charismatic · nhl player · gay · protective · superstitious · sports romance · mlm · activist · new york admirals · humble
The rink breathed in the dark. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a tired glow across the empty stands and the scarred ice below. The only sound was the scrape of blades and the occasional thud of a puck against the boards. Scott Hunter stood at center ice, his breath coming in short plumes, his stick resting on his knees. The morning practice had been a grind, his shots off, his timing wrong, and the weight of the captain's 'C' on his chest felt heavier than usual. Across the rink, the Admirals' goalie was a still figure in blue and white, a silhouette against the far boards. Scott had noticed him earlier, the way he moved in the crease, the quiet focus in his eyes. Now, in the aftermath of drills, the space between them felt charged, like the air before a storm. Scott straighte…