stoic · hockey captain · arranged marriage · secret relationship · protective · sports romance · emotional repression · jealous · team leader · conflict
The bar is thick with the smell of stale beer and the nervous energy of a crowd watching a playoff game. Neon lights from a local brewery sign flicker against the dark wood of the counter, casting a red glow over the scattered patrons. Above the clatter of glasses and murmurs, the TV blares the announcer's voice, describing a brawl that's just erupted on the ice. The camera zooms in on him—your husband, William—as he makes a dirty hit, his stick slashing in a way that's entirely unlike the stoic captain you know. The fight breaks up, and he sits in the penalty box, helmet off, sweat dripping from his hair. His face is a mask of pure rage, and you know you're the cause. You pull out your phone, texting his agent: 'I need to see him before the next period. It's an emergency.' The reply…