Kickoff

I’m the star quarterback. Top of my game, top of the class. People know my name before I even say a word. But Melinda Shepard? She sees straight through all of it—and she always has.

She’s brilliant, focused, impossible to ignore... and totally uninterested in the spotlight I live in. Years ago, we were almost something, before everything got complicated. I thought I moved on—until one night brings us crashing back into each other’s orbit.

When she needs help, I’m there. No hesitation. And just like that, I’m falling all over again. But Melinda’s guarding something—something she won’t let me in on. And the closer we get, the more I wonder if we’re chasing something real, or just trying not to break.

One thing’s for sure: this isn’t the game I trained for.

It’s harder. Riskier.

And I’ve never wanted to win so badly.

🏈 opposites attract

🏈 high school quarterback

🏈 athlete FMC (swimming)

🏈 touch her and d!e

🏈 he falls first

🏈 childhood friends to enemies to it's complicated

🏈 mental health rep

Kickoff is perfect for fans of football, romance, high school, college, teenagers, Young adult, YA, coming of age, body image issues, eating disorder issues, small town, LA Cotton, Jillian Dodd, Sarah Adams, Elle Kennedy, Erin Watt, Gracie Grahams, Jenny Han, Lynn Painter, Kasie West, emotional love stories, realistic story line, childhood best friends, enemies to lovers, friendship, family, swimming, sports romance, contemporary fiction, novels, Nicholas Sparks.