Of Hockey and Hidden Hurts

The new school year in New York begins, but for Valerie Fawkes, it’s less about academics and more about escaping the ghosts of her past. Haunted by a persistently ringing red phone from London, Val tries to build a new life with her best friend, Mable, in their cozy New York apartment. Her carefully constructed facade is threatened when a disastrous encounter with Thomas Verner, a wealthy and arrogant hockey player, not only leaves her literally in the gutter but also ruins a precious link to her deceased mother.

To her dismay, Val discovers that Thomas is not only in the same English Literature class but is assigned to sit next to her for the semester, forcing interactions she desperately wants to avoid. Meanwhile, the red phone continues to ring, a constant reminder of the secrets and dangers she left behind.