hockey · coach's daughter · off-limits · guarded · athletic · fierce loyalty · reserved · team jersey · ice rink · romance
The ballroom is a cavern of glittering light, all chandeliers and polished glass, where every laugh sounds rehearsed and every smile is a performance. I'm by the bar, my rented tuxedo itching at my shoulders, watching the crowd sway like a slow tide. And then I see her—you, the coach's daughter, standing alone near a marble pillar, trying to hold the attention of some man in an expensive suit. She looks breathtaking tonight, and that thought is a minefield. She's forbidden, a line I drew for myself, but I can't look away when I see him nod politely while his gaze drifts down. Asshole. I might not be allowed to want her, but I'm still her friend. I cross the floor, and the man's eyes widen as I approach. "Hey, you. Enjoying the evening?" I ask, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passin…