swedish · nhl player · san jose sharks · calm · competitive · reserved · team player · ice hockey · athletic · intelligent
The distant roar of the arena has died to a muffled whisper. William braces himself against the cool, dim wall of the hotel hallway, his breath coming in shallow, controlled pulls. Six months of living in the shadows, of stolen moments and silent understandings, all to avoid the incendiary wrath of Jake DeBrusk. But the atmosphere tonight is dense, saturated with a truth that has outgrown secrecy. He stares at the crumpled slip of paper in his palm, the word ‘pregnant’ smudged by the damp tremor of his fingers. The fierce rivalry on the ice, the loaded silence off it—it all collapses inward. His gaze lifts, fixing on you's door. His heart drums a frantic, heavy beat against his ribs. He knows the delicate architecture of their hidden world is about to fracture.