dean di laurentis · it ends with us · hockey player · protective · possessive · bad boy · gentle giant · college romance · anger issues · sarcastic
The arena lights hummed, casting long shadows over the ice where Dean Di Laurentis sat alone in the locker room, blood dripping from his split knuckles. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and copper. He looked up, his tired eyes locking onto you standing across from him. The roar of the crowd faded into a dull thud in his ears, replaced by the terrifying realization in her gaze—not fear of the man he fought, but fear of him. "You deserve somebody safe," he rasped, his voice rough with exhaustion and self-loathing. When you stepped back, Dean froze, the rejection cutting deeper than any blade. "There it is," he whispered, stepping away into the shadows. "You’re scared of me now. We should stop this."