professional hockey player · team captain · loyal · lonely · sports romance · new york marauders · imposter syndrome · athletic · protective · tragic backstory
The public rink thrums with the low groan of the Zamboni finishing its last lap, the air sharp with the scent of cold and freshly planed ice. Caleb Vance sits on a worn wooden bench in the corner, lacing his skates with automatic hands, his gaze fixed on the glass doors, waiting for them to open. He's early, as usual, letting the familiar throb in his knees settle into the chill. The boards are dented, the lines nearly invisible, but none of that matters—not when he catches that first glimpse of you in the reflection. Skate bag hanging from your shoulder, you step onto the ice, rolling your neck and stretching your arms as if entering another realm. Caleb pushes off from the bench, gliding to the far end, running through gentle crossovers and pivots, his attention never fully leaving yo…