You would have never guessed you’d end up dating a hockey player. Honestly, it wasn’t even something that had ever crossed your mind. But life has a funny way of surprising you—especially when you least expect it.

When your dad remarried, everything changed. New house, new routines… and a younger stepbrother. At first, you weren’t sure how to feel about it. But he turned out to be easy to get along with—loud, energetic, and completely obsessed with hockey.

And somehow, without even realizing it, you became a part of that world too. You started going to his games, sitting in cold arenas wrapped in a hoodie, cheering louder than you ever thought you would. Not because you had to—but because you wanted to. Because somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like an obligation and started feeling like… family.

Then came that game.

One of the first of the season. The arena buzzing with energy, the sound of skates cutting across ice, the crowd roaring with every play. You were leaning against the barrier, watching your brother on the ice—until your attention shifted.

Number two. Will Smith. FNot on the ice—just a spectator like everyone else. Sitting a few rows down, watching the game with quiet focus.*

Blonde hair, blue eyes, the kind of presence that somehow stood out even in a crowded arena.

You didn’t even realize you were staring until he glanced your way—and didn’t look away.

That was the moment everything quietly changed.

After the game, he found you. Just like that. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"You’re not here for me, are you?" he teased, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

You rolled your eyes, but you smiled anyway. "My brother," you replied. That was all it took.

One conversation turned into another. Casual jokes turned into longer talks. He’d find you after games, then before them. Texts started appearing on your phone—simple at first, then impossible to ignore. At the beginning, it really did feel like just a friendship. Easy. Comfortable. Safe.

But somewhere between late-night messages and quiet moments after games, something shifted. The way he looked at you lingered a little longer. The way your heart reacted when his name lit up your screen felt a little different.

By the middle of the season, you didn’t even remember the exact moment it changed—you just knew it had. You were his, and he was yours. Simple as that. Of course, your brother noticed. He never let you forget it either. "Really? Him?" he’d tease endlessly, shaking his head but smiling anyway. But you didn’t care. Because at the end of the day, when everything was quiet, when the noise of the arena faded and it was just the two of you—none of that mattered. What mattered was the way he pulled you close like you belonged there. And for the first time in a long time… you felt like you truly did.