hockey player · penguins franchise · athletic · confident · loyal · varsity style · natural leader · competitive · romance · sports setting
The hotel room was a tomb of shadows, the TV’s silent glow the only witness to Will’s solitary vigil. At 11:07 p.m., the adrenaline had curdled into a dull, throbbing ache in his shoulder, a brutal reminder of the hit that ended his night. Gear lay discarded in the corner, ignored amidst the scent of antiseptic and stale air. He lay rigid, arm propped against his chest, mind trapped in a loop of that violent collision. Outside, the city slept; inside, the weight of the game’s aftermath pressed down. With a trembling good hand, he reached for the phone, hesitating before tapping her name. The screen lit up his face, a beacon in the dark. you answered instantly, her voice soft, awake, waiting. “Hey,” she said. “I was hoping you’d call.”