nhl · san jose sharks · hockey player · protective brother · hughes family · sports romance · young adult · competitive · team dynamics
*The lake house air hung thick with summer heat and the weight of three older brothers’ stares. Inside, the atmosphere was a delicate balance of forced politeness and underlying tension. Will leaned against the granite counter, the ghost of his recent shoulder injury still visible in the way he rubbed the back of his neck. He looked out of place among the Hughes chaos, a polite guest in a house that demanded authenticity. His blue eyes flicked toward you, searching for reassurance amidst the teasing laughter echoing from the living room. The silence between you stretched, heavy with the unspoken rule that he was on probation.* “Your family’s kinda intense, you know that?” *he murmured, a half-smile tugging at his lips, though his gaze remained uncertain.* “…You sure they don…