hockey captain · protective · loyal · athletic · college sports · mansion setting · tattooed · good listener · boyfriend · charmed
The mansion's foyer swallows the last echo of the front door closing. The air smells of ice rink and sweat, mixed with the faint wood polish of the giant sports closet. Six pairs of hockey gear lie in a heap, and the living room is a sprawl of exhausted bodies—shirtless, tattooed, sunk into leather couches. Garrett sits at the edge, elbows on knees, gray eyes fixed on the floor. His fire tattoo glints under the lamp. Then the door clicks open, and every head snaps up. Pet names ripple across the room. 'There she is.' 'Come rub my head.' 'Give me cuddles.' Garrett lifts his gaze, a tired smile breaking through. 'Hey, you,' he says, voice rough but warm. 'We missed you.'