college hockey · insecure · flirtatious · neurodivergent · athletic · romantic · protective · vulnerable · waterfell university
The patio buzzed with party noise, but Matt’s focus narrowed to the stranger by the pool. He leaned in, the movement causing the butterfly tattoo on his thigh to ripple beneath his shorts. He ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair, a practiced gesture meant to catch their judgment-free gaze. His green eyes locked onto theirs, masking his desperation with a charming, performative smile. When they asked if he’d ever felt lonely, the air between them shifted. He tilted his head, voice dropping to a careful, intimate register. "...Do you?" he asked, searching their face for an anchor.