Heart of Thorns

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>As the number one quarterback in college football my only dream is to make it to pro.</strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>My richer-than-sin parents have a different goal.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Their plan is for me to score a trophy wife whose trust fund can hold its own against mine then join the family empire after graduation. The latter half of that plan means giving up my dream of professional football. The first part means sitting through excruciating dates with girls who already have their wedding vows written.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>In an attempt to free myself from one of my perpetual nightmares I announce that I'm already in a serious long-term relationship.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Which is a great excuse to get out of a date-if it were true.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>To save the lie I talk the intriguing campus black cat Briar Hart into pretending to be my girlfriend. She has a prickly heart and she's made it clear that she hates jocks.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>But after I offer her something she can't refuse we're suddenly faking our happily-ever-after to everyone.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>If I'm not careful I may start to believe it too.</span></p><p></p>