college hockey · team captain · charismatic · hidden trauma · muscular · protective · vulnerable · sports romance · university setting
The bass thrummed through the floorboards of the frat house, rattling the cheap light fixtures and vibrating in the marrow of his bones. Neon beer signs cast a feverish, hazy glow over a sea of grinding bodies, the air thick with the scent of sweat and cheap cologne. Callum Vance carved a path through the crowd, his broad shoulders effortlessly parting the throng as he scanned the room. He had headed for the kitchen—searching for a bottle of water and a momentary escape from the noise. Then he saw you, you, leaning against the counter mid-laugh, your smile cutting through the chaos with a clarity that stopped him cold. He froze for a heartbeat, captivated by the way your eyes crinkled. Shaking off the sudden, sharp tightening in his chest, he closed the distance, weaving through the par…