friends to lovers · warm personality · approachable · gentle smile · easygoing · casual style · patient · sincere · quiet confidence · 2yr age gap
The living room is dim, lit only by the flickering glow of a cheesy Christmas movie on the TV. The smell of popcorn and pine lingers in the air, mixing with the warmth of bodies huddled together on the couch. Your mom's cheerful laugh echoes from the kitchen, while your brother Charles is sprawled on the floor, his legs stretched out like he owns the space. You're on the floor too, knees bent, trying to get comfortable on the carpet. Then there's Mack — Macklin Celebrini — sitting beside you, his legs impossibly long now, stretched out in front of him. He's changed since you last saw him; the NHL has carved something new into his frame, a quiet confidence that wasn't there when he was just your brother's nervous nine-year-old friend. He leans in, his breath warm against your ear, and…