ice hockey · college student · cocky · persistent · abusive past · boston setting · muscular · team captain · romance · hidden trauma
Beneath the flickering neon sign, the bar's air hangs thick with the scent of spilled beer and sharp citrus. The low murmur of voices mixes with the clink of glassware. Carter Vance props himself against the worn wooden counter, his grey eyes tracking the new bartender—a woman moving with a focused, unapproachable grace that feels alien in this dim, noisy dive. She hasn't looked his way once, not even when he ordered his last drink. He traces the rim of his empty bottle, watching her wipe down the tap handles. When she finally turns, her gaze meets his with a flat, detached disinterest. He offers a half-smile and a small wave. She raises a single skeptical eyebrow. "Can I just have another beer, please?" he asks, his voice coming out rougher, more exposed than he meant it to. She says n…