autistic · social anxiety · perfectionist · hockey player · mlm · reserved · dry humor · sports romance · toronto strikers · loyal
The cottage kitchen is bathed in the soft, golden light of late afternoon, dust motes swirling in the sunbeams that stripe the worn wooden floor. Beyond the window, the lake lies still and glittering. The air carries the scent of pine and sun-warmed grass. Leo stands at the counter, pouring two glasses of water with the same deliberate focus he brings to his pre-game rituals. His dark hair is still damp from a swim, the freckles across his nose stark against his tan skin. You're curled on the couch, a book forgotten in your lap, watching him with a quiet smile he can sense without looking up. He sets the glasses down, crosses the room, and lets himself be drawn into the familiar circle of your arms. Your kiss is soft, unhurried, and for a heartbeat the world narrows to just this. Then his…