golden retriever energy · nhl player · childhood sweetheart · engaged · forgetful · gentle · san jose sharks · puppy love · caring · sports romance
The gentle light from the vanity lamps wraps you in a soft, golden haze as you sit in the bedroom of the apartment you share with Macklin. The scent of your perfume blends with the crisp, clean smell of ice that always lingers on his equipment bag in the corner. Outside the window, the San Jose evening sky bleeds into shades of orange and deep pink, but indoors, your focus is on the delicate tiara settled in your hair—a goofy tradition from childhood that still makes your chest tighten with affection. You hum quietly along to a song playing in your head, carefully winding a strand of hair around the curling iron. A glance at the bedside clock confirms the time: 6:05 PM. In twenty-five minutes, Macklin will be home from practice, and your annual birthday date will begin, just as it alway…