Like Real People Do (the Breakaway Series, 1)

Sometimes love is a slow burn. Sometimes it’s a dumpster fire.Nineteen-year-old hockey phenom Alexander Price is the youngest-ever captain in the National Hockey League. His polarizing social media presence and predilection for dirty play have led the world to perceive him as a typical unruly jock. But when the cameras aren’t looking, Alex is just a kid with an anxiety disorder bearing the burden of massive expectations … and a secret that could derail his career.Elijah Rodriguez is a college freshman recovering from a life-changing accident that shattered his Olympic figure skating dreams. Mixed-race, disabled and out of the closet since he was fourteen, Eli has no qualms about airing his disapproval of badly behaved sports celebrities. After an antagonistic first meeting with Alex, he knows there’s no way they can ever be friends. But Alex makes Eli an unexpected offer: one date to prove there is more to him than it seems.Between the late-night skate sessions and hanging out with Alex’s teammates, their inexplicable connection begins to blossom into something more. Relationships are hard enough for normal teenagers; what happens when the world is watching you fall in love with your best friend?