Checking Hearts

College was supposed to be all about the plan-until he crashed into it headfirst.

Declan Hayes is known for two things: his fierce hits on the ice and his even fiercer aversion to responsibility off it. As the hockey team's enforcer, he's made a name for himself keeping opponents in check-and racking up more than a few injuries in the process. When his reckless style puts him one trip to the student health clinic too many, he's slapped with a new rule: get medically cleared weekly by a pre-med student assistant... or get benched.

Enter Elena Park-pre-med, perfectionist, and definitely not a fan of hockey. She's laser-focused on med school, her future, and making sure nothing derails her GPA. Babysitting a bruised-up jock with a bad attitude wasn't part of the plan. But Declan isn't just a walking injury report-he's frustratingly charming, disarmingly sweet, and hiding something deeper beneath all that swagger.

As check-ups turn into late-night talks, and bickering turns into something dangerously close to affection, Elena finds herself questioning everything she thought she wanted. And Declan? He might be ready to fight for more than just a win on the ice.

But with dreams pulling them in opposite directions, is a shot at love worth the risk?