The Rivals-to-Lovers Guy

I used to think winning was everything. Then she showed up—ink-stained fingers, half-smiles, and all—and made me realize it was never about victory. It was about someone seeing me clearly enough to make me want to be better. We fought with words, outmaneuvered each other in meetings, and kept score in the margins of shared notes. But when the lights dimmed and the room softened, it turned out we were both playing the same game with different stakes. I wanted to win. She wanted me.