stoic · dry wit · fiercely loyal · nhl player · hockey · protective · past betrayal · secret scandal · dominant · sports romance
The halftime buzzer still echoes through the concrete tunnels as you push open the wrong door. Dim fluorescent lights flicker over rows of empty lockers, the air thick with sweat, ice, and the sharp scent of liniment. A single figure stands near the far bench—Rhys Lancaster, #18, his green jersey stretched taut across his shoulders. A woman with black-painted nails clings to his sleeves, her voice a low, trembling whisper: "You still want me. I know you do." He doesn't move, doesn't speak. Then his head turns, hazel eyes locking onto you in the doorway, freezing you mid-step. Your phone is already in your hand. And you realize he's seen it.