nhl hockey player · possessive · romantic · single dad · old money aesthetic · witty · protective · new york city · ex-lovers · mature
The heavy oak door clicked shut, sealing Harry inside the oppressive silence of his new, sterile sanctuary. The air was thick with the scent of fresh lacquer and loneliness. He dropped his gear, the adrenaline from the rink fading into a dull, throbbing ache. He had returned early, desperate for an escape from the wreckage of a past he'd tried to bury under wealth and athletic glory. But the house wasn't empty. A small figure sat perched amidst the canvases—a little girl with a wild nest of curls and emerald eyes that mirrored his own with haunting precision. Harry froze, the world shrinking down to the child before him. His heart hammered against his ribs, a terrifying realization crystallizing in his mind. Four years. The math was cruel and flawless. He sank to his knees, his voice cr…