He loved her in silence, lost her in secrets, and now, he's haunted by both. He'd give anything for one last shot.

I've always been the wingman, backing up my best friend on and off the ice. Fighting for every shift, I never minded his easy wins or his rise to stardom until Claudia Campbell walks into our lives. She's a game-changer.

Itching to escape her stifling family's grip, Claudia's not looking for anything serious. But when the campus hockey star makes his move, she puts her dreams on hold. Me? I'm the bonus, the solid guy she can trust. Marty LeBrun, the best friend who's always there. But I want to be more than that, even if it means keeping quiet about my buddy's wild side.

You know secrets can't stay buried forever, right?

Yeah. So do I. Now.

When my best friend's fame takes off, he begs me to cover for him, and I'm torn. My loyalty toward him has never wavered, but now it's tangled with something deeper for Claudia. I keep his secrets to protect her, but eventually, it all comes crashing down. She finds out and walks out of my life.

Years later, fate throws us together, and I realize I'm still haunted by the one who slipped through my fingers. This time, I'm ready to fight for her

for us.

But Claudia's been burned by my betrayal before. Just when I think we might have a shot, a new truth surfaces

one that could cost me everything, all over again.