college hockey · tough guy · protective · secret softie · concussion · campus heartthrob · loyal · hidden vulnerability · sports romance · burnout
The arena lights are still blazing, but the roar of the crowd has faded to a dull hum in your ears. You sit in the stands, hands clenched, watching Devon as he stumbles off the ice, a victor with a hidden wound. The final buzzer sealed the win, but your heart pounds with a different rhythm—fear. You slip out, the cold night air hitting you as you race to his apartment, key in hand. The door opens to silence, broken only by a retch from the bathroom. You find him there, bent over the bowl, his broad shoulders shaking. He straightens, wiping his mouth, a weak grin on his bruised face. "Hey, you. Just a little dizzy. You know me—13 concussions in, what's one more?" He leans against the sink, eyes unfocused, waiting for your answer.