
![Epic: A Him Novella by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy]()
Epic: A Him Novella by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThey're back! Epic is a novella about your favorite hockey duo! Jamie and Wes are having a blast living and working in Toronto. Until a scout for another team swoops in to make one of them an offer that might complicate the life they've built together... -
![Line Mates & Study Dates by Eden Finley, Saxon James]()
Line Mates & Study Dates by Eden Finley, Saxon James
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsASHER Hockey, studying, and school runs. That’s my life now. After a tragic accident that took our parents’ lives, it’s up to me and my big brother to take care of our five younger siblings. In between burning their meals and keeping them from killing each other, I’m supposed to get a college degree...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor lgbtq -
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![Making His Play by Mari Carr]()
Making His Play by Mari Carr
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAlex has a big name in hockey, famous for his stick skills—on and off the ice. But he’s also got a freckle-faced female problem. He took his sister’s tomboy best friend, Charley, to a Vegas wedding to cheer her up after a bad breakup.Too much champagne later and he’s waking up with Charley in his bed and his ring on her finger. And the crazy part is…Mrs. Alex Stone has a nice ring to it... -
![Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews by Piper Rayne]()
Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsChase Andrews.The Kingsmen’s top tight end.My brother’s friend and teammate.My new neighbor.The grumpy to my sunshine.But underneath that grumpy exterior, there’s so much more.Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I’ve seen glimpses of his other side in the time we’ve spent together.And the more we get to know each other, the more I’m falling for him...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers forced-proximity celebrity multi-pov -
![Seth by Carly Marie]()
Seth by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBe yourself because everyone else is taken. But what if that risks everything you know? Seth Johnson has worked his entire career to be remembered more for his skill than as an openly gay NHL player. Finding a boyfriend has been pushed to the back burner. As for exposing his softer side, the side that loves lace and lingerie? It’s not happening... -
![Don't Let Me Break by Kelsie Rae]()
Don't Let Me Break by Kelsie Rae
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMacklin and I are just friends.And even that's a stretch.He saw me at my most vulnerable, and now the guy's popping up left and right.Pretty sure it's because my friend is trying to set me up with him, but what do I know?It's not like I have much experience with guys.And he's...well, Macklin's older, much more experienced, and bluntly put?Way out of my league...Categorized as:
university sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy romance -
![Now's the Time by Harlow James]()
Now's the Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Let me experience all of you tonight, Penelope…since this is all that we get.”That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man...Categorized as:
celebrity cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports steamy -
![The Fall Out by Jenni Bara]()
The Fall Out by Jenni Bara
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLet me tell the story of how I fell in love with a woman who had no idea that we were even dating. The ridiculousness started when she stole my beer, and trust me, my grumpy self doesn’t normally share. But somehow, Avery Wilson is the exception to every one of my many rules.Unfortunately, I’m not hers...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc athlete humor romance -
![When I'm with You by Samantha Brinn]()
When I'm with You by Samantha Brinn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe first time I saw Julie Parker, the gorgeous, brilliant, sharp tongued lawyer knocked the wind right out of me.The second time I saw Julie Parker, our eyes met across a football field.The third time I saw Julie Parker, we had a *moment* and I was certain she was meant to be mine.The fourth time I saw Julie Parker, she was struggling...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers athlete multi-pov -
![Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce]()
Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMaren and Locke both exist in the same world of professional golf—he's the number one player in the world while she just takes his picture.Never mind that Locke unintentionally leads the press to believe that he and Maren are dating, because when she confronts him, he couldn't care less... -
![Face Offs & Cheap Shots by Eden Finley, Saxon James]()
Face Offs & Cheap Shots by Eden Finley, Saxon James
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsJACOBS For the last three years, I’ve lived and breathed hockey with one goal: team captain.There’s only one thing standing in my way. TJ Beckett.Beck is irresponsible and immature, and I’ve hated him since the moment we met freshman year.Yet, the coaches see something in him I obviously can’t, and they refuse to choose between us...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor lgbtq -
![Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn]()
Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSpending the night in jail isn’t exactly how I planned to spend Christmas, but I’ve had worse holidays… Now that I’m out, it’s time to accept my real punishment. Coaching ten-year-old terrors on the ice, in my non-existent free time. My Coach thinks it’d be good for me. Remind me where I came from. He should know I’ve tried every day of my life for the last ten years to forget...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine sports adult book -
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![The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan]()
The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer job is to resurrect his image. Falling for him is not part of the plan...Kendall Quinn is a PR goddess. Meanwhile, her love life is a complete mess. So, when her latest romantic disaster leaves her jobless and homeless, it's time to take drastic measures. And that means dragging a grumpy, has-been rock star kicking and screaming back into the limelight. The job will be easy...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy friends-to-lovers romance contemporary -
![Dash: Rushing the Play by Kayley Loring, Connor Crais]()
Dash: Rushing the Play by Kayley Loring, Connor Crais
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings#99 Dash Taylor. Rookie defensive end for the Boston Tomcats. 285 pounds of fast-twitch muscle. Nickname: Big D.I’ve been sacking quarterbacks since junior high and causing trouble since I was born.My college coach thinks I have a bad attitude, so he makes me take ballet lessons as punishment. If I don’t turn things around on the field next season, he’ll bench me... -
![The Curveball by Emily Childs]()
The Curveball by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe's the charmer of the infield. I'm the uptight, jaded author who won't give him a chance...now we're roommates?Griffin Marks can charm the socks off anyone he meets. Except me. To me he's a beautiful pest who will do just about anything to make me like him. I wish him luck...Categorized as:
celebrity cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports university -
![Defensive Hearts by Alley Ciz]()
Defensive Hearts by Alley Ciz
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsChance The day I saw Gemma Steele’s delicious body wearing nothing but a few scraps of lace, I knew being traded was the least of my problems. Her sexy text may not have been meant for me, but that image is not something a warm-blooded man could ever forget—no matter how badly he wants to. I’ve tried to resist her, but I can’t seem to escape Little Miss Suzy Sunshine...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy forced-proximity celebrity humor -
![One Last Play by Annah Conwell]()
One Last Play by Annah Conwell
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe could be the one. I’ve spent twelve years caring for my niece Maddie who I adopted after my sister died. Having a daughter has made me picky when it comes to the women I spend time with. Not to mention dealing with the pressure of being a college football coach. But when I spot MJ at a mutual friend’s wedding, something draws me toward her...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc celebrity friends-to-lovers forced-proximity multi-pov -
![Goaltender Interference by Brigham Vaughn]()
Goaltender Interference by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe last thing Connor O’Shea needs is more complications … After too much celebrating at his brother’s wedding, Connor wakes up next to cocky Toronto goaltender Jesse Webber—pro hockey’s reigning f*ckboy. With three kids and a failed marriage under his belt, Connor might be ready to admit he’s attracted to men, but that doesn’t mean his life has to change... -
![You Could Make a Life by Taylor Fitzpatrick]()
You Could Make a Life by Taylor Fitzpatrick
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe first thing Dan says to him is, “we’re in the NHL!”, because that’s how he’s been greeting anyone wearing a jersey, and Marc Lapointe, 'the future of the franchise', is wearing Dan's colours. “I think you’re my new best friend,” Dan says, his excitement beating out common sense, social filters, the need to play it cool. “It is nice to meet you, new best friend," Marc says, his mouth twitching... -
![The Fake Zone by Mariah Dietz]()
The Fake Zone by Mariah Dietz
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA romance that will have you on the edge of your seat by USA Today Bestselling Author Mariah Dietz.Greyson Meyers can’t afford the distraction of a relationship. His focus is football and earning his degree to ensure his mom never has to work another day.Mila Atwool has it all together—at least, that’s what everyone thinks...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers multi-pov athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc -
![Extra Credit by Sarina Bowen]()
Extra Credit by Sarina Bowen
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThree novellas, including all new Ivy Years fun! BLONDE DATE: A nervous sorority girl, a mean fraternity prank and an adorkable basketball player with a heart of gold. Blonde Date follows Katie and Andy’s first blind date… STUDLY PERIOD: One hunky hockey player with a language barrier. Plus one awkward English tutor with a big crush... -
![Dirty Player by Mira Lyn Kelly]()
Dirty Player by Mira Lyn Kelly
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis NHL star isn’t afraid to play dirty to get his girl It started as a joke… A throw away promise between friends. A dare for a single kiss at our reunion and nothing more. But that kiss… That kiss was no joking matter. It was hot and wet. A hands-everywhere, breathless kind of insanity that left us both teetering on the brink... -
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![The Loner by Riley Hart]()
The Loner by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDeclanAs a founding member of The Vers, a queer podcast I host with my three best friends, I’m The Loner—quieter than the others, and except for them, I don’t let myself get too close to people. Most of them just let you down anyway, or maybe it’s just that something about me chases people away.Infrequent, no-strings-attached hookups have always worked for me... -
![The Backup Plan by Eden Finley]()
The Backup Plan by Eden Finley
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThadFailing to make it in pro ball left me absolutely devastated. Baseball has been my life, my dream, but it’s time to move on.Becoming a sports agent was always my backup plan, and now that I’m interning at the biggest queer-focused firm in the country, I’m doing my best not to let my bitterness toward baseball affect my future... -
![Don't You Dare by C.E. Ricci]()
Don't You Dare by C.E. Ricci
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIt was never meant to be more than a dare.A party game. A dare. A single kiss.That’s all it took to flip my world upside down.I’ve always classified myself as straight, and as far as I can tell, so has he.I didn’t think one kiss would change that, but I was so wrong.Now, I can’t stop thinking about him. In all the ways I shouldn’t.My best friend.Aspen... -
![Playing Offside by Jax Calder]()
Playing Offside by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFalling for the guy whose starting spot you're after? Never a good idea.Aiden Jones, aka the Ice King, is one of the best rugby players in the world. He got there by working hard and sacrificing a lot, including denying a large part of himself. But there’s plenty of time to be the poster boy for gay rugby players after he retires... -
![Luke by Cora Rose]()
Luke by Cora Rose
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsThey say love comes from the most unexpected places; I found mine hiding in my bushes from the cops.My life before Luke was a carefully structured routine. It was predictable and organized, just the way I like it. Some would call it boring, but I call it smart self-preservation, and if there’s one thing that could threaten to bring it all crashing down, it’s Luke van Beek... -
![Presidential Chaos by Saxon James]()
Presidential Chaos by Saxon James
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsTwo houses. Two Presidents. One hell of a happy ending. Zeke Being President of a frat house means everything is on my shoulders.Idiot brothers, epic pranks, a list of organizational duties long enough to make my eyes bleed.None of it fazes me.But senior year is almost over, and I’m ready to take a step back.Until the hazing rumors start... -
![Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign]()
Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI can’t tell if we’re fighting…or flirting?Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me... -
![The Change Up by Meghan Quinn]()
The Change Up by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBREAKING NEWS: The Bad Boy of Baseball, Maddox Paige, is totally and utterly whipped. Okay, that might not be the headlines in the newspaper this morning, but it's the reality of my current situation. It all started a month ago when I received a call from my best friend, Kinsley. She got a new job in Chicago and needed a place to stay...Categorized as:
athlete celebrity cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor -
![The Race Is On by Lily Velden]()
The Race Is On by Lily Velden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBook Two: How the Light Gets In Hollywood heartthrob Jaxon Moncrieff and Liam Lassiter are finally on the same page: committed and in it for the long haul. Now they just have to prepare for the inevitable fallout when they reveal their relationship... -
![Legend by Isla Olsen, Willow Thomas]()
Legend by Isla Olsen, Willow Thomas
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTomLegend of the Game. That’s me, apparently. I suppose it’s meant to be a compliment, but to me it just sounds like one of those labels people slap on you when you’re on your way out. Legend. Stalwart. Dinosaur. It all sounds the same to me.I’ve been in the Premier League for over twenty years and I’m not ready to leave... -
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![Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver]()
Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBLAINEWhen my name is involved in yet another scandal, I’m told to keep my head down and my stats up. The trade deadline is looming, and I don’t want to leave Chicago.But that night, I meet Alex. The guy with the bluest eyes and the kindest smile.My reputation precedes me, and he’s determined to resist me, but the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny the chemistry between us... -
![UnConVentional Kiss by Katherine McIntyre, K.C. Carmine]()
UnConVentional Kiss by Katherine McIntyre, K.C. Carmine
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne Comic-Con. One chance encounter. One kiss that changes everything.BeckI never claimed to be easy to love. My steady stream of ex-girlfriends is proof positive, and my anxiety pretty much confirms I’ll be alone for the rest of my life. No matter who I date, I can’t ever feel completely myself.At least until I met Cay, who’s bright, charming, and captures my attention from the start... -
![Scene Queen by Charlie Novak]()
Scene Queen by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNote to self: just because he's hot and funny doesn't change the fact he's annoying AF.Hooking up with my irritating as hell neighbour wasn't on my agenda for the week, even if he is ridiculously gorgeous with a smile that lights up my life. His music is too loud, he’s too nosy… but I can’t stop myself from wanting more than a taste... -
![Rookie by Eddie Cleveland]()
Rookie by Eddie Cleveland
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings* Although part of a series, you will enjoy it as a standalone as well! Rookie is everything you love in an MM first time gay romance. A journey of self-discovery, the undeniable sparks with the man who makes him question everything, the moment of realization, the secret relationship, and coming out... -
![Chandler: Training Days Book 1 by J.D. Light]()
Chandler: Training Days Book 1 by J.D. Light
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsChandler Bell When my boyfriend breaks up with me because I'm overweight, I go to the one place I feel the most comfortable. Oddly enough, it's the gym I was basically raised in. Things have changed over the years, but the people inside are my family. Some of them literally. Baker reluctantly agrees to help me get in shape, and so begins the torture... -
![Ignited by Becca Steele]()
Ignited by Becca Steele
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy life was perfect. A dream degree course, amazing friends, a different guy every weekend.Until him. One night.No names.We thought we’d never see each other again.But the man that blew my mind turns out to be Dr. Wilder, a lecturer at my university with a reputation of being cold and unapproachable.Completely wrong for me. He’s a teacher. I’m a student... -
![Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley]()
Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEMMETTMy twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me... -
![Behind the Pages: A sultry romcom of the unexpected by K. Iwancio]()
Behind the Pages: A sultry romcom of the unexpected by K. Iwancio
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo authors, an intertwined plot, and one heck of an alluring ending to their highly-anticipated bestselling books... With her fantasy series, Bridget Paige is the newest member of the New York Times Bestseller list. Except no one knows who she is. To the world, she's Bridget. To those behind the scenes, she's introverted Paige Booker...Categorized as:
forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers steamy humor romance -
![Calling it Safe by Lo Everett]()
Calling it Safe by Lo Everett
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFriends with benefits—that’s the agreement. No commitments. No complications … but it’s never that simple.At my wit's end, I planned to spend the winter focusing on my writing, away from the soul-sucking grind that’s become my norm. The last person I expected to step in and save me when things go awry is my brother’s teammate, the intense and sometimes grumpy Dean Harrison...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc multi-pov athlete -
![Concussion Protocol: A Short & Spicy MM Romance by Rebecca Rathe]()
Concussion Protocol: A Short & Spicy MM Romance by Rebecca Rathe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA sweet and spicy short story by Rebecca RatheHe's a ten, but he's my ex-boyfriend's straight teammate and my patient... -
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![Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores]()
Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsPretty boy Liam Walker is unlucky in love…LiamMy newest obsession is nothing like any of my past hookups.The tattoos? Not exactly my type. A perma-scowl and general leave-me-alone attitude? Yeah, that's the kind of thing I usually stay away from. And, sure, is it surprising that suddenly those things seem to be everything I want? Absolutely... -
![The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes]()
The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…TommyHelp! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them... -
![Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander]()
Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Author New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author R.G. Alexander, Book 3 in the Finn's Pub Romance series! Ever had a thing for the man next door? My sexy new neighbor is confusing the hell out of me. Elliot Ransom is a baseball player and a single dad, but he doesn’t know his butter beer from a snozzberry... -
![Brock by Dani René]()
Brock by Dani René
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI am strong, athletic, and son to a man I always wanted to be. I had made plans, thought I was on that path, and then a bullet stopped not just my father’s heart, but mine too. I’ve been living a life I’m not meant to. I want more. I want to escape. And I found someone who’s given me a love I never thought possible. My name is Brock Pearson... -
![Love Language by Jax Calder]()
Love Language by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAshtonI’ve shared an office with Dominic, the grumpy raincloud to my endless sunshine, for three and a half years. My roommates and colleagues are convinced I’m obsessed with him, and okay, maybe I am slightly curious about what he signed to me at the staff mid-winter party...Categorized as:
mlm lgbtq grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers forced-proximity humor -
![Breakneck Hockey by S. Legend]()
Breakneck Hockey by S. Legend
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI don’t want Casey Alderchuck, but I don’t want anyone else to have him either.My hook-up for the night wasn’t supposed to be my long-time hockey rival, but here he is. I’m too worked up to let him go home without having a taste. One little bite of that smart mouth is mine for the taking after how many times he’s broken my nose...
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