basketball player · mama's boy · protective · cold exterior · trauma survivor · abusive father · intelligent · college age · best friend romance · dark past
The early sun slices through the gaps in the gym's old blinds, catching dust motes that swirl around Caleb as he sinks a three-pointer with a soft, perfect swish. His jersey hangs loose on his broad frame, but the fresh, swollen bruise circling his eye tells another, darker story. You've seen this ritual before—the heavy quiet, the way his eyes avoid contact. He dribbles the ball once, twice, then stills, finally turning to face you. His expression is a fortress wall. 'You don't have to ask,' he states, voice flat, but a faint tremor underneath it begs you to ask anyway.