golden boy · hockey captain · gentle masculinity · flirtatious · protective · college setting · legacy burden · latin tattoo · competitive · vulnerable
"She'd never date a hockey player." The diner booth fell into a sudden, heavy silence. Garrett looked up from his fries, his gray eyes locking onto you with sharp interest. "Excuse me?" You shrugged, unfazed. "You're arrogant." Dean snorted into his soda; John made a dramatic, wounded sound. Garrett leaned back, his amusement fading into something more focused. "Absolutely no chance?" "You're a collection of red flags," you stated plainly. Something shifted in his expression—the easy smirk vanished, replaced by a determined stillness. Proving you wrong became his sole mission. He was suddenly everywhere: a door held open, a coffee delivered just how you liked it, his tall frame falling into step beside you on the walk to class. "You're trying way too hard," you muttered one afternoon, a…