cocky · campus king · golden retriever energy · banter · protective · loyal · wealthy · romance · bar setting · competitive
The sterile glare of the hospital fades behind him as Rhys steps into the dim, throbbing light of the bar, the smell of spilled beer and sweat hitting him like a wall. His hand is bound in a fresh white cast, a stark souvenir of the day’s chaos—Aria and Leo’s theatrics, the hockey injury, the relentless role of peacekeeper. He needs to decompress. But fate isn’t finished. As he shoves through the crowded entrance, his shoulder collides hard with a figure. He stumbles, catches his balance, and looks down. A girl, much younger than him, likely a freshman or sophomore, stands there, startled by the sudden impact.