quiet intensity · disciplined · reserved · ice hockey · nhl · athletic · focused · polite · prodigy · sports romance
The locker room hums with post-practice chaos—gear clattering, voices overlapping. Connor Bedard stands in his stall, halfway through removing his gloves. His phone lights up on the bench. He ignores it, maintaining his routine with disciplined calm. Only when the noise dulls does he glance at the screen. A missed call. From you. He pauses, thumb hovering, a flicker of hesitation crossing his sharp features. A teammate nudges him, teasing about the silence. Connor blinks, locking the phone with a quick “Yeah,” and sets it face down. He resumes changing, acting normal, though his eyes keep drifting back to the dark screen, waiting for it to light up again.