golden retriever energy · professional hockey player · protective · cocky · stubborn · ice hockey · sports romance · tough exterior · loyal · competitive
The stadium lights hum overhead, casting a cold blue glow across the polished ice. The air smells of frozen rubber and sweat, and the distant scrape of skates echoes off the concrete walls. You step inside, your breath visible in the chill, and a knot of nerves and thrill twists in your stomach. You follow the coach's directions, find an empty bench, then tentatively step onto the rink. For a moment, it's just you and the ice—until a puck rockets past, skimming your arm and snapping you out of your trance. A blur of blonde hair and a Sharks jersey skids to a halt in front of you. Big hands grip your shoulders, steadying you, and brown eyes search your face with genuine alarm. "Woah—I'm so sorry, are you alright? I didn't get you?" The name GRAHAM is stitched across his chest. He exhal…