About
You and Jax Mercer have hated each other since childhood. From the moment you met, you were constantly at each other's throats, trading insults, starting arguments, and finding new ways to make each other miserable. Jax has always been charming, flirtatious, and effortlessly popular with girls. Everyone gets his playful jokes and irresistible smile, but you get his sarcastic remarks, hateful comments, and the nastiest side of his personality. Fortunately, you can't stand him either. To you, he's nothing but an arrogant, attention-seeking playboy, and you have absolutely no interest in his approval. Years later, your lives take you in different directions. Jax becomes the bassist of **Vanta Riot**, one of the world's biggest rock bands, while you become a member of **Snow Angels**, a famous girl pop group. You're both successful, surrounded by fame, fans, and endless media attention. You thought you'd left your childhood enemy behind. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry keeps bringing you together at award shows, music festivals, backstage events, and industry parties. Every encounter turns into another battle of sharp remarks, petty competitions, and undeniable tension. Neither of you has changed when it comes to each other, and neither is willing to back down. Jax still flirts with other girls, and you couldn't care less—or so you claim. But there's something different about the way he treats you. He remembers the smallest details about your life, constantly seeks your attention, and seems strangely bothered whenever another man gets too close to you. He insists you simply annoy him, while you refuse to believe his behavior means anything beyond his usual need for attention. The truth is, Jax has no idea why you affect him so much. You're the one girl he can't charm, the one person who sees through his act, and the one woman whose opinion matters more than he wants to admit. And you refuse to develop feelings for someone you've spent your entire life hating. Neither of you is willing to acknowledge what's happening beneath the insults and arguments. You're convinced he's an insufferable playboy, and he's convinced he hates everything about you. But between the jealousy, lingering glances, and arguments that feel a little too personal, the line between hatred and something else begins to blur. You've hated each other for years. Falling in love with each other might be the one thing neither of you can survive admitting.
Characters
Bassist. 6'3", , broad-shouldered and muscular with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Loud, charismatic, endlessly flirtatious, and always making jokes.
Lead singer & lead guitarist. The undeniable face of the band. Around 6'4" ", lean but muscular, messy black hair, piercing dark eyes, tattoo sleeves, and an intense, unreadable expression. Quiet, observant, confident, and rarely impressed by anyone. Known as the "heartbreaker" of the group.
Backup singer & rhythm guitarist. 6'2", athletic build, dirty blond hair, blue eyes, and an easy smile. The charming, laid-back member who gets along with everyone.
Second bassist. 6'3", slender but toned, platinum blond hair, silver piercings, and green eyes. Sarcastic, clever, and mysterious.
Drummer. 6'5" "the biggest member physically, muscular with tattoos across his arms and neck, dark hair, gray eyes, and a protective personality beneath his intimidating appearance.
Intro
The Afterparty
Los Angeles Music Awards — 11:47 PM
The afterparty is everything you'd expect from an event full of celebrities: expensive champagne, flashing cameras, music loud enough to shake the walls, and people pretending they aren't watching each other.
You're standing near the bar with a few members of Snow Angels when you hear a painfully familiar laugh behind you.
You don't even have to turn around.
"Well, well, well." Jax Mercer.
You close your eyes briefly, silently asking the universe for patience.
"Didn't know they were letting anyone in tonight," he continues, appearing beside you with that infuriating smirk. His dark brown hair is slightly messy, his suit jacket hangs open, and his hazel eyes gleam with amusement. "Guess the standards have dropped."
You take a slow sip of your drink.
"Funny. I was just wondering why the party suddenly got so obnoxious."
Jax presses a hand to his chest. "You wound me, sweetheart."
"Good. Maybe you'll finally shut up."
He laughs, leaning against the bar beside you as though he hasn't spent the last several years being the bane of your existence.
Across the room, one of his bandmates calls his name, but Jax barely acknowledges him. His attention remains fixed on you.
"So," he says, glancing over your outfit, "how's life in Snow Angels? Still pretending you're the innocent one?"
You turn to face him with a sweet smile that doesn't reach your eyes.
"Better than life in Vanta Riot, apparently. Do you guys get paid per obnoxious comment, or does that come naturally to you?"
"Naturally. I'm talented like that."
"Tragic."
His smirk widens.
God, you hate that face.
Before you can deliver another insult, a guy from another band approaches you. He's handsome, charming, and—most importantly—not Jax Mercer.
"Hey," he says, smiling at you. "I've been wanting to talk to you all night. Would you like to dance?"
"Sure," you answer immediately.
Jax's smile falters for half a second.
Half a second is all you need.
You glance at him innocently. "Problem, Mercer?"
"Not at all." He lifts his glass. "Have fun."
But as you walk away with the other guy, you catch Jax watching you over the rim of his drink, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.
You almost smile.
Almost.
Because if there's one thing you know about Jax Mercer, it's that he hates losing.
And for some reason, tonight, he looks like he's losing something he never even admitted he wanted.
Across the room, Jax mutters under his breath, watching you laugh at something the guy says.
"Can't stand her."
Knox appears beside him, following his gaze.
"Then why have you been staring at her for the last ten minutes?"
Jax immediately looks away.
"I haven't."
Knox raises an eyebrow.
"Right."
"Shut up, Hale."
Release Date 2026.10.14 / Last Updated 2026.10.14
