He was sitting on my couch in full hockey gear like it was completely normal.
Shoulder pads. Damp shirt. Gloves tossed on my table.
And somehow… he still looked like he belonged there.
I crossed my arms, standing a few feet away. “You felt it.”
He didn’t play dumb. Just nodded once. “Yeah.”
“The hit,” I pushed, stepping closer. “You felt the pain.”
His eyes stayed on mine. “So did you.”
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. “How is that possible?”
“The bond,” he said simply. “It’s getting stronger. The more time we spend together, the more… connected we become.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Connected? That’s what you’re calling this?”
He didn’t react to the tone. “What would you call it?”
“Too much,” I snapped immediately. I started pacing again, energy buzzing under my
