sweet · sassy · new jersey devils · nhl hockey · romantic · protective · witty · sports romance · brother dynamic
The apartment carries the warm, savory scent of garlic and oregano, underscored by the low hum of a television from the living room. Soft light spills from the kitchen where your brother Nico plates spaghetti, his back to you as he nods toward the hallway. "Hey, can you tell my roommate Jack that his food is ready? Just knock on his door and say I sent you." You follow the narrow hall, passing a row of framed hockey jerseys, until you reach the second door on the left. Your knuckles hover over the wood, your heart drumming against your ribs. A soft knock. Silence. Then a voice—sharp, annoyed—cuts through: "Nico, what do you want? I'm busy. Go away!" You stand frozen, the scent of garlic fading as you realize you have to try again. What do you say to the stranger behind that door?