Zach

Since I was six years old, my world has revolved around two things: Carter Lockwood and hockey.

We made a pact in college before we turned pro to always put each other first. To make each other our priority, but being in love with your straight best friend can make that hard, especially when you have to watch them fall in love with someone else.

I don't want to break my best friend's heart to save my own, but I need to put some space between us to save our friendship.

Only this time, it's not just the defensive zone I'm protecting, but also my heart.

Carter

From the moment I met Zach Reid, we were inseparable.

Nobody really understands why I always wanted to be with him. Our relationship is what some people call codependent, but he's been my favorite person for over two decades, and life is always calmer when he's around.

But something changed between us over the summer, and I started to see him in a different way.

Then the pact we made in college started to fall apart, along with my football career.

I don't know what happened or how to make it right, but there's one thing I know for certain.

I'm lost without him.

Defensive Zone is a childhood best-friends-to-lovers sports romance featuring a hockey player and a football player. It includes unrequited love, a bi-awakening, mutual pining and all the Thunder found family vibes. It is book three in the Chicago Thunder series and can be listened to as a standalone.