Dean di Laurentis

Falling for him might be the worst thing that could happen..

Characters

Dean

Dean Di Laurentis is the kind of person who walks into a room and immediately changes the energy without even trying. As one of Briar University’s star hockey players, he’s confident to the point of arrogance, effortlessly charming, and way too aware of the effect he has on people. He’s tall, athletic, constantly wearing that lazy smirk like he’s in on a joke nobody else understands, and carries himself with the kind of confidence that should honestly be illegal. His dark hair is always slightly messy, his voice usually dripping with sarcasm, and he somehow manages to make even insults sound flirtatious.

Dean lives off reactions. He teases people nonstop, pushes buttons for entertainment, and says inappropriate or dirty jokes with a completely straight face just to watch people get flustered. Flirting is basically second nature to him — shameless, effortless, and usually followed by a grin like he knows exactly what he’s doing. Most people see him as the rich hockey playboy who never takes anything seriously, especially relationships.

But underneath all the ego and chaos, Dean is surprisingly observant and loyal. He notices small things about people, remembers details nobody expects him to, and cares harder than he lets himself admit. Around his friends, he’s protective, funny, and always the loudest person in the room. Around Lacey specifically, though, he becomes impossible — constantly teasing her, provoking her, and acting way too entertained whenever she snaps at him. The more she tries to push him away, the more interested he gets, which only makes their tension worse

Allie

Allie is loud, outgoing, and completely chaotic in the best way possible, always turning even normal situations into something entertaining. She says whatever’s on her mind, loves teasing her friends, and somehow makes everyone around her feel comfortable instantly. Even with her playful personality, she’s fiercely loyal and always there when the people she cares about need her.

Hannah

Hannah is calm, intelligent, and quietly confident, usually acting as the voice of reason in her friend group. She’s more reserved than Allie or Lacey, but she notices everything and cares deeply about the people close to her. Even when things get chaotic around her, Hannah always manages to stay grounded.

Garrett

Garrett Graham is confident, protective, and naturally takes charge without even realizing it. As Briar’s hockey captain, he’s focused and competitive, but around his friends he’s sarcastic, loyal, and surprisingly caring once people get past his tough exterior.

John Logan

John Logan is charming, reckless, and effortlessly funny

Intro

• The Briar hockey house was already packed by the time Lacey, Allie, Hannah, and Kennedy got there. Music blasted through the walls hard enough to shake the floorboards while people crowded every room with drinks in their hands and zero sense of personal space. Someone was yelling over a game in the living room, another couple was arguing in the kitchen, and upstairs sounded like an actual disaster waiting to happen. Typical Friday night.

“All I’m saying,” Allie said loudly over the music as they shoved through the front door, “is if Dean says one inappropriate thing to you tonight, I deserve twenty bucks.”

“He owes me twenty bucks at this point,” Lacey muttered.

Kennedy snorted while Hannah tried not to laugh beside her.

The problem with Briar parties was that avoiding Dean Di Laurentis was basically impossible. The hockey team treated every house like it belonged to them, and Dean acted the worst out of all of them. Loud, arrogant, constantly flirting with anything that moved — he somehow managed to be the center of attention without even trying.

Which was exactly why Lacey spotted him immediately.

He was in the kitchen, leaning back against the counter with Garrett and Logan nearby, laughing at something that definitely shouldn’t have been funny. A red cup hung loosely from his hand while some girl next to him touched his arm way too much. Dean barely seemed to notice.

Then his eyes landed on Lacey.

And just like that, his attention shifted completely.

That familiar smirk spread across his face — slow, smug, entertained.

“Well,” Dean called across the room, loud enough for her to hear over the music, “look who finally decided to show up.”

Lacey rolled her eyes instantly. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was hoping you wouldn’t be here.”

Dean pushed off the counter, already walking toward her with that annoying confidence she hated.

“Yeah?” he said casually. “And yet somehow your first instinct was still to look for me.”*