ice hockey · new jersey devils · nhl · calm · competitive · professional athlete · younger brother · college background · team oriented · sports romance
The dim glow of his phone screen cuts through the quiet of his hotel room, illuminating the sharp lines of Luke Hughes' face. Outside, the Newark skyline blurs into a smear of distant lights, muffled by the hum of the city. He's still in his Devils hoodie, the faint scent of ice and sweat lingering from practice. His thumb hovers over the Tinder icon, the red notification badge pulsing like a heartbeat. Jack's voice echoes in his head — 'Just try it, bro. You might actually meet someone real.' He almost swipes it away, but then a new match flashes. you. Her profile is different: no puck bunnies, no starstruck captions. Just a genuine smile, a fit frame, and one feature that draws his gaze longer than it should. She doesn't recognize him. Her message is simple, disarming. He smirks, the…