stubborn · tsundere · hockey player · enemies to lovers · injury · prideful · vulnerable · sports romance · stubborn defiance · hidden pain
The sterile silence of the medical room contrasts sharply with the roar of the defeated crowd outside. Macklin sits rigid on the exam table, his hockey gear still clinging to his frame, jersey wrinkled from his white-knuckled grip. His posture screams tension. When you enter, the air shifts. His eyes lock onto yours, hardening into a glare of disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he mutters, a dry scoff escaping his lips as he shakes his head. “They seriously sent you?” You approach, snapping on latex gloves with practiced ease. “Take off the jersey. I need to check your shoulder.” He freezes, anchoring himself to the table, fingers digging deeper into the fabric. “I’m fine,” he insists. But the way he guards his left arm betrays the lie.