Rockford University Series by Emily Tayfel

EMBER:I grew up with eyes on me not because I wanted it, but because I didn’t fit into the stereotypical beauty standards. And it doesn’t help that my twin brother's perfect— the golden child. While I’m an outsider... especially in my own family. The stares and whispers were something I grew up with, something I was used to, but now they follow me for a whole different reason. A humiliating night that happened at the end of my freshman year at Rockford University all because of Declan Sanderson... moreEMBER:I grew up with eyes on me not because I wanted it, but because I didn’t fit into the stereotypical beauty standards. And it doesn’t help that my twin brother's perfect— the golden child. While I’m an outsider... especially in my own family. The stares and whispers were something I grew up with, something I was used to, but now they follow me for a whole different reason. A humiliating night that happened at the end of my freshman year at Rockford University all because of Declan Sanderson. A cocky, no good, hockey player who I’ve been lucky enough to avoid since that night… until now. Now I’m stuck working with him for the rest of junior year. And to make matters worse, he doesn’t even remember that night at all. He’s talking to me like it never happened. I didn’t trust him before that night... why would I trust him now? DECLAN:My life has revolved around hockey since before I could even walk. Even though it’s a path that I technically didn’t get to choose, it’s a path I’ve grown to love. When I’m on the ice, I feel alive, and it’s the only time I truly feel out of my head. But once I’m off the ice, I’m back to A dad who belittles me. Parents who constantly fight. And a guilty conscience over events that took place freshman year destroying Ember Bowman, the twin sister of one of my teammates. I’ve been able to avoid her for the last two years, but the world thought it’d be the perfect time to throw her back into my life… for two whole semesters. Because the one thing I need while my life falls apart is an econ partner who drives me up a wall. A partner who doesn’t trust me, let alone like me. But that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to try and break through those walls that she’s built up to try and figure out who Ember is under the surface. And if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to show her that there’s so much more to life than being perfect… unless I screw it all up first. less

AVALON:I’m a one time kind of girl. I’ve gone my whole life without being in a relationship because I don’t need to be in one to get what I want from one... sex.If my parents taught me anything, it’s that you can only truly rely on yourself. Not the type of lesson I expected to learn in elementary school when my dad walked out on us and my mom put drugs and alcohol before me in order to cope, but it was a lesson I’ve lived by ever since... moreAVALON:I’m a one time kind of girl. I’ve gone my whole life without being in a relationship because I don’t need to be in one to get what I want from one... sex.If my parents taught me anything, it’s that you can only truly rely on yourself. Not the type of lesson I expected to learn in elementary school when my dad walked out on us and my mom put drugs and alcohol before me in order to cope, but it was a lesson I’ve lived by ever since. I don’t need a guy to break my heart because I have enough heartbreak to last me a lifetime. So, I live by three No sleepovers. No repeats. And absolutely no strings.Everything changes though when I wake up in the bed of Rockford hockey player, Zeke Harris. Zeke is exactly what I don’t need in my life, and I’d rather jump off a bridge than ever end up in bed with him again. The problem is, that night was the best night of my life, and my body’s screaming at me to do it all over again. So when he proposes a no-strings relationship, sex and nothing else, I can’t help but give in. After all, I already broke one rule—What’s the worst that could happen?ZEKE:Her cancer consumes me. Every day I wonder if I’ll have to say goodbye to the one constant in my life… my mom. I feel like no one understands and maybe it’s because I never let anyone in enough for them to understand, but I don’t want to just be the guy with the sick mom.Which is why my friends see me as a carefree playboy. It’s easier to sleep around and avoid connections, than to actually let anyone in. Last time I did that, I got hurt, and I promised myself I’d never get into a relationship again. All I need is sex. It helps me escape my reality long enough to give me peace. And once we go our separate ways, we never see each other again, to avoid attachments. That’s how it has to be... until Avalon.The only girl I’ve ever met with a no-strings rule of her own. Which I thought would be a good thing. not having to worry about her chasing me down after our hookup, I never thought I’d be the one chasing after her. Not to be my girlfriend or anything, but to give her a proposition. We both want the same thing out of the arrangement, the best sex of our lives and nothing else. After all—I’m not the type of guy to fall in love. less