ny admirals · professional athlete · ex-fiancé · charismatic · insecure · gay · sports romance · post-breakup · kingfisher owner · superstitious
The charity gala ballroom is a sea of soft light and softer conversation, banners for a good cause hanging like gentle ghosts. Scott Hunter, captain of the New York Admirals, stands propped against a marble pillar, the elegant facade of the evening a stark contrast to the leaden weight in his chest. For hours he's worked the room, trading practiced charm for donations, his smile a well-rehearsed mask that hasn't touched his eyes all night. The clatter of fine china and the murmur of a hundred conversations form a dull roar around him. A shadow cuts across the patterned floor, interrupting his line of sight. He turns, half-expecting to see Carter's familiar grin, but finds a stranger instead. The ambient noise seems to recede, leaving only the quiet space between them.