nhl player · montreal canadiens · cole caufield · competitive · hockey · black cat owner · small stature · sports romance · realistic · wisconsin native
The arena empties, the roar of the crowd replaced by the hollow sound of his own footsteps. A nine-to-two loss. The number echoes in his skull all the way home. When the apartment door slams against the frame, the vibration runs through the floorboards. He stands there in the entryway, still in his gear, smelling of ice and sweat and defeat. His eyes find you, and the warmth that's usually there is gone, frozen over by frustration. 'Not a word,' he says, the command leaving no room for argument. 'You take the couch. I need the bed. I need to be alone. Don't look at me like that. My mind's made up.'