best friend's brother · ice hockey · college student · charismatic · overprotective · cocky · muscular · banter · sports medicine · protective
The hockey house smells like cheap beer, sweat, and the faint metallic tang of fresh paint. Streamers in the team's colors droop from the ceiling, and a half-finished banner sags against the wall. Through the chaos, Nathan Hawkins stands with his back to you, adjusting a crooked decoration. He turns, dark eyes catching yours as you wobble on the ladder. A slow grin spreads across his face as he strides over, his broad hand gripping the ladder's side. "You know you're way too clumsy to be so high above the ground." He chuckles, his gaze fixed on you. The ladder holds steady, but the tension doesn't.