#we72 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

777bae · 2 months ago

Text

IN EVERY TOUCH WILLIAM EKLUND

Summary :: You and William are wrapped up in a love that doesn’t need to be spoken. His every touch, glance, and quiet confession speaks volumes, and you feel it in every moment. He doesn’t care who notices, he just wants you to know—you are his world, and he’s completely all in. (REQUESTED :: loverboy)

Warnings :: kissing, a little bit of making out

Word count :: 7.0k

You can’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened—when he went from a shy, almost uncertain admirer to someone who was so clearly, so unapologetically, down bad for you. But somewhere between those stolen glances in crowded rooms, when his eyes would find yours across the space and linger for just a beat too long, and the tentative, almost hesitant touches that sent electricity through your skin, you realized something had shifted. He wasn’t just interested in you anymore. He was completely wrapped up in you, tangled in your presence, and there was no turning back. It wasn’t something he could just shrug off or pretend wasn’t happening. No, this was deeper, permanent, something that had taken root in him. And you could feel it in every look he gave you.

Every time your eyes met, you saw it. It was in the way his gaze softened, how it held yours a fraction of a second longer than usual, like he couldn’t tear himself away, like he was drawn to you by some invisible force he had no interest in fighting. He was captivated, and it was painfully obvious. When you were near him, the world seemed to fall away—his focus, his attention, his entire being, all fixated on you. It didn’t matter who was around, who was watching; nothing else existed except for the two of you in that moment. And somewhere along the way, he stopped trying to hide it. He stopped second-guessing himself, stopped worrying about what others might think. It was as though the weight of his feelings had finally spilled out of him, and it felt too good to try to hold it back anymore. You were his, and that was all that mattered.

He was never really shy about how he felt about you, but now it was something different. The whole world could see it. It wasn’t just in the way his eyes would quietly seek you out in a crowd, scanning the room for your familiar presence, even in the most hectic of spaces. It wasn’t just the way he’d catch your gaze and flash you that soft smile of his, one that was so full of warmth it felt like you were the only person in the room. It wasn’t even just the way he would step a little closer to you when you spoke, or how his body would always angle towards you like you were his true north, guiding him home. No, it was in the small, subtle things—the tiny actions that no one else would notice but you.

It happened so effortlessly, so naturally, that at first, you almost thought you imagined it. You were standing in the middle of a crowded party, the music loud, voices blending into a blur, the energy almost overwhelming. William was nearby, talking with a few of his friends, his laughter rising above the noise like a warm wave. You glanced over at him, watching the way he smiled and gestured as he spoke, and for just a moment, you felt that familiar pull toward him. It was then, as if on instinct, that he reached for you.

His fingers brushed yours as he passed by, so light, so casual, it could’ve easily been brushed off as an accident. But it wasn’t. There was no hesitation in the way his hand met yours, no second-guessing or awkwardness. It was the kind of touch that spoke volumes, the kind that was as familiar to him as breathing. His fingers barely skimmed yours, but in that moment, something electric passed between you, a connection so sharp it almost felt like a spark. You blinked, caught off guard, but before you could even think to pull away, you felt the weight of his gaze on you. His eyes were already on you, locking onto yours with such intensity that it was as if the rest of the room had simply faded into the background.

And then, just like that, he smiled. It wasn’t a big, showy grin—just a soft, gentle curve of his lips, one that only you could truly read. His eyes softened, and you could see the warmth there, the affection that radiated from him without a word. It wasn’t the kind of smile he gave anyone else. It was the smile of someone who had found something worth cherishing, worth holding onto. And even though there were people all around you, the noise, the conversations, the chaos—it felt like time stopped in that moment. There was no one else. Just the two of you, standing there in the middle of the crowd, your fingers still lightly touching.

His fingers didn’t move away. They lingered for a second too long, just long enough for you to feel the heat of his palm against yours, to recognize the quiet desire for more. It was like an unspoken promise, one that passed through that brief contact. His hand was warm, his grip light, but steady, as if he wanted you to know that he was there—that he was yours.

You didn’t need to look around to know that other people were probably watching. But somehow, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter that you were in a room full of people, with the noise of conversations and music swirling around you. All that mattered was the way his attention never wavered, never faltered. His focus remained entirely on you, and for a moment, you felt like you were the only thing that existed in the world. His gaze held you captive, not in a possessive way, but in a way that made you feel seen, cherished, and adored. Like he couldn’t pull away from you, even if he wanted to.

You could see it in the way his body leaned just a little closer to yours, in the subtle shift in his posture as if, even in the middle of all the people, he was making sure to create space for you to exist beside him. His whole world had narrowed to that simple touch. Your fingers still brushed, his hand hovering near yours like it wanted to stay there forever. And in that brief, stolen moment, you realized that this was no accident. This was intentional. This was him, showing you, without saying a word, how much you meant to him. How much he was already wrapped up in you.

When his fingers finally, reluctantly, pulled away, it was like the world around you shifted back into focus. The voices, the music, the clatter of dishes—everything came rushing back in, but the bubble between the two of you remained. That quiet connection, that unspoken understanding, was still there. His eyes lingered on you, watching for your reaction, and even though the party had started to hum again, there was a calmness that settled over you both, a shared secret between just the two of you.

It wasn’t just those fleeting moments though. It was the quiet ones too—the way he would look at you when you weren’t looking, as though he couldn’t help but drink in the sight of you when you were absorbed in something else. His gaze would soften, his expression relaxed into something peaceful, as if everything in his life made sense in that moment. And when you’d catch him, when you’d glance up and meet his eyes, he’d always flash you that grin—gentle, open, as if he were rediscovering his love for you all over again. Every time. Like you were the most important person in the world, and every look was a reminder of how much he adored you.

The door to the living room opened with a quiet creak, and in walked William, laughing along with a few of his teammates. The sound of their voices filled the room as they chatted casually, clearly in good spirits after a long day of practice or a game. You didn’t immediately look up from your book, letting the soft noise wash over you as they settled into the space. The familiar, comforting hum of their conversations blended with the low background music, and for a moment, you were content in your little corner of the room, lost in the world of your book.

But then, you felt it. That subtle shift in the air. The moment he entered the room, your attention couldn’t help but be pulled toward him. Even with the chatter and movement around you, there was something magnetic about the way he walked into the space. It was the way he carried himself, the easy confidence he exuded, the way his eyes were already scanning the room, searching for you. Without fail, he always found you first. No matter how many people were there, no matter the distractions—he knew exactly where you were.

You could feel his gaze even before it reached you. It was a quiet thing, an almost invisible thread that pulled at you, the sense that someone was looking, really looking, at you. And just as you turned the page of your book, you caught it—his eyes, locking onto yours across the room. It was a split second, but it was enough. His focus narrowed immediately, the noise of his teammates’ conversation fading into the background as he homed in on you.

You met his gaze, and for that brief moment, it was like everything else in the room disappeared. The sounds of his teammates joking around, the clinking of bottles, the laughter—it all faded into silence. All that remained was the look in his eyes, soft and full of warmth, like the rest of the world was secondary to what he felt in that moment. His teammates might’ve been there, laughing and talking, but none of that seemed to matter to him. It was as if, in that second, everything in his life made sense because you were there, sitting just a few feet away.

Then, as if it was second nature, his lips curled into that smile—the one you knew so well. It was slow, easy, and so full of affection that it made your heart skip a beat. There was no need for words. His eyes said it all. The way he looked at you, as if he were rediscovering his love for you with every glance. And when he saw you smile back at him, when your eyes softened in return, something in his expression shifted, becoming even more tender.

You could see the peace in his face, the quiet joy that only you seemed to bring him. And even though the room was still filled with the sounds of his teammates and the evening’s activities, William’s attention was firmly planted on you. The way his eyes never strayed, the way his body subconsciously leaned toward you as if he couldn’t help himself—it was all so obvious. So real. His teammates, laughing and talking among themselves, might not have noticed, but you did. You always did.

And then, just when you were about to look away, he did it—he flashed you that grin. The one that made your heart flutter every time, no matter how many times you’d seen it. It wasn’t big, or grand, or over the top. It was small, gentle, a quiet curve of his lips that spoke volumes. His eyes still locked onto yours, and the look he gave you was the kind of look that made you feel like the most important person in the world. It was a look that said, I see you. I adore you. You’re mine.

You could feel the sincerity of it in the way he smiled, as if rediscovering his love for you all over again in that single, unspoken moment. It wasn’t just affection. It was the quiet certainty that you were everything to him. And as he leaned back in his chair, still watching you with that same soft smile, you felt a warmth spread through your chest. You didn’t need him to say anything. His eyes said it all.

And when you smiled back, when you gave him that brief, tender smile that only the two of you understood, you knew. You knew that this was love—the kind that didn’t need to be shouted from rooftops, the kind that existed in the quiet moments, in the stolen glances, in the softest of touches. Every time your eyes met, it was as if he was reminding you, in the gentlest way, that you were the center of his world. He didn’t need to make a spectacle of it. His love for you was written in every look, in every shared second of silence between you.

For a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered. Nothing else needed to be said. You and him, two hearts beating in sync, lost in the kind of love that didn’t need words to be understood. It was a love that was so obvious in its simplicity that it left no room for doubt. And as his gaze lingered on you, you couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest person in the world. Because, for him, you were all that mattered.

And when you texted him—oh, that was his favorite part. The way his phone would buzz in his pocket, the vibration almost like a quiet invitation to escape from whatever he was doing. It wasn’t just another message. It was your message, and the world would pause for a moment when he saw your name on the screen. His fingers would fly across the screen as he typed out a reply, always thoughtful, always sincere, and never without a little term of endearment.

It was late, a quiet evening after the chaos of a long day. The house was calm, dimly lit by the soft glow of a few scattered lamps. The world outside was still, and you found yourself curled up on the couch with a cup of tea, just unwinding after a busy few hours. The hum of the city filtered in faintly through the windows, but inside, everything felt peaceful—until the buzz of your phone vibrated against the coffee table.

You didn’t even have to look to know who it was. A smile tugged at your lips as you reached for the device, your heart already fluttering at the sight of his name lighting up the screen. William. He was never far from your thoughts, but when it was a message from him, everything else seemed to pause, like the world gave way to something softer, something that belonged to the two of you. You picked up your phone, fingers tapping over the screen to unlock it.

The moment you saw his message, a small, content sigh escaped you.

“Hey, beautiful. How’s your night going?”

It wasn’t anything extraordinary, but it didn’t have to be. His words were always like a balm, simple yet so full of meaning. Your fingers hovered over the screen for a second, contemplating how to respond. You didn’t want to sound too eager, but you were already smiling, already warmed by the fact that he thought of you, even in the middle of whatever he was doing.

You typed out a quick reply, and before you could even put your phone back down, the familiar buzz came again, signaling that he’d responded in kind. Your heart fluttered a little at the speed, the immediacy, and you couldn’t help but feel a small, private thrill.

“Good, älskling. I miss you already.”

Your breath caught, and your heart swelled a little. He always did that. No matter how casual the conversation, no matter how brief the exchange, he would sneak in a line like that, as if it were his own secret message to you—a quiet promise he’d never break. His words always felt like something precious, like he was holding onto a little piece of you in every one, even if you were apart for just a few hours. You didn’t need grand declarations when you had these moments. The sincerity in his tone, the care he put into every message, made you feel like he was right there with you, every step of the way.

You quickly responded, teasing just a little, because you knew how much he loved when you’d play along.

“Miss me already? It’s only been a few hours, William.”

And just as you’d expected, the reply came almost immediately, and you could feel the grin in his words before you even saw them.

“You know I can’t help it. I’m counting down the minutes until I see you again, baby.”

Every word was dripping with affection, and your smile widened. He didn’t try to hide it, didn’t try to play it cool. William was all in, all the time. And you, well, you felt the same.

You could practically hear the quiet chuckle in his voice as you typed out your reply. His messages were never rushed or careless. He took his time with each word, as if each sentence mattered. It made you feel special in a way no one else could. His messages, just like his gestures in person, carried weight.

“Can’t wait either. How’s practice? Hope you’re not overworking yourself.”

You could almost see him smiling on the other end as he read your message. He might’ve been surrounded by his teammates, lost in the buzz of a busy locker room, but when it came to you, he made everything feel like it could wait. His next message came with the same deliberate pace, as if he was crafting it just for you.

“No, it’s all good. Just a bit tired. But thinking about you always makes it better, älskling.”

A laugh bubbled up in your throat at his sweetness, and you immediately typed back.

“You’re such a flirt.”

You didn’t expect him to be anything other than amused by your comment. A few seconds later, his reply came, and this time, there was something even more endearing in his words.

“Only for you, beautiful. Can’t help myself when I’m talking to you.”

You bit your lip, feeling that warm flutter in your chest. It wasn’t just flirtation. It was genuine. Every word from him felt like a piece of his heart slipping into your hands. You had no doubt that he meant every word, that his feelings were real, and they were always wrapped in something that felt so… sincere.

As the conversation wrapped up, you felt the familiar sense of longing tugging at you. The quiet ache of being apart from him, even for just a little while, but that ache was tempered by the warmth of his words.

“Alright, I’m heading to bed. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

And, of course, there it was. The phrase that always made you smile, that quiet promise he gave you without even thinking.

“Miss you already. Sleep well, babe. I’ll be dreaming of you.”

You could practically hear his voice when you read those words, and your heart thumped a little harder in your chest. A simple text exchange, but to him, it was so much more. It wasn’t just a goodbye. It was a piece of him, wrapped up in a message that would linger with you long after you put your phone down.

You set your phone on the table beside you, but for a moment, you sat there, still holding onto the words. “Miss you already.” You smiled softly, your chest full. This was the part of your day you cherished the most—the quiet connection, the unspoken promises. No matter how busy the world got, no matter where you were or how far apart you were, it was moments like these that reminded you how deeply he was invested in you. How much he cared.

It wasn’t about the grand gestures. It was in the small moments, the quiet words, and the promise that even when you weren’t together, you were always on each other’s minds. And as you drifted off to sleep, you couldn’t help but smile, knowing that he would be thinking of you, too.

He was all in. No reservations, no second thoughts. His devotion to you wasn’t just in the grand gestures, though there were plenty of those. No, it was in the small things—the way his eyes softened whenever you spoke, like he was hanging on every word, like he could listen to you for hours and never grow tired. The way he would adjust himself just a little closer to you, like there was no place he’d rather be. When you laughed, you could almost see his heart skip a beat, like he couldn’t get enough of it. You were his muse, his reason to smile, the one thing that could make his heart race just by being in the same room.

You were sitting together in a crowded café, the kind of place where people would talk over one another, conversations blending into a hum of background noise. But to William, there was nothing but you. Your voice carried easily across the table, talking about something trivial—a funny story about something that happened at work or a moment that made you laugh. And William? He couldn’t take his eyes off of you. His gaze followed every movement of your lips, as if the words you spoke held some kind of magic. His body leaned just a little closer, as though subconsciously drawn to you, the distance between you growing smaller without either of you having to move. He adjusted his posture, pulling his shoulder closer to yours, almost like he wanted to be as close as possible without actually crowding you.

And when you laughed—a light, carefree sound that made the edges of your eyes crinkle and your smile widen—he was completely captivated. It wasn’t just the sound that got to him, it was the way your entire face lit up, how your whole body seemed to embrace that joy. The laughter was like a melody to him, and in that instant, it felt like his heart skipped a beat. He could feel the warmth spread through him, a mix of happiness and admiration, something that made him ache with the desire to keep you smiling forever. He didn’t even realize he was staring at you until your eyes met his, and he could see a hint of curiosity in your expression.

A soft blush crept up on his cheeks, and he quickly looked away, pretending to focus on his coffee cup for a second. But even as he looked down, his fingers tapped nervously on the edge of his mug, betraying the way you made him feel. His mind was racing with thoughts of how lucky he was to be sitting here with you, how each little moment with you felt like a gift. The way you laughed, the way your hair fell just so around your face, the way you looked at him with such warmth—it was all so perfect to him. He had never felt this sure about anyone, about anything. You had become his world, his peace, his heart.

You noticed the way his gaze lingered on you, the way his expression softened even more when you caught his eye. It made you smile, and without thinking, you reached out to touch his hand. The simple action was enough to break the momentary tension between you. His fingers immediately wrapped around yours, a quiet sigh escaping him, as though being close to you was the only thing that ever truly made him feel whole.

“Hey,” you said, your voice gentle, laced with a teasing smile. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

He looked up at you, his smile shy but filled with warmth. “Just thinking about how lucky I am,” he confessed, his voice low but steady. He didn’t need to say more; you could see it in his eyes, hear it in the way he said the words. He was always thinking about you, always wanting to be close, always trying to find a way to make you smile.

Your heart fluttered, the quiet confession hanging in the air between you. You didn’t need to ask for more. His love was clear, even in the smallest moments. It was in the way he reached out when you needed support, in the way his hand instinctively found its way to the small of your back when you walked together, in the way his body would shift ever so slightly to stay in sync with yours. You never had to worry about him not being there for you—he always was. He was constantly reminding you, in little ways, how much you meant to him. Even now, as his fingers brushed against yours again, it wasn’t just a touch. It was a silent promise that no matter what, he was there. He would always be there.

And as the two of you sat there, surrounded by the noise of the café, the world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of you, lost in your own bubble of comfort, love, and understanding. You could feel his gaze on you again, but this time, you didn’t look away. You met it with your own, and in that shared look, everything was said. No words were necessary. You knew that no matter how many people were around, no matter where life took you, he was all in. Completely, undeniably, all in. And that was exactly where he wanted to be.

When you were alone together, it was even more intimate. It was in the way he would tenderly tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear, or the way his lips would brush against the skin of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine that you could instantly feel him smirk at. Every touch, every glance, every word between you felt real—like you were two people who had finally found something that mattered more than anything else in the world. And when he looked at you in those quiet moments, it was as if he could see right into your soul, like there was nothing more important than the connection you shared. His touch would tremble just slightly, as if he were afraid he might lose you, and in those moments, it was impossible to deny how completely wrapped up in you he was.

It happened one evening, just after dinner. The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft rustle of leaves outside the window. You were curled up together on the couch, the soft fabric of a blanket wrapped around both of you, keeping the evening chill at bay. You were perched in his lap, your body tucked comfortably against his chest, his arms loosely wrapped around your waist, holding you close. Your arms were draped around his shoulders, your chin resting softly on his shoulder, the steady rhythm of his breath beneath your cheek. The world outside seemed so far away; it was just the two of you, content in the simple silence of being together.

You were speaking quietly about your day, your voice low as you described the little things that had made you smile. He didn’t say much, content to simply listen to the sound of your voice, his gaze soft as it rested on you. His face was nestled in the crook of your neck, the warmth of his skin against yours, his breath warm against the sensitive skin. He seemed lost in the moment, as if he was savoring your closeness, as if every second of being with you was a treasure.

You tilted your head slightly, feeling his lips brush against your neck as he shifted ever so slightly, pressing a soft kiss against the skin there. The gesture was quiet, simple, but it made your heart beat faster. You couldn’t help but smile, the sensation of his warmth against you making everything else seem insignificant.

Turning your head to glance at him, you caught him staring at you—his eyes were soft, filled with affection, and there was a quiet intensity in them that made your chest tighten. You couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound light and easy. “What’s got you so focused?” you asked, your voice playful but warm.

He didn’t immediately answer, instead letting a small smile play on his lips. His arms tightened slightly around your waist, pulling you a little closer, as if he wanted to be even nearer to you. He took a deep breath, his gaze drifting back to your face, and when he spoke, his voice was full of tenderness, like every word was carefully chosen. “I was just thinking about how much I want this moment to last forever,” he said softly, his lips barely brushing your skin as he spoke. “How nothing else matters when I’m with you.”

The sincerity in his words sent a warmth rushing through you, and you felt your pulse quicken as you leaned in just a little, the space between you closing as you rested your head on his. His fingers gently caressed the small of your back, sending a shiver down your spine as you melted into him.

You could feel his breath on your skin, his chest rising and falling steadily beneath you as his arms pulled you even tighter against him. Every movement, every word, every touch felt like an unspoken promise. He wasn’t going anywhere, and in that moment, neither were you.

His hand brushed a strand of hair from your face, tucking it behind your ear with such tenderness it made your heart swell. “You make everything feel right, älskling,” he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of your ear as he spoke, sending a soft tremor through you.

As if on instinct, you turned your head slightly, your lips brushing against his forehead in a soft kiss, a silent gesture of affection. You could feel his lips curve into a smile against your skin, and you knew he was savoring every bit of this—of you. His lips found the soft skin just beneath your ear, pressing a light, lingering kiss against it, sending a shiver racing down your spine. You tilted your head to give him better access, your breath hitching as his kiss deepened, his lips moving against your neck in a way that was gentle yet full of meaning.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto yours as he asked, his voice hushed with a teasing yet affectionate tone, “Did I make you shiver?”

You smiled softly, your breath still unsteady from the kiss, and rested your cheek against his, your arms tightening around his shoulders. “You always do,” you whispered, your voice filled with a quiet warmth that mirrored the tenderness of the moment.

Without saying another word, he leaned in to kiss you again, slow and deliberate, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that spoke volumes without a single word. As soon as his lips connected with yours, the world outside the bubble of the moment seemed to fall away. It wasn’t a rushed kiss—there was no urgency, no pressure—just the sensation of being with him, completely, as if time itself had paused in reverence of the connection you shared. His kiss was tender, but there was a certain intensity behind it, a depth that spoke of everything unsaid between you, of all the moments you’d shared and all the ones yet to come. Each movement was deliberate, like he was savoring the taste of your lips, as if he couldn’t quite get enough of the feeling of you against him.

His arms tightened around your back, pulling you in closer, as if he wanted to make sure you knew, with every fiber of his being, that you were his and he was yours. You responded without thinking, sliding your legs around him, shifting your weight to straddle his lap, and settling fully into his embrace. Your heart raced, but it wasn’t with nerves—it was the electricity of being this close to him, of being in his arms like this, feeling the heat of his body, the strength of his hands holding you. His chest was solid beneath your palms as you instinctively pressed yourself closer, seeking more of the warmth he radiated.

Your fingers tangled through his soft blonde curls, pulling him nearer, tilting his head just enough to deepen the kiss. It was a movement so natural, so fluid between the two of you, that it felt like nothing else mattered in the world. When his lips parted slightly, you took the opportunity to deepen the kiss even further, tasting him with a quiet urgency, a desire that seemed to hum through you both. His breath hitched, and you felt the little smile he couldn’t quite suppress against your lips. It was a smile full of affection, full of appreciation, as if he couldn’t quite believe how lucky he was to be holding you like this.

Then, the feel of his hands on your body—one moving slowly, purposefully down your side, his touch sending a shiver through you—became something you could no longer ignore. His fingers traced the line of your spine, sending sparks of warmth wherever they touched. One hand slid further down, until it settled on the curve of your waist, and then lower, brushing lightly against your hips. As he did, you couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp, his boldness surprising you in the best way. But just as quickly as he made that move, his grip softened, and he pulled you back up, shifting your body so that you were closer to him once more, your chest flush against his.

You couldn’t stop the small squeal that slipped past your lips as his hand moved to gently press against your lower back, a teasing, playful touch. But as soon as you adjusted, pulling yourself up and away just slightly, he responded, guiding your movement with care. His hands found your hair, the soft strands tangling beneath his fingers as he shifted his weight, keeping you pressed to him but allowing just enough space to make the moment feel even more intimate.

When the kiss finally broke, you were both breathless, your lips swollen and warm from the intensity. For a moment, neither of you moved, just existing in the stillness that had enveloped you. Your forehead rested against his, your breaths coming in soft, matching rhythms as the air between you seemed to hum with the silence that held all the words you didn’t need to speak.

He held you there, his hands on your waist, the grip of his fingers firm but gentle, grounding you both in the moment. His touch was steady, like he never wanted to let go, and you could feel the sincerity in it. The way he held you was a quiet promise, one that was clear without the need for anything more to be said. You were everything to him. And in his embrace, you knew you were exactly where you were meant to be.

“I love you,” he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper. The words fell between you like a soft breeze, but they carried a weight that was impossible to ignore. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty in his tone—only the quiet, unshakable certainty of a man who knew exactly what he felt, who didn’t need to shout his love to the world because it was already known, already understood in the simplest way possible.

The truth of his words wrapped around you, curling into your chest like a warm flame, igniting something deep inside you. You could feel it spreading outward, like the warmth of the sun seeping into your bones. It was a feeling that could only be described as pure, unadulterated joy—joy that came from knowing you were loved, deeply and unconditionally, by the person who mattered most in the world. There was no need for grand gestures, no need for anything flashy or over the top—just the quiet beauty of this moment, of being with him, of being his.

A soft smile tugged at your lips, a smile that was as much a reflection of the love he’d just confessed as it was of the happiness that bloomed in your chest. Your heart felt full—so full that you thought it might burst—and it had nothing to do with words or promises, but with the simple connection you shared in that instant. You leaned in, your lips seeking his once more, but this kiss was different. It was gentle, slow, the kind of kiss that spoke of everything that had already been said and everything that didn’t need to be. It was a kiss born of a deep, quiet understanding—a kiss that conveyed all the things that words couldn’t capture.

The world outside the two of you ceased to exist. There was nothing more important than the way your lips met, the way his hands gently cupped your face, holding you in that moment. The touch was tender, almost reverent, like he was cherishing you in a way that only he could. His kiss was light, as if he were savoring every second, every brush of your lips against his. There was no rush, no urgency—just a shared space of warmth and peace, a silence that was more meaningful than any conversation could ever be.

When the kiss broke, you both lingered there, faces inches apart, breath mingling in the soft quiet between you. The rhythm of your breathing matched, slow and steady, as though you were both holding on to the very moment, unwilling to let go. His hands remained around you, pulling you closer as you nestled into his chest, resting your head against the warmth of his shoulder.

There were no words for this moment—not because they weren’t needed, but because they couldn’t quite do it justice. The silence between you spoke louder than anything you could have said. His arms, loosely yet firmly around you, gave you a sense of safety, of being exactly where you were meant to be. His presence was a constant reassurance, a silent promise that this, what you shared, was real, and it was enough.

You couldn’t help but close your eyes, feeling his heartbeat beneath your ear, steady and calm. The gentle rise and fall of his chest matched your own breath, and in that quiet unity, you knew—you knew without a doubt how completely wrapped up in each other you both were. You were his world, and he was yours, and there was no greater truth in that moment than the love that you shared.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t brash. But in its quiet, steady way, it was the most profound thing you’d ever known.

And the most beautiful part of all his love for you? He didn’t care who noticed. He didn’t care about the glances from others, the quiet whispers behind his back, or the raised eyebrows that sometimes followed the two of you. It wasn’t just about the gestures, the little touches, the way his eyes softened when you spoke, or the way his body seemed to naturally lean into you whenever you were near. It wasn’t something he did out of obligation or as an attempt to prove something to anyone else—it was just who he was. Completely, irreversibly, and authentically him.

In those moments, there was no hesitation. No self-consciousness. His love for you wasn’t something he would hide, something he would shelter from the world’s gaze. It was there, in the way his voice would soften when he said your name, in the way he reached for you instinctively in crowded rooms, as if his body couldn’t stand the distance for a second longer. He didn’t need to analyze it, didn’t need to overthink whether it was too much or too soon, because it was just right.

He showed the world, in the quietest of ways, how much you meant to him. He didn’t shout it from the rooftops, but his every action, his every glance toward you, whispered louder than any declaration ever could. When he looked at you, the love in his eyes was evident to anyone who was paying attention, but he didn’t care if anyone was. The only thing that mattered was you.

And maybe, just maybe, it was a little too obvious. Maybe there were moments when people noticed how he would hold you just a bit longer than expected, how he would brush his fingers against yours with a tenderness that didn’t need to be explained. Maybe they noticed the way he would always make sure you were comfortable, that you were cared for, that you never had to ask for anything because he already knew. But even if it made him stand out in the crowd, even if it made others raise their eyebrows, he didn’t care. He would never apologize for loving you in the way he did.

Because for him, there was nothing more natural, nothing more real than the love he had for you. It was a love that didn’t hide in the shadows or shrink back in the face of judgment—it radiated from him, a constant, quiet presence that followed him wherever he went. People could talk, they could whisper, they could try to label it, but nothing could ever change the truth. He was hopelessly, entirely, and completely down bad for you.

And, in the end, that was all that mattered. He would never hide it, never suppress it, never try to make it something smaller or quieter than it was. The love he felt for you was a part of him, as essential as breathing, as necessary as the air in his lungs. So, if people were watching? Fine. Let them watch. Because as long as you knew—as long as you knew that you were his world—he was content. There was no shame in loving you this fiercely, no embarrassment in showing the world how much he adored you.

The truth was, he wasn’t just yours—he was all in. Entirely, completely, forever yours. And nothing, not the whispers or the judgment or the passing comments, could ever change that.

233 notes · View notes

oscquinn · 20 days ago

Note

hi hi i’m back!! i’m so sorry if it’s too late but can i pls req forehead kiss w/ william eklund?

lowkey started waxing poetic about shrockey and the indomitable human spirit in this one icl

[ forehead ] a gentle kiss on the partner's forehead, conveying care and affection from these kiss prompts. part of my mini writing event, now closed!

william eklund x f!reader, rated g. all fluff!! cutesy post season vibes

soft, evening light streams in through the sheer curtains in your living room. chatter fills the room as you look around, guests scattered and sipping on the sharks-themed cocktails you'd crafted. there are appetizers placed on the coffee table, breads and cheeses, and little finger foods you made the night before. the main course sits waiting in the oven, all that's left is to finish this strawberry filling, then it's time to eat.

it isn't often you get time like this, william's schedule makes it hard to attend your dinner parties. but you've always loved to cook, loved to host, and loved having people in your space.

so finally, when the regular season has ended and your boyfriend is free from the never-ending games and practices, your first move is to host a dinner party. you invite your own friends and tell william to invite any teammates he wants, eager to celebrate the season.

some would ask how you kept such high spirits after an agonizingly long season, littered with losses, trades, injury and illness. but it was easy, really. you and your friends alike enjoy attending the games, losses included. and the boys can see that their effort is paying off, even if only to a small extent.

there's plenty of joy to be found in san jose, you think.

william's arm wraps around your middle, pulling you from your thoughts and the rhythmic stirring of your strawberry filling, prepping for dessert. his lips land a kiss to your forehead as he asks softly, "what're you thinking about, love?"

you shake your head with a smile, push up on your toes, and mirror the kiss he gave you onto his own forehead. "nothin', just how my boyfriend is on the coolest team in the league."

your boyfriend blushes, "i wouldn't say that..."

"i would," you respond with a shrug. "or maybe the most fun?"

"mm, what about the handsomest?" william counters, stepping closer to smother your cheek with playful kisses.

"most handsome," you correct. "and i dunno, i think that one might have to go to the devils. have you seen nico hischier? ooh! or-"

william only laughs at your teasing, kissing your lips to silence any further suggestions.

#william eklund x reader #william eklund imagine #william eklund fluff #we72 x reader #we72 imagine #nhl x reader #nhl imagine #maggie's musings [blurbs]#we72

99 notes · View notes

battleships-beneath-the-waves · 27 days ago

Text

American Teenager - Ethel Cain | William Eklund

#william eklund #ekky #we72 #san jose sharks #hockey edit #rip lund line #still not over him losing his bestie #we don’t talk about the last two games…#waves.works

28 notes · View notes

saltnsugarbear · 1 month ago

Text

the future is so teal :)

from this article

#saltnsugarbear #sugartalks #blue lagoon [ sharks talk ]#san jose sharks #sharks lb #sj sharks #lc42 #we72 #ws2 #mc71 #luca cagnoni #william eklund #will smith hockey #macklin celebrini

34 notes · View notes

writingwithciara · 2 months ago

Text

conversation hearts -william eklund-

summary: a relationship begins with conversation hearts

word count: 5k

pairing: william eklund x reader

notes: wrote this for valentines day and it is now incredibly late. i know he's not as popular as most of the players. but he's super adorable and i can't get enough of him. also, the timeline with the granlund trade doesn't match reality but this is fiction for a reason, right?

"you were traded? are you freaking kidding me?" y/n looked up at mikael as he paced her living room. "where to?"

"dallas." he reached behind his head and scratched his neck, not wanting to meet the eyes of his best friend.

y/n was only 24 but she grew up idolizing the san jose sharks. it had been her dream to work for the team. and when she finally got the job, she was beyond ecstatic. it had only been a year but she had developed a close friendship with mikael granlund. he was the first person who answered one of her questions on her first day and after practice that day, he approached her and introduced himself properly. they began a perfect friendship afterwards.

"at least it's not all the way on the other side of the country." y/n sighed and stood up to join him in his pacing.

"i suppose that may be the only bright side to this." he felt his shoulders sag as he froze in place. "well, that and the fact that cody is going too."

"i'm losing you and cody in one fell swoop? how is that fair?" y/n looked back at mikael as she also stopped pacing. "is there even anybody on the team that i actually like anymore?"

"you like all of us." mikael turned to her and chuckled.

"correction. i like you and cody. i technically tolerate everyone else because it's my job."

"i'm sure you'll warm up to them eventually." he pulled her over to the couch and sat her down. "i'm sorry i'm leaving."

"it's not your fault, granny. it's just so sudden. you leave tomorrow night?"

"unfortunately."

"then we need to do something before you're miles and miles away."

"y/n, it's 10 o'clock at night. nothing is open right now."

"then we can stay in and watch a movie. that's always been fun." y/n cheered when mikael got comfortable on the couch. if this was their last night together, y/n wanted nothing more than his company.

a week later, y/n was still struggling to get through her days without mikael. the first 2 days were the hardest. but she put in the effort and came up with a question for the boys to answer each day.

on the third day, while she waited for the team to get off the ice, y/n glanced around the hallway outside the locker room. there was pictures of all the players, past and present, hanging up on the walls so she walked the short distance to stand in front of mikael's photo.

"you miss him, huh?"

"yeah. he's my best friend." y/n sighed and turned around. "hey, william. what are you doing out already?"

"i got changed faster than everyone. didn't want to keep you waiting longer than you've already been." william smiled. "i know you miss granny so i figured keeping you in the building would not be the best thing for you right now."

"oh." y/n blinked slowly. "well, thank you."

"no problem." he chuckled. "so, what's the question for today?"

y/n lifted up the dry-erase board with the daily question written on it. "what's your favorite valentine's day tradition? and it's okay if you don't have one or if you don't celebrate it. it's just a random question i thought of since valentine's day is next friday."

"well, i don't celebrate it myself. but i've seen some really touching gestures occur on the holiday."

"really? like what?"

"lots of proposals. some really good and a few that were kind of, i don't know, blah." he waved his hand around with a smile. "how about you? do you celebrate it?"

"i don't celebrate it with anyone. but i love buying myself those little conversation hearts each year. i love those things." y/n looked at the board she was holding. "and it's kind of hard to celebrate a holiday dedicated to romance when i've never had a relationship around this time of year."

"wait, really? i'm kind of finding that hard to believe."

"yeah, me too." y/n offered him a smile. "the closest i got to celebrating it with someone was last year. it was 2 weeks after i started here and mikael bought me a bag of conversation hearts after i mentioned it to him the day before. but other than that, guys usually dump me just before valentine's day. but i'm pretty sure it's only because they don't want to get me anything for valentine's day. it wouldn't make sense otherwise, because in case you haven't noticed, i'm a freaking catch."

"very true." he looked over his shoulder as his teammates trickled out of the locker room one by one. "come find me after everyone's answered the question."

before y/n could respond, the guys were already approaching. william smiled and walked back down the hall.

one by one, the team answered the question. y/n learned that one of the guys on the team doesn't celebrate on the actual day because his kid was born that day so he does all the romance the day after. his wife loves it.

after everyone was done, y/n uploaded the footage to her laptop and locked up her office. she checked the time and realized that it took over an hour to get through everyone. if she wanted to find william, she had to rush to the front entrance because chances were he got tired of waiting and decided to leave.

but fortunately, when y/n walked out to the parking lot, william was still there. he was leaning against his car and looking at his phone. he looked up when he heard her approaching.

"hey. i can't believe you're still here."

"well, i told you to find me after you were done. i didn't want to just abandon you. that wouldn't be very nice of me, would it?"

"no. no it would not." y/n smiled and stood next to him. "so what did you do while you waited for over an hour?"

"i stood out here for about 10 minutes before i got bored and took a quick walk to the grocery store down the street."

"for what, specifically, if you don't mind me asking?"

"i'm so glad you asked, actually." he reached into his car and pulled a bag out from the front seat. "i got these for you." he handed her a bag of candy.

but not just any candy. he bought her a bag of the conversation hearts she mentioned earlier.

"william, you didn't have to do this."

"you mentioned granny bought you a bag last year and since he's not here to do it, i wanted to keep up the tradition for you."

"it's very thoughtful. but you know valentine's day is next week, right?"

"yeah i know. but when you were talking about mikael earlier, you seemed really sad. figured it would cheer you up."

"you are now officially my new favorite person on this team." she smiled. "thank you, eklund. this means a lot more to me than i thought it would."

"i'm glad you like it." he chuckled. "i gotta get home now. but i can call you later, if that's okay?"

"that's perfectly fine." y/n went to walk away but turned around quickly, almost giving herself whiplash. "wait, hold on. i don't have your number."

"true." he chuckled and pulled out his phone. "how have you been working here for over a year without getting my number?"

"to be fair, my friendliness only extended to cody and mikael. but with them gone, i might as well branch out, huh?"

"yes." he handed her his phone and watched as she typed her number into the contact box. when she handed it back to him, he smiled. "i love the name."

"it's glorious." y/n smiled. "talk to you later, william."

over the next 5 days, william called every day and they talked for hours. on the eve of valentine's day, mikael called and when y/n answered with a smile, he immediately launched into the conversation with a million questions. y/n had to stop him when he asked his 10th question.

"you've officially been replaced, granny. sorry to inform you this way."

"excuse me!! by who?"

"are you going to stop with the questions if i tell you?"

"i promise." off camera, he crossed his fingers. "will you tell me now?"

"you were replaced with ekky."

"it's about time, honestly. still don't know why you never interacted much with him before."

"i only had friendship capacity for 2 people and now that you're both gone, i found room for a new friend. turns out, he's a pretty good guy."

"duh. i've been telling you that for a year, genius."

"yeah sure. whatever." y/n waved him off and grabbed a handful of candy. "he bought me a bag of conversation hearts last week and that's how he became my best friend. just like how you won my friend-heart."

"you know he actually likes you, right?"

"impossible. we've only been friends for a week."

"believe what you want but you didn't have the opportunity to talk to him everyday and hear his thoughts. he always asked me about you. literally every single day, y/n."

"but...why?"

"i know you're not stupid." mikael shook his head.

"no. i got what you meant. but i was just wondering why he'd like me when i ignored him for a year."

"i think that's a question you'll have to ask him." he chuckled. "i'm gonna let you go since you have another conversation you need to be having."

"oh, shut up." y/n looked at her phone. a text had popped up but she was trying to figure out how miakel could've known someone else was texting her. "i'll talk to you tomorrow, right?"

"of course." mikael smiled and hung up.

y/n pulled the notification screen down to see what the text said without indicating she had seen it. she decided she'd talk to william in person in the morning.

when she got to the arena the next morning, she half expected to see william waiting for her. but he wasn't around so she headed in and went to her office. she still had some editing to do for the tiktok page.

when she was done that, there was a soft knock on her door.

"come in." y/n looked up as william entered. he walked to the chair against the wall and sat down.

"what are you doing tonight?"

"i have no plans. never do this time of year, remember?"

"right, right." william reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "well i was wondering if, maybe, you'd wanna get dinner or something with me when you're done work."

"like a date?"

"not if you're not comfortable calling it that."

"no. it's fine. i just didn't want to read this situation wrong." y/n smiled. "it tends to happen with me sometimes."

"i understand. it's happened to me once or twice as well. but since then, i've learned to be a little more clear when asking a girl out." he smiled. "i just don't do it very often."

"really?"

"yeah. nobody's really caught my interest lately." he looked at her. "i mean, until recently anyway."

"just recently?"

"mhm. why do you ask?"

"something mikael said on facetime last night." y/n closed her laptop and walked over to william. "he said you were always asking about me and that it was because you liked me."

"of course i like you. you're a very likeable person, y/n."

"oh." y/n looked at him. she could feel her cheeks heating up involuntarily. "you're a likeable person too, ekky."

"well i try my best to be. off the ice anyway." he chuckled. "when are you off tonight?"

"4:30."

"perfect. i'll wait here for you."

"you don't want me to go home and change?"

"why change? you're perfect the way you are."

"you are something else." y/n smiled and turned her attention back to the screen in front of her. "see you later, william."

"see you, y/n." william walked back into the hallway and smiled. he couldn't believe he got y/n to agree to a date.

it was just after 5 when william saw y/n again. he was waiting in the hall for her when she finally emerged from her office.

"i'm sorry i'm a little late. my laptop kept crashing when i was editing the video."

"it's okay." william smiled. "you still want to go on this date?"

"yes, of course." y/n smiled and looked up at him. "are you sure you don't want me to change?"

"absolutely not. you look great." william gave her an appreciative look as his gaze traveled down to her shoes then back up to her face. "very great."

"oh." y/n couldn't help but blush. "are we taking your car?"

"yeah. unless you'd be more comfortable in your own car."

"i'm good. i want the whole date experience."

"you got it." he smiled and held out his arm. y/n hooked her arm with his as they walked out to the parking lot. william opened the door for her and she got in. he went around and got in his seat. "ready?"

"yes." y/n turned to smile at him. he returned the smile and drove out of the parking lot.

they quickly arrived at the restaurant y/n had heard so much about when she had moved to san jose, but never had the time to go to.

"this place looks packed. are you sure we'll be able to get a table?" she glanced through the windows at all the people inside. they both got out of the car and william joined her on her side.

"i may have made a reservation a few days ago." he nervously scratched the back of his neck.

"wow. you really put faith in me saying yes, didn't you?"

"i did, yes." he smiled. "i'm really glad you did, by the way."

"don't count your blessings yet, eklund. this date has only just begun." y/n smirked and headed inside. william chuckled and followed her. when he told the host his name, they were ushered to a more secluded table. william, being the gentleman he was, pulled the chair out for y/n. she sat down and he took his own spot.

william was in awe over what he was learning about y/n. and over the next 2 hours, every tale she told of her american childhood had him falling in love. it was no longer just a crush on the media girl mikael had introduced him to.

by the end of the date, william found himself driving back to her place just a little slower. he wasn't too eager for the date to end. y/n noticed but she didn't say a thing because she understood how he was feeling. she didn't want it to end either. but time was not slowing down.

when william pulled up to her apartment and killed the engine, neither of them made a move to get out. instead, they turned to each other, smiles forming quickly as they stared at each other. william was the first one to speak.

"is it okay if i count my blessings now?"

"hmm?"

"earlier, when i said i was glad you said yes to the date, you told me not to count my blessings yet." he looked out the window behind her. "now i just want to know if it's time."

"yeah." y/n's smile grew. "i'm really glad i said yes too, by the way."

"so, building onto that revelation, would you maybe want to do this again soon?"

"i would like that very much." y/n reached across the center console and grabbed his hand. "thank you for finally gaining the courage to ask me out. i wanted to do it but every time i saw you, i would lose my thoughts. i was starting to think my crush was pointless and one-sided."

"it most definitely isn't." william leaned closer and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "not pointless and most certainly not one-sided."

"good." y/n smiled and reached for her door handle. "walk me to my door?"

"of course. one second." he jumped out of the car and quickly made his way to her side. he opened the door and held out his hand for her to take. she got out of the car but she did not drop his hand. william felt his cheek redden.

he walked her inside the building and up to her 4th floor apartment. "i had a great time tonight."

"so did i." y/n blushed. "i can't believe this started with a bag of conversation hearts. just like my life-long friendship with mikael."

"oh, that reminds me." william reached into the pocket of his sweater and pulled out a bag of the candies she had just mentioned. "i really hope you take this gesture as a sign that i really like you and that i don't want whatever this is between us, to be compared to the friendship you had with mikael."

"oh, don't worry. it is similar, but it's also different. as in the fact that i was never attracted to him in any way. definitely not like i am to you." y/n stepped closer. "i really like you too, eklund." she tilted her head up to look at him. "so, what are we going to do about this attraction?"

"i have a few ideas." william gently cupped her chin between his thumb and index finger before placing his lips gently on y/n's. she didn't hesitate to kiss back.

her arms wrapped around his neck as she dragged him down to her height. his arms went around her waist as he pressed her into his body gently.

after a few long minutes, william pulled away, rather reluctantly. every part of him was screaming at him, telling him not to do it. and he could tell y/n was thinking the same thing.

"i should go now." he took a step back.

"so soon?"

"if we keep doing what we just did, i'm gonna want to keep going. and that's not something i want. at least not right now. i want to take this slow with you, since i've been waiting for you for what feels like forever."

"i appreciate the honesty." y/n unlocked her door and stepped inside. "i'll see you at the arena in the morning."

"yeah." he smiled and headed down the hallway. "good night, y/n."

the next day, neither william nor y/n could contain their excitement when the finally saw each other. it was after practice and y/n had been in the hallway waiting for the team to answer the daily question.

after macklin and will had answered, william appeared with henry. he had been answering henry's question when he finally made eye contact with y/n. the smile that was already on his face seemed to grow three times bigger as he approached her.

"which teammate would be your emergency contact?" henry read the board and thought for a minute.

"definitely not will smith." william answered.

"yeah. probably rule out 71 & 2." henry smiled and walked off-camera."

william scratched his face and continued to think. "who would be though?"

off-screen, henry smiled. "probably me."

"yeah. thurn knows the deal." william went to walk away but stopped. "yeah i would take him. or zetts." he smiled widely and looked at y/n. "for the record, if we could include anyone simple involved with the team, it'd be you."

"thanks. i think now i have to change my emergency contact. granny is all the way in dallas. if something bad happened to me here, there's no way he'd get here fast enough."

"i don't know. i think you're underestimating how much he cares about you. that man would break every law possible to make it to you if you were having an emergency."

"okay. you're probably right." y/n smiled and looked at william's face. his eyes were sparkling. "maybe i'll look into adding a second emergency contact."

"any idea who you'll add?"

"well, you did say that thurn knows the deal. plus, he's a harvard guy so he'd be a great choice." she glanced over at henry. he was talking to tyler. "oh, toff would be a good choice."

"yeah. i suppose that's true." william chuckled lightly. y/n looked back at him and laughed.

"i was kidding. as smart as they are, i would definitely pick you."

"i like that." he smirked. "speaking of other things i like, i was thinking that it would be fun to go on another date."

"okay. when?"

"we leave for a 5 game road trip on sunday and i probably won't see you again for a little while. so we can either go out friday night or saturday afternoon?"

"what would we do?"

"depends on the day you pick." he smiled. "i have plans for both but i'm leaving it up to you."

"which date doesn't require getting all dressed up?"

william chuckled. "neither require you to get all that dressed up. but i'll have to say that the attire for my idea on saturday is more comfortable."

"okay then. saturday sounds perfect. can't wait." she smiled at his retreating body.

saturday couldn't come faster.

william picked y/n up at 1 pm on saturday afternoon and took her to a mini-golf course.

"i've never played before." she smiled sheepishly as they approached the first hole. william took his shot first, sinking it easily. "okay, show off." she giggled.

"it's not too hard. give it a try." he stood back and watched y/n hit the ball. it rolled towards the hold but veered off the path.

"dang it. i suck." y/n walked to william with a pout on her face.

"don't worry. i can teach you." he stepped behind her. "may i?"

"of course." y/n turned her head to look at william as he held her arms. he placed the club in her hands and guided her next shot. it rolled towards the hole but stopped 3 inches short.

"okay. not too bad."

"could've been better. especially after your shot. that was amazing."

"i've been playing for a long time." he became bashful. "i can't believe you've lived close by almost your whole life and you've never played before."

"my parents had other things to do than to take their kids to fun places."

"well, if you stick with me, i can promise to take you to all the places you've always wanted to go."

"wait, really?"

"of course." william smiled. "while i'm gone, why don't you make a list of all the places and we can get started on it when i get back?"

"you're being serious, aren't you?"

"absolutely." william chuckled and reached up to gently cup her cheek. "i would do anything for you. i hope you know that."

"i'm starting to understand it." y/n leaned into his hand and smiled. "i have an idea that might make me a little better at this game. like an incentive."

"what's that?"

"for each hole i finish in under 5 attempts, i want a kiss. doesn't always have to be on the lips. you can choose. lips, cheek, head, wherever. sound like a plan?"

"mhm. oh, and just for encouragement." william smiled. y/n didn't have a chance to ask what he meant before he was pulling her in for a kiss. it didn't last long before he was pulling away and helping her nudge the ball into the first hole.

for the next 3 hours, y/n was determined to get as many kisses from william as possible. unfortunately, by the end of the course, she only managed to get 4. but she would never complain. kisses from william were incredible and she was addicted.

by the time he was pulling up outside her apartment, it was finally hitting her that he would be away for almost 2 weeks.

"william?"

"yes?" he killed the engine and turned to face her. "what's up?"

"i'm going to miss you while you're away. i don't even think i've missed mikael as much as this."

"i'm going to miss you too, y/n." he smiled. "i finally understand why mikael hated going on the longer trips. he hated being away from you for too long. and now i get it. you were very important to him. just as you are to everyone else on this team."

"how about you? am i important to you?"

"of course. you're honestly probably the most important person in my life, outside of my family. and it came as such a shock to me. i don't think i've ever cared this much about anyone before."

y/n reached across the console. "what time do you leave tomorrow?"

"really early. we have an afternoon game and have to be in florida before noon. so we'll probably be leaving around 5:30." he looked at her. "why?"

"i wanted to invite you inside for a bit. but you probably have to get home, pack and get some rest."

"i'm a fast packer. i can sleep on the plane in the morning." william smiled. "and it's not even 6:30 right now. we have time. if that's what you really want."

"i do." y/n got out of his car and waited for him to join her before she headed inside. he was right on her heels and as soon as they were inside her apartment, he wasted no time. his lips were on hers before she could mutter a single word.

y/n had originally planned to invite him in for a drink and maybe some dinner. but she didn't utter a single word as she tugged william down the hall to her bedroom. he made it impossible to deny him anything. but she loved it.

an hour later, after everything had progressed incredibly fast, y/n turned to look at the man next to her.

"you know, my plan was not to get you into bed so quickly. i know you wanted to take whatever this is," she gestured between them "slow. i apologize."

"it's okay." he smiled and played with her hair. "you don't have to apologize."

"but you wanted to take this slow. my original plan was to get you up here and maybe have a drink or some dinner. sex was not on my brain. not even for a second." she looked at him. "i'm not a girl who takes things slow. but i know that's what you do. i know i don't technically need to apologize, but that's also who i am. i apologize constantly and it can get annoying, i'm aware. so it's okay if you don't want to keep this going. i'll understand."

"will you just stop talking for a second?" william chuckled. "i'm an adult and i am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. fast or slow, it doesn't matter. i'd much rather experience life at every speed with you than experience it with anyone else." he held her face. "you are so unbelievably incredible and beautiful. and you don't have to worry. i wanted this. i know i said i wanted to take things slow, but that was only because it was the first date. it's all okay as long as you're here with me."

"i'm here. i'm always going to be here." y/n placed a soft kiss to william's lips.

"good to know." he smiled and moved to sit up. "before i go, there's something i need to ask you."

"what's that?"

"i just can't go on this road trip without having an answer."

"spit it out, eklund." y/n smiled as she began to get dressed.

"will you be my girlfriend? like, officially. publically and everything."

"i would love to." y/n walked over to him and kissed him. "you know, you're my first official boyfriend."

"am i actually?"

"yeah. i've been on a few dates with a few guys but nobody has ever asked me to be their girlfriend before. it's nice."

"i've never been a boyfriend before so at least we can do this together."

"i'm looking forward to this relationship even more now." y/n smiled and followed william to the door. "i can't believe i finally have a boyfriend and he's gonna be out of town for nearly two weeks."

"it's a good thing phones exist then, huh?" william kissed her nose and chuckled. "i'll call you as much as possible, i promise."

"and i will be watching every single game, cheering for you. wearing your jersey too."

"i hope it brings our team the luck we need. we haven't been doing so well lately."

"i know. but you'll do fine with these next 5 games. i just know it."

and sure enough, the sharks swept their road trip and came back winners.

y/n was waiting with a few of the teams wives and girlfriends. when she spotted william, she ran right to him.

"i told you that you guys were going to do fine." y/n smiled. "congrats on the hat trick in the 3rd game."

"couldn't have done it without the faith of my girlfriend." william smirked. the word caught the attention of the team and they all turned to watch the two.

"2 weeks and it still doesn't feel real." y/n couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. "i'm your girlfriend. i love it."

"i love you." william shocked himself. it had only been 2 weeks but he knew this was how he felt. he just wasn't aware he was going to blurt it out like that.

"i love you too, ekky." y/n smiled and pulled him in for a well deserved and long awaited kiss.

"wait a second." will and macklin were finally catching up to what was going on. "girlfriend?!?!"

#nhl #william eklund #san jose sharks #we72 #vilja

38 notes · View notes

iamthejam · 2 months ago

Text

eklund & zetterlund + don't go dark by the bleachers

#the nhl hates family and love and all things happy #jam does stuff #william eklund #fabian zetterlund #san jose sharks #sj sharks #sjs #sjs hockey #nhl sharks #nhl #nhl hockey #hockey #ice hockey #hockey edit #nhl edit #we72 #fz20 #ottawa senators

24 notes · View notes

puckdrunklove · 2 months ago

Text

How many babies would it take to take down Connor Hellebuyck?

3 apparently

#sharks lb #jets lb #macklin celebrini #mc71 #will smith #will smith hockey #ws2 #wsh #william eklund #we72 #connor hellebuyck #ch37 #san jose sharks #winnipeg jets #nhl #ice hockey #my sons #my beautiful sons

46 notes · View notes

quinnhug43 · 1 month ago

Text

don’t think i’ve posted eky yet, and for that I am sorry 😮‍💨

#william eklund #william eklund tiktok #william eklund edit #we72 #eky #quinnhug43 #san jose sharks

13 notes · View notes

drysdalesworld · 2 months ago

Note

I need a blurb of the reader comforting William Eklund after his best friend was traded. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since the trade was announced :(

the comfort of family

series masterlist

pairing: mom!reader x dad!william eklund x son!oc

genre: angsty, comfort

warning(s): talk of the zetterlund trade, william crying

note(s): i was so distraught when i found out. i had to find out through tiktok of all places 😭. i feel like it’d be a little surreal in the moment & everyone would be caught off guard. this will specifically be set during mom!reader & dad!eklund era (i know he found out while he was with zetterlund, but i wrote a majority of this before finding that out. i’ll probably write an alternative to that!)

William had excused himself from the dining table, the phone in his pocket frantically buzzing and dinging.

The look you shot him as you gathered food onto your son’s plate is what caused him to answer it immediately. He usually leaves it in your shared room for dinner time, so it was a bit of annoyance when it started blowing up like crazy.

A smile spread across William’s lips as he saw the familiar contact name for Fabian Zetterlund—Zetty.

“Tell Zetter I say hi,” you piqued, your husbands smile a dead giveaway to who was trying to call him. “Don’t be too long. Your dinner will get cold”.

William shot you a soft smile before kissing the tops of you and your sons head and heading off into the backyard, gently closing the sliding glass door behind him.

You had been too busy plating you and your son’s food and talking to him to realize the somber look on William’s face as he talked on the phone outside. Him and Fabian’s calls tend to last some time so you took it upon yourself to begin eating, aiding your son in cutting up the difficult to chew bits.

When William finally entered the house again, you felt the shift.

His shoulders were slumped over and his eyes were slightly red, a sign of tears to come. His hair was also a mess, most likely from him running his fingers through it too much.

He hadn’t said anything when he walked back in, sliding back into his usual spot at the dinner table with a sad look on his face.

Your heart dropped when you realized it was Friday—the day of the trade deadline. You sincerely hoped that it wasn’t what you thought it was.

“What’s wrong?” You softly asked, hand gently resting on your husband’s shoulder. Your other hand went to smooth down the unruly parts of his hair, trying your best to comfort him.

William didn’t say anything as he turned his head to look at you. Your fear being proven right when a tear slid down the soft cheek of your partner.

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” you whispered, gently bringing him into your embrace, lips placing kisses on his cheek and forehead.

“What’s wrong, Papa?” Oskar asked, puzzled as to why his Father seemed sad after just talking to the boys Uncle.

“It’s a bit complicated, Ossie,” you replied, grip gentle yet unwavering as William rested in your arms.

A few minutes of silence passed, Oskar climbing out of his seat to plop himself into his Fathers lap, tiny arms wrapping around his shoulders.

“Uncle Zetty is going away for a while,” William finally answered, tears still streaming down his face as he had one arm wrapped around you and the other around his son. “Something came up with the team and they thought it best to have him go somewhere else for a bit”.

The look on your son’s face wanted to make you cry too. Poor Oskar looked so confused and sad. What do you mean Uncle Zetty won’t visit his favorite godson anymore?

“How long?” Oskar mumbled, quickly wiping his own tears from his cheeks.

“For a long time, buddy,” you answered, William too choked up to properly answer.

A frown overtook your features as your son nodded and put his head on William’s shoulder, wiping away his Father’s tears.

“He’ll still visit right?” He asked, tone clearly laced in sadness and confusion.

“Of course, mitt hjärta (my heart),” William replied, the hand holding him going up to rest on his son’s head. “He told me he can’t wait for summer. That we should all go to Sweden together”.

That information split your heart in two. The three of you had talked on multiple occasions about going to visit both of the players place of origin, but it seemed bittersweet now that Fabian was no longer going to be apart of the Sharks. It all seemed too surreal to be happening.

“Really? I hope so. I like hanging out with Uncle Zett,” Oskar muttered, still clearly processing.

William only hummed in response, placing a kiss to his son’s matching unruly hair.

The two of you knew this transition was going to be tough. Fabian had been apart of your shared life for only a short amount of time. But to William, he felt like he’d known Fabian for more than a handful of years. He just wished he had more time.

As silence settled over your family, you knew that you were going to be the one to be picking up the pieces for a while. But you didn’t mind. You couldn’t imagine going through something like this—losing your closest friend because of something that was out of everyone’s control. You just hoped that, for William’s sake, he’d come out stronger in the end.

#drysdalesworld #drysdalesworld works!#drysdalesworld blurb!#drysdalesworld talks!#hockey x reader #nhl x reader #william eklund x y/n #william eklund x you #william eklund x reader #william eklund blurb #william eklund #we72 #blurb #im still salty & sad about the trade #what are the sharks doing bro?#sharks hockey #san jose hockey #san jose sharks

118 notes · View notes

heartsforjh · 1 day ago

Text

this is the second part to @cupidluvblog’s ask! part one right → here!

main masterlist | 100 follower celly masterlist

You and your best friend William are sitting at his dinner table, eating a meal that he cooked. The regular season has just ended, and unfortunately, the Sharks did not make the playoffs.

The room is a comfortable kind of silent, before he speaks up. “I think about you a lot.”

“What?” you ask, your eyes shooting up to look at him, finding that he’s already staring.

Admittedly, his words do make your heart throb. Sure, he’s your best friend, but you’ve had a thing for him since the two of you met. You couldn’t help the way he made you feel, but there was no way you were going to ruin a good thing by telling him.

“I’m talking about when I go on the road, when I’m laying in bed. If I’m not with you, y/n, I’m thinking about you,” he adds.

You’re at a loss for words. How is he just casually dropping this? What does he even mean by it?

You set your fork down, not even caring about the meal anymore—although, it is very delicious. “Will? I’m confused.”

“I love you. I really love you. That’s what I’m thinking about. I don’t like this—just being friends. It won’t go anywhere from here. I want to. I want us to be more. You want to be more too, don’t you?” he explains, his expression one of yearning.

You’re shocked. You don’t want to say something wrong. What if he doesn’t mean it how you’re imagining? No, that’s dumb. Of course, he means it like that. He’s asking if you want to be something more. But, what do you say?

“I love you too,” is all you can out. Ugh.

But, maybe, just maybe, it’s not as bad as you think! It’s just enough to show you feel the same, and for him to possibly elaborate. You can only play dumb to get it out of him for so long.

He just stares at you for a moment. His face doesn’t change for the most part, but you could’ve sworn you saw it soften the smallest bit. Maybe you’re just trying to make yourself feel better, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s silent now. Wonderful. He doesn’t think you feel the same way now.

“Are you okay, y/n? I’m glad you love me too, but… you seem so tense,” he says with concern. He reaches over and starts to slowly rub your back in hopes of comforting you.

You feel all of your nerves wash away in seconds.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” you give him a soft, genuine smile, finally feeling good enough to tell him how you feel. “I do wanna be more. Honestly, I have for a while. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner, but I just didn’t want to ruin what we already have as friends.”

His face definitely softens this time when you finally open up to him. “Hey, don’t worry about it. You told me now. It doesn’t ruin anything. We can be… together or we can still be friends. Whatever you want to do, we’ll do.”

“I want to be with you,” you decide.

William lets out the loudest sigh of relief you’ve ever heard in your life. “Oh my- thank you! I was hoping you would say that! I would still be happy with being your friend, but I’m really happy you said that!”

You burst out laughing at that. At least now you know he wants this just as much as you.

“Do you… want to just go on a few dates and see how you like it- us? Or, if you’ll let me be your boyfriend right now… we can do that,” he says, a hopeful little smile on his face.

You playfully frown at him. “Is there a more favored answer to this question too?”

“Maybe…” he says with a chuckle.

“Alright, well…” you start, placing your hands on the table in front of you. “I guess… I wouldn’t mind having you as my boyfriend.”

He is very visibly over the moon at this news. “Yes! Correct answer again!”

“Oh? Didn’t know I was being graded,” you joke.

He stands up from his chair. “At least you got a one hundred! Now, give me a hug? Please? I’m so happy. You make me so happy.”

Your heart melts at his sweet words. So of course, you stand up and wrap him in that hug.

tags: @nic0-hischier @cheesecakeinahole

join the taglist here! :)

#kay’s 100 follower celly 🎊#william eklund #william eklund x reader #william eklund x you #william eklund x y/n #william eklund blurb #william eklund fanfiction #we72 #we72 x reader #san jose sharks #san jose hockey #sj hockey #sj sharks #sharks hockey #c tag 🌻#kay’s blurbs 🎀#kirbysasks❔#heartsforjh

11 notes · View notes

777bae · 2 months ago

Text

A LOVE THAT GROWS WILLIAM EKLUND

Summary :: William Eklund is a dedicated partner and father, supporting you through pregnancy, late-night cravings, and building the nursery. His love deepens with every milestone, always cheering on your daughter. (REQUESTED :: pregnancy -> girldad)

Warnings :: pregnancy

Word count :: 4.0k

You never thought you could love William Eklund more than you already did. From the moment you met him, he had been warm, kind, and full of life. But now, as you sit on the couch, your hand resting on your growing belly, you realize that love has a way of expanding—just like the life forming inside of you.

William had been over the moon when you first told him you were pregnant. You still remember the way his blue eyes widened, the way his lips parted in disbelief before curving into the biggest, most beautiful smile you’d ever seen. He had wrapped you in his arms, lifting you off the ground as he spun you around, laughing in pure joy.

He had always been attentive, but now, he was completely devoted. Some nights, when he thought you were asleep, he would trace gentle patterns over your skin, talking to her like she was already here.

“She’s going to be so beautiful,” he murmured one evening, his fingers brushing over your stomach. “Just like her mama.”

You let out a sleepy laugh, reaching to run your fingers through his soft hair. “You’re really in love with her already, aren’t you?”

William lifted his head, his hazel eyes shining with a warmth that made your heart ache in the best way. “Completely,” he admitted.

Every morning, before he leaves for practice, he kneels in front of you, pressing a soft kiss to your belly and murmuring sweet nothings in Swedish, his voice low and full of adoration. Sometimes he hums a lullaby, his fingers tracing light circles over your stomach, as if he’s already trying to soothe the baby inside. He always tells her he loves her, even before she’s here, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, she kicks in response, making his eyes go wide with awe.

“She knows her papa already,” he whispers, resting his cheek against your belly with a tender smile.

You swear he never stops thinking about you. When he comes home after a long day of practice, sweat still clinging to his skin, his first words aren’t about hockey or how training went. They’re always about you.

“How are my girls?” he asks, dropping his bag by the door and immediately walking over to you. He kneels down in front of the couch, his hands finding your belly first before he leans up to press a soft, lingering kiss to your lips.

If your feet are swollen, he’s on the floor before you can even complain, rubbing slow, careful circles into your aching skin. His hands, rough from hockey, are warm and soothing as he kneads the tension away, pressing kisses to your ankle between strokes.

“You’re doing so much already,” he murmurs, gazing up at you with so much love it almost takes your breath away. “Let me take care of you.”

And he does—constantly.

When you wake up nauseous in the middle of the night, barely making it to the bathroom, he’s right behind you, gathering your hair and rubbing your back as you tremble over the sink. He whispers reassurances, pressing his lips to your temple as he holds you up.

“I’ve got you,” he says softly, waiting until you feel steady enough before guiding you back to bed. He disappears for only a moment, returning with a cold washcloth to press to your forehead, along with a glass of water and a handful of crackers.

He never lets you lift a finger. Laundry? Already done. Dishes? Washed and put away before you even notice. One time, you wake up to find him assembling a crib in the middle of the nursery at 2 a.m., struggling with the instructions but determined to finish before you wake up.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he admits sheepishly when you catch him, his hair a mess, frustration evident in the way his brows are furrowed. “I swear, the instructions make no sense.”

You laugh, shaking your head as you step closer, resting a hand on his shoulder. “You could’ve waited until morning.”

“I know,” he sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he looks at the half-finished crib before glancing back at you, his expression softening. “But I just… I want everything to be perfect for her.”

Your heart melts at the sincerity in his voice.

William has always been the type to put others first, but now, with you carrying his child, he takes it to another level. When you’re out running errands together, he always insists on carrying the heavier bags, even if it’s just a carton of milk. If he notices you looking tired, he gently tugs you into his side, his arm wrapping around your waist as he kisses the top of your head.

And then there are the cravings.

One night, you’re curled up on the couch, barely paying attention to the movie playing, when the sudden, desperate need for chocolate-covered pretzels hits you.

“Will?” you mumble sleepily.

“Hmm?” He glances over from his spot beside you, already tucking the blanket tighter around your legs.

“I think I need chocolate-covered pretzels.”

He blinks, then checks his phone. “It’s almost midnight.”

“I know,” you sigh dramatically, pouting up at him. “But they sound so good right now.”

He shakes his head, laughing softly. “You and our daughter are really putting me to work, huh?”

Still, he doesn’t hesitate. Within minutes, he’s pulling on his hoodie and grabbing his car keys.

“You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” he interrupts gently, leaning down to kiss your forehead. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Twenty minutes later, he’s back, triumphant, holding up not one but three different brands of chocolate-covered pretzels.

“I didn’t know which ones you’d want,” he explains, setting them on your lap with a proud grin. “So I got them all.”

It’s in moments like these that you realize just how lucky you are.

One night, after a particularly long day, you find yourself overwhelmed with emotions. You’re exhausted, sore, and your hormones are making you cry over everything. William finds you sitting on the edge of the bed, silent tears slipping down your cheeks as you rub at your swollen belly.

“Baby,” he whispers, immediately kneeling in front of you. His hands frame your face, thumbs wiping away your tears. “What’s wrong?”

You sniffle, shaking your head. “I don’t know. I just… I feel huge, and everything hurts, and I’m so tired.”

He listens, his face soft with understanding as he gently pulls you into his arms.

“You’re growing a whole human,” he reminds you, pressing his lips against your hair. “It’s okay to feel this way. But you’re not just beautiful, you’re incredible.”

You close your eyes, sinking into his warmth. “I love you.”

“I love you more,” he whispers.

That night, he holds you a little closer, his hand never straying from your belly, as if he’s silently promising to always be there for both of you.

And in that moment, you know—he always will be.

The moment your daughter enters the world, William changes forever.

You’ve never seen him cry much, but the second he hears her tiny, wobbly cry, he shatters. Tears spill down his cheeks, his lips parting in a stunned breath as he stares at the little miracle in the doctor’s hands. His hands shake when they finally place her in his arms, his entire world shifting in an instant.

She’s so small, wrapped in a soft hospital blanket, her delicate features scrunched up as she whimpers. A tuft of light brown hair, just like his, sticks up slightly at the top of her head. His breath catches as he studies her, as if memorizing every perfect little detail.

“Hi, älskling,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. His fingertip brushes over her tiny fingers, marveling at how impossibly soft they feel. When she instinctively grips his pinky, a broken laugh escapes him, followed by another round of silent tears. He leans forward, pressing a reverent kiss to her forehead, his voice nothing more than a whisper. “I’m your papa.”

And just like that, his heart belongs to her.

Even when the nurses gently take her for checkups, his body tenses as he watches every movement, as if ready to jump up and protect her at any moment. He’s at your side immediately, his hand gripping yours, but his eyes never leave her. The second they place her back in his arms, he cradles her like she’s made of glass, like the entire universe exists within her tiny frame.

The world has faded away. It’s just her now—just the two of you, wrapped around William Eklund’s heart forever.

From the very first night, William is the most devoted father.

Late-night diaper changes? He’s up before you can even blink, moving with a surprising grace despite his exhaustion. He rocks her in his arms, humming a soft Swedish lullaby, his voice a gentle vibration against her tiny body. Even when she fusses, even when sleep is a distant memory, he never complains.

“Shh, älskling, Papa’s here,” he whispers, rubbing circles into her back, swaying gently in the dim glow of the nursery light. His lips brush over her downy hair, his expression one of pure, unwavering love.

Bathtime becomes a sacred ritual. He kneels beside the tub, rolling up his sleeves as he carefully washes her, his touch so delicate, as if afraid he might break her. When she kicks her little feet and splashes him, he laughs, a deep, genuine sound that makes her coo in response.

“Oh, so you think that’s funny, huh?” he teases, flicking a few droplets back at her. “You’re already causing trouble.”

Tummy time? He’s right there on the floor with her, stretched out beside her as he makes exaggerated faces and noises, determined to get a reaction. When she finally lifts her head for the first time, he gasps dramatically, clapping his hands.

“She’s so strong!” he exclaims, looking over at you like she just won an Olympic medal. “Did you see that? She’s a natural.”

But the real magic happens when she starts recognizing him—when her big, bright eyes light up at the sight of him. The first time she reaches for him with her chubby little hands, his heart nearly stops. And when she giggles—her very first laugh—it breaks him completely.

“Did you hear that?” he gasps, eyes wide with amazement as he turns to you. “She laughed! She thinks I’m funny!”

From that moment on, he becomes addicted to making her laugh. He makes the silliest faces, the goofiest voices, anything to hear that perfect little sound.

She’s his little princess, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

When she insists on wearing a tutu and fairy wings to the grocery store, he doesn’t even hesitate. He scoops her up, balancing her effortlessly on his hip, nodding seriously as she waves her imaginary wand over the vegetables.

“Oh no,” he gasps dramatically. “Did you just turn me into a frog?”

She giggles, tapping his nose. “No, Papa! You’re a prince.”

He places a hand over his heart, feigning relief. “Phew. I was worried there for a second.”

When she decides he needs a “makeover,” he sits cross-legged on the floor, letting her carefully paint his nails with bright pink polish. His hands are far too big for the tiny brush, and her strokes are uneven, but he never flinches—only smiles as she sticks her tongue out in concentration.

“She’s got a future in this,” he tells you, admiring his very messy, very pink nails. “Think she’ll give me a discount as her first client?”

He tucks her into bed every single night, no matter how exhausted he is, no matter how late he gets home from a road trip. The second he walks through the door, his priority is always her. He scoops her up in his arms, pressing kisses to her cheeks as she sleepily mumbles, “Papa…”

“I missed you, älskling,” he murmurs, settling her against his chest as he reads her bedtime stories. His voice is warm and animated, changing tones for every character, making her giggle.

“Again, Papa!” she pleads, her little hands tugging at his jersey.

He sighs dramatically, pretending to think about it. “Hmm…okay, but only because you’re so cute.”

Some nights, when she’s sound asleep, he sneaks into her room just to watch her, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. His heart swells in his chest, his voice barely a whisper.

“I love you, älskling. Always.”

As she grew, his devotion only deepened.

He was the dad who carried her everywhere, even when she was big enough to walk, because “she likes being close.” He was the one who let her put tiny bows in his hair, who sat through tea parties with a tiara on his head, who held her little hand as they danced around the living room to her favorite songs.

“She’s got me wrapped around her finger,” he admitted to you one night, watching her sleep, her tiny body curled up against his chest.

You smiled, resting your head against his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

William only chuckled, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Not at all.”

She’s two years old the first time she steps onto the ice.

Bundled up in layers, her tiny body almost swallowed by the oversized jacket you insisted she wear, she waddles onto the rink, her skates barely keeping up with her enthusiasm. William is right there, kneeling in front of her, his hands outstretched, ready to catch her at any moment. His eyes are soft, full of warmth and pride, even before she’s taken her first glide.

“You got this, älskling,” he coaxes gently, his voice full of encouragement as he steadies her wobbly frame.

Her tiny hands clutch his fingers so tightly, like she knows he’s her lifeline. Her brows furrow in determination as she plants her skates firmly on the ice, but balance isn’t her strong suit just yet. Within seconds, her legs slide out from under her, and she plops onto the ice with a soft thud.

William freezes for a moment, his breath catching, but then she looks up at him, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold, and giggles. The sound melts him completely.

“Oh, you think that’s funny, huh?” he teases, chuckling as he kneels down and helps her up, brushing imaginary snowflakes from her padded jacket. “That’s okay—we fall and get back up, right?”

She nods eagerly, mimicking the way he straightens his shoulders. “Again!”

And so they try again. And again. And again.

Every time she falls, William picks her up without hesitation, his grip steady, his encouragement endless. He makes a game out of it, playfully pretending to slip himself just to make her laugh. But when she finally manages to push off on her own, gliding a few inches before coming to a wobbly stop, she gasps in excitement.

“I did it!”

William lets out a loud cheer, sweeping her up into his arms, spinning her around in celebration. His laugh is bright, uninhibited, full of pride as he presses an exaggerated kiss to her cold nose.

“Did you see that, Mama?” he shouts over to you, eyes shining with pure joy. “She’s a natural!”

From that moment on, she’s not just his little girl—she’s his biggest fan.

Every game day, she dresses in her tiny Sharks jersey, the name EKLUND printed across the back in bold white letters. It’s a mini replica of William’s own, and it’s slightly oversized on her small frame, the sleeves nearly swallowing her hands. But she insists on wearing it, proudly pointing to the letters as she tells anyone who will listen, “Papa’s number 72!”

You take her to every home game, and as soon as you settle into your seats, she’s perched eagerly on your lap, bouncing with excitement. Her eyes scan the ice, searching for him, and the moment William skates out for warmups, she’s already pressing her tiny hands against the glass.

“Papa!” she squeals, her voice high and full of joy. She taps her fingers eagerly, trying to get his attention. “Look! It’s Papa!”

William always finds you both, no matter what. Even in the chaos of warmups, even with music blaring through the arena, his gaze instinctively searches for his girls. The second he spots her, his entire face softens, and he grins, skating toward the glass.

He taps his stick twice—his little secret signal just for her.

She squeals in delight, pressing her palm to the glass as if she can reach through and hold his hand. He presses his glove to the same spot, mirroring her, before giving you a wink.

The bond they share is undeniable. She watches him with complete fascination, her eyes never leaving him as he skates, as he passes the puck, as he moves effortlessly across the ice. She cheers when everyone else does, clapping her little hands, even if she doesn’t fully understand the game just yet.

But the moment she sees him on the big screen, her excitement reaches a whole new level.

“PAPA!” she shouts, pointing frantically at the Jumbotron. “Look! It’s Papa!”

You can’t help but laugh, pulling her closer as she beams with pride. The people around you smile fondly, watching her tiny body practically vibrating with excitement. And on the ice, William glances up at the screen, catching sight of her pointing wildly. He shakes his head with a grin, mouthing a quick I love you before refocusing on the game.

William never stops being her biggest supporter.

When she’s five, she has her first dance recital. She’s a bundle of excitement and nerves, dressed in a sparkly tutu, her hair curled perfectly for the occasion. William is right there, sitting front row, his phone up and recording every second like a proud dad who doesn’t want to miss a thing. You’re right beside him, your heart swelling with pride as you watch your little girl step into the spotlight.

“She’s gonna be great,” you whisper, squeezing his arm.

“She’s already great,” he replies, eyes locked on her as she takes her place on stage.

The music starts, and even though she misses a step or two, to William, she is perfect. He cheers louder than anyone in the room when the recital ends, clapping so hard his palms turn red. You can feel your own pride radiating from him, the warmth in his gaze as he watches her run up to him, still buzzing with excitement. He scoops her into his arms without hesitation.

“You were amazing, älskling,” he says, spinning her around. “A star, just like I knew you’d be.”

She beams up at him, holding tight to the flowers he brought her—tiny pink roses, because he knows they’re her favorite. “Did you really like it, Papa?”

“I loved it,” he promises. “I’ll always love anything you do.”

And he means it, his gaze soft as he looks between you both. It’s clear that his world is right here in this moment, with you by his side, and her in his arms.

No matter how tough or busy his days are, William is always there when she needs him. When she wakes up crying from a nightmare, she knows exactly where to go. She tiptoes into your room, dragging her stuffed bunny by the ear, sniffling softly. Without hesitation, she climbs into bed between you both, curling into her father’s warmth.

William stirs almost immediately, as if his soul is wired to respond to her even in sleep. He shifts, pulling her against his chest, his voice low and soothing.

“Shh, baby,” he murmurs in Swedish, rubbing slow circles on her back. “It’s okay. Papa’s got you.”

You smile softly at the sight of them, the way his hand instinctively moves to comfort her, knowing she’s safe in his arms. She hiccups a little, still caught in the remnants of whatever had scared her, but his steady voice and familiar embrace work faster than any lullaby. He hums softly, whispering words of reassurance, kissing the top of her head like he has since the day she was born.

Within minutes, she’s breathing evenly again, safe in her father’s arms.

And even though the bed is now a little too crowded, even though he has practice early in the morning, William wouldn’t change a thing. Because this is what being a dad is—being the one she turns to, always, and you’re right there with him, holding your daughter close, loving her as much as he does.

The morning she starts school, William is a mess.

She looks so small with her tiny backpack, her shoes barely making a sound as she shuffles toward the front door. She’s excited—practically bouncing with anticipation—but William? He’s not ready.

“She’s too small for this,” he says, running his hands over his face as he watches her zip up her jacket. “She’s still my baby.”

You laugh softly, lacing your fingers through his, squeezing gently. “She always will be.”

But that doesn’t make it any easier.

At drop-off, she turns to him, her big, curious eyes shining as she holds her arms up for one last hug. He kneels down, pulling her in tightly, breathing in the familiar scent of her strawberry shampoo. You feel your own heart ache as you watch them.

“You’re gonna have the best day, älskling,” he tells her, voice thick with emotion. “And when you get home, you can tell me everything, okay?”

She nods, her little arms squeezing his neck. “Okay, Papa.”

And then, before he’s ready, she lets go.

He watches her walk inside, his heart clenching with every step she takes away from him. When the doors close behind her, he lets out a shaky breath, rubbing at his eyes.

“You’re crying,” you tease, nudging him gently, not bothering to hide the soft smile on your lips.

“No, I’m not,” he huffs, clearing his throat. “It’s just…dust. Or something.”

But the way he keeps staring at the doors says otherwise.

“She’s growing up too fast,” he mutters, shaking his head.

You smile, resting your head against his shoulder. “She’s got the best dad to help her through it.”

Years later, when she’s a teenager, William is still just as soft—just as devoted.

He’s the dad who stays up late, pretending he wasn’t anxiously checking the time when she’s out with friends. The moment he hears the front door creak open, he’s there in the living room, arms crossed, raising an eyebrow.

“Have fun?” he asks casually, like he wasn’t just worried sick.

She sighs dramatically, rolling her eyes. “Yes, Papa. I’m fine.”

You watch William’s face soften as he breathes out. “Good.” Then, softer, “I just like knowing you’re safe.”

She smiles at that, knowing deep down that he’ll always be the one who cares the most.

William is the dad who takes her on coffee dates just to check in, who listens—really listens—when she vents about school or friends or life. He doesn’t judge—just offers quiet advice, a steady presence when she needs him most. And you? You’re right there with him, standing as a united front for your daughter, always ready to support her.

And he’s still the dad who hugs her just as tightly as when she was little, no matter how much she grows.

No matter how old she gets, she will always be his little girl.

The years pass, and one day, she’s not so little anymore. She’s walking across a stage in her cap and gown, she’s packing for college, she’s chasing dreams that once felt so far away. William watches it all happen, pride and heartache mixing in equal measure. You stand beside him, both of you reflecting on the little girl who once wobbled on skates, now standing tall, ready to take on the world.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that she was pressing tiny hands against the glass, cheering him on?

Time moves fast, but one thing never changes—his love for her, and the love you share for her, too.

Because William Eklund was born to be a girl dad. And no matter how many years pass, no matter how much she grows, he wouldn’t trade it for the world. And neither would you.

214 notes · View notes