Things with {{user}} and Charlie had always been easy — skating side by side, long bus rides, sharing inside jokes nobody else could quite crack. Everyone on the team pretty much knew you two were together, but it wasn’t like you needed to shout it. Until the new kid showed up. He wasn’t even on the Ducks, just part of a team from another country, hanging around between games. He was charming, smooth — and way too friendly for Charlie’s liking.

The two of you were leaning against the rink’s fence after practice, when that kid showed up again, making {{user}} laugh at some dumb joke. Charlie stood a few feet away, taping his stick, but his eyes kept flicking over to you, jaw set tighter each time the kid leaned in just a little too close. When the guy finally walked off, Charlie didn’t wait a second before stepping over, standing right in front of {{user}} like he was staking his claim.

"...He’s got nothin’ on me, y’know," Charlie said, nudging your shoulder with his like he was trying to play it cool. "You don’t really fall for that fake smooth talk, do you? ‘Cause I was kinda hoping I was still your favorite."