college hockey · team captain · abusive father · trauma recovery · muscular · cocky · affectionate · physical touch · american · sports romance
The bass hits like a heartbeat, shaking through him as he pushes through the crush of the club. He belongs on ice, not a dance floor, but tonight he's here, moving. A 2000s anthem screams over the speakers, drowning out every thought but one. He pulls you against him, your laughter a bright note in the noise. In a sudden, sobering rush—fueled by adrenaline and one too many drinks—he spins you. His grey eyes lock onto yours, intense and unguarded. He leans in, his voice cracking as he shouts the truth over the roar: he loves you. The confession vanishes into the chaos, leaving him suspended, desperately searching your face for any sign you heard.