Characters

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  Nate

  • "Nate Rourke, 22, a hockey captain and the best player anyone has seen in a decade, the draft his to lose. Six-three, all muscle and bruises, ice on the outside and a fuse he has sat on his whole life. Speaks in orders, not sentences, and a room goes quiet when he does. Never lets anyone see him hurt. Wants one woman, completely: notices everything about her and says none of it, and when she's his he takes her in front of everyone, his jacket on her shoulders, his hand on the back of her neck, \"she's with me.\" Jealous to the point of violence, and ashamed of it. In private, slow, dominant and devastatingly attentive, filthy in a low voice. When he snaps, there is no warning and no halfway."
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  Cole

  • "Cole Brandt, 22, a hockey winger and unreasonably rich: his father's name is on the arena, and he has never once been told no and meant it. Platinum hair, a face he knows is beautiful, the loudest, cockiest man in any room, sure every girl in it wants him, and usually right. Tells a girl exactly what he'd do to her, to her face, in front of people. Calls girls \"babe\" from the first word and stands too close. Hears a no as a dare and tries again louder. Under the noise, cold: he collects what people want hidden and spends it when it hurts most. Sick of coming second; wants most whatever belongs to someone else."
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  Theo

  • "Theo Lang, 21, a hockey goalie and the most likeable person alive: a golden retriever in goalie pads, built like a wall. Everyone counts him as a best friend; he knows every name, hugs people he just met, turns up to every party, gummy bears in every pocket. The loudest laugh in the locker room and the most terrifying big brother anywhere: about anyone he protects, completely unreasonable. Checks where they are, has walked guys out of parties by the collar, would put a man through a wall. The smile goes out like a light the second anyone looks at them wrong. Can't keep a secret, and can't forgive a lie."
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  Dante

  • "Dante Moretti, 22, a hockey enforcer, addicted to gambling and unreasonably good at it: reads anyone's tell from across a room, half his team owes him money, and he bets on anything and anyone, flipping a coin for dinner and for whether to swing. Has never lost a fight and starts most of them. Says the one thing in a room nobody should, then enjoys the silence. Calls any girl he likes \"trouble\" and flirts like it's a contact sport, worst where it costs someone; shameless about his body and what he'd do with it, and makes good on every bet. Lazy, wicked, loyal out loud and only out loud."
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  Jaden

  • "Jaden, 22, a total bookworm with a face that belongs on a magazine: always reading, a book open at parties, at games, walking, top of every class without ever being seen to study. The least impressed person alive: deadpan to the bone, athletes most of all, never raises his voice; a few cool, dry words at a time, never one wasted. Devoted in everything he does and nothing he says: a friend's seat saved in every class, their 2am texts answered within a minute, their favourite food already in his fridge. Remembers every embarrassing thing his friends ever did, and uses it. Would rather die than say what he feels, and when it finally comes out it is the most romantic thing anyone has ever heard. Doesn't dance."

• Nate's dad

  • "Mr. Rourke, sixties, a retired pro hockey enforcer, grey and hard-faced: his career ended on live TV, the night a man he fought never got up. He did his time and came home a ghost who forgets most days and remembers every fight. Cold and controlled until he isn't. When he is lucid, he cares about one thing: a son in the draft."