Chapter 14 Tested Hearts #2
Not because anyone played poorly.
Because everyone played while quietly wondering whether they'd still be teammates next week.
General managers around the league were making phone calls.
Agents were sending text messages.
Rumors spread faster than slap shots.
During a break between drills, Mason skated quietly beside Noah.
"You okay?"
Noah forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
"You've got your thinking face."
"I have one too?"
"You definitely do."
Noah laughed softly.
"I'll survive."
Mason nodded, though he didn't look convinced.
Coach Morrison blew his whistle before either could continue.
That afternoon, Noah's phone buzzed almost constantly.
Sports reporters.
Friends from other organizations.
Even his older brother sent a message asking whether the rumors were true.
Noah answered every text exactly the same way.
I don't know.
Because he genuinely didn't.
Professional athletes rarely knew they were being traded until moments before it happened.
Sometimes even later.
By the time Noah returned to the condo, Mason was already home.
Dinner simmered on the stove.
Something warm and comforting filled the apartment with the smell of garlic, rosemary, and fresh bread.
"You cooked."
Mason looked over his shoulder.
"I figured it was my turn."
Noah smiled.
"It smells amazing."
"I called your grandmother."
Noah blinked.
"You what?"
Mason laughed.
"I didn't."
"But I did use her lasagna recipe."
"Brave man."
"It could still be terrible."
"I doubt it."
They ate together at the kitchen table.
Conversation wandered through ordinary topics.
Practice.
Playoff matchups.
Tyler's newest theory that lucky underwear actually influenced goal scoring.
Both men carefully avoided mentioning the trade rumors.
Neither wanted to give them power.
Eventually, Mason broke the silence.
"They're talking about you everywhere."
Noah sighed.
"I know."
"You've seen it?"
"It would be difficult not to."
Mason pushed food around his plate.
"I hate it."
"So do I."
Another long silence settled.
Finally Mason looked up.
"Are you scared?"
Noah answered honestly.
"Yeah."
He hadn't intended to admit it so quickly.
But lying to Mason had become impossible.
"I've been traded before."
"I know how quickly life changes."
He leaned back in his chair.
"One phone call."
"That's all it takes."
Mason stared quietly at the table.
"I kept thinking..."
He hesitated.
"...we finally found each other."
"And now someone we've never met might decide we live in different cities."
Noah reached across the table.
Their fingers met.
"I'm thinking the same thing."
Mason laughed softly, though there wasn't much humor in it.
"That doesn't make me feel better."
"It wasn't supposed to."
"It just means you're not carrying it alone."
After dinner they wandered onto the balcony.
The city lights reflected across the river while distant traffic hummed below.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally Mason rested his elbows against the railing.
"I've spent weeks worrying about labels."
"My identity."
"What people might think."
He looked toward Noah.
"I never stopped to imagine we might not even get the chance to figure this out."
The words settled heavily between them.
Noah slipped his hand into Mason's.
"We don't control trades."
"No."
"We don't control rumors."
"No."
"But we do control today."
Mason squeezed his hand.
"I wish today felt longer."
"So do I."
The following morning brought even more speculation.
Television commentators claimed a Western Conference contender had called about Noah.
An online hockey writer insisted the Thunderhawks were "listening to offers."
Social media exploded with mock trade proposals created by fans.
Tyler looked up from his phone during breakfast at the arena.
"I've apparently been traded four times before eight o'clock."
Liam laughed.
"I got sent to three different countries."
Coach Morrison walked past without slowing.
"If social media starts running practices, let me know."
The room erupted with laughter.
Even Noah managed a smile.
Still...
Every vibration from his phone made his heart skip.
Every unexpected conversation between coaches and management caught his attention.
By noon on deadline day, tension filled the entire building.
Players drifted toward the television whenever they had a spare moment.
Equipment staff checked transaction updates.
Even trainers quietly refreshed sports websites between appointments.
Three o'clock.
Nothing.
Three-thirty.
Still nothing.
The official deadline arrived at four.
Everyone waited.
Trades occasionally became official a few minutes late due to paperwork.
Those final minutes felt endless.
Then the television host smiled.
"That's it."
"The deadline has officially passed."
"No further transactions have been reported."
The players' lounge erupted with relieved laughter and scattered applause.
Tyler threw both arms into the air.
"I still work here!"
Liam pointed dramatically toward Noah.
"So do you."
Coach Morrison walked into the room carrying a folder.
"I hope everyone enjoyed today's soap opera."
A few players chuckled.
"Now that management has finished making decisions..."
He smiled slightly.
"...we can get back to winning hockey games."
The room immediately relaxed.
Conversations grew louder.
Jokes returned.
The weight hanging over the team finally disappeared.
Later that evening, Noah unlocked the condo door and found Mason waiting in the living room.
Before Noah could even set down his bag, Mason crossed the room and wrapped him in a long embrace.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
After several quiet moments, Mason leaned back just enough to look at him.
"You didn't get traded."
"No."
"You came home."
"I did."
Mason smiled with visible relief.
"I wasn't sure how much I needed to hear that until today."
Noah brushed a hand gently across Mason's cheek.
"I wasn't sure either."
They settled onto the couch together, still holding hands.
The fear had passed.
For now.
Yet the day had left both of them with an uncomfortable truth.
Professional hockey offered no guarantees.
Trades.
Injuries.
Free agency.
Retirement.
The future could change with remarkable speed.
For weeks, they had worried about keeping their relationship hidden.
Today reminded them of something equally important.
Keeping love alive sometimes required surviving challenges neither of them could predict.
Mason rested his head against Noah's shoulder.
"We got lucky."
"We did."
Noah kissed the top of his head gently.
"Let's not waste it."
Mason smiled.
"I don't plan to."
Outside, the city carried on as though nothing significant had happened.
Inside the condo, two men quietly held each other a little closer, grateful that for one more day, tomorrow would still begin under the same roof.
· ? ·