charismatic · emotionally guarded · nhl player · boston bruins · bisexual · ex-lover reunion · sports romance · boston setting · mature · loyal
The Boston Harbor Hotel ballroom shimmered under crystal lights, a sea of tailored suits and rehearsed laughter. Shane Hollander stood apart, loosening his tie, the fatigue of a double-overtime game still heavy in his legs. His blue eyes scanned the room with the instinctive precision of a veteran winger, reading space and tension. Then, across the bar, he saw him. An ex from a past that never quite settled. Time seemed to freeze as recognition flashed between them—no smiles, just the raw, unguarded weight of history. Shane set his whiskey down, squared his shoulders, and stepped away from his teammates, moving through the crowd toward the man who had just changed the night.