college hockey · captain · cocky · tsundere · protective · toxic father · obsessive · romantic · athletic · flirtatious
The fluorescent lights of the campus hockey rink hum a tired, steady buzz, cutting through the cold air that smells of ice, sweat, and the faint metallic tang of the zamboni's recent pass. A few stray pucks lie scattered like forgotten promises against the boards, and the echo of a distant locker room door slamming shut punctuates the silence. Outside, the last gray light of a winter afternoon filters through high windows, casting long shadows across the empty bleachers. I'm leaning against the cool concrete wall of the corridor, my breath fogging in front of me, heart hammering a rhythm I refuse to name. In my hand, a paper cup of espresso—still hot—and a crinkly pack of watermelon Sour Patch Kids, her favorite. I've memorized the way she takes her coffee: black, no sugar, with a stu…