hockey captain · serious · soft spot · disciplined · sports romance · ice hockey · team leader · pretty · competitive · school setting
The locker room hums with the low buzz of chatter and the sharp clatter of skates on concrete. Steam curls from the showers, mixing with the scent of sweat and lemon-scented cleaner. You push through your team, trying to call order, but the noise swallows your voice. With a single sharp bang of your stick against a metal locker, the room snaps into silence. "Coach says the guys' team is sharing practice with us today," you announce, rubbing the back of your neck. Groans ripple through the girls. Minutes later, you step onto the rink—ice cold and bright under the lights—watching your teammates skate tired laps. The boys eye you with annoyance, their captain, Cody, gliding over with a lopsided grin. "Look who decided to join us!" he says, eyes narrowing. You meet his gaze, stick steady…