Chapter 25
Mason
The hotel restaurant was crowded, but I kept my head down, nursing my coffee so no one would recognize me. Toronto. I’d spent my entire career here, and now I was back as the enemy.
I exhaled slowly, shaking off the nerves that had been building since I’d arrived. Tonight’s game wasn’t just any season opener. It was my debut with the Miami Fusion, facing off against the team that had been my home for years.
From the second I stepped off the plane, the media was on me.
Not for hockey. For those ridiculous ‘sex dungeon’ photos splashed across every tabloid.
I’d expected heat coming back here, but not like this.
I had to hand it to Gideon. His prank had landed harder than my trade ever did.
The entire city was in a frenzy, and it might’ve been funny if I wasn’t trapped in the middle of it.
Ten minutes after he said he’d be here, Gideon dropped into the chair across from me. He looked wrecked, eyes dull and hair going in every direction. It was obvious he’d been out late with his old crew, and it showed.
“Rough night, Gid?” I raised an eyebrow.
He managed a weak smile. “Worth every second. Thanks for bringing me along, boss man. Miami is great and all, but I’ve missed my people.”
I nodded. This city had been home for a long time. “Glad you got to catch up. You good for breakfast with my family?”
“Absolutely.” Gideon straightened his rumpled shirt, trying to pull himself together. “Though I might need an IV drip of coffee.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, my gaze drifting across the dining room. A couple at the far table kept glancing my way, sneaking photos. Great.
“The press has been relentless,” I bit out. “You’d think they’d care more about hockey than those fucking pictures.”
“Well.” Gideon’s mouth twitched. “You have to admit, finding out hockey’s most stoic defenseman has a secret sex dungeon makes juicier headlines than ‘Mason Callahan Returns to Face Former Team.’”
“It’s not a sex dungeon,” I hissed, glaring at him. “Do I need to remind you who got me into this mess with their little decorating prank?”
“Details, details.” Gideon waved a hand. “I’ve been monitoring coverage. Trust me, after tonight’s game, no one will care about your BDSM chamber anymore. Something new and shiny will distract them.”
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one whose naked body was already plastered on billboards while lurid stories filled the gossip sites.
“I’ve said ‘no comment’ to every reporter who’s asked, but they keep pushing.” My shoulders tightened as I turned the mug in my hands. “I don’t want Lila dragged into this mess. She likes to keep a low profile.”
Something softened in Gideon’s expression. “She won’t be connected to it. No one knows who decorated the room. It’ll blow over.”
“God, I hope you’re right.” I took another sip, wishing caffeine could fix this.
We spotted my family the moment they walked into the restaurant. Mom and Dad were already chatting animatedly with the hostess, while Emma and Liam hung back, scanning the room.
“Brace yourself,” I murmured to Gideon under my breath. “The Callahan circus has arrived.”
My mother reached us first, her face lighting up as she pulled me into a warm hug. “Oh, Mason. It’s so good to see you, honey.”
I returned the embrace, some of my tension melting away. “Hi, Mom. I’m glad you guys could make it.”
My dad was next, clasping my hand and pulling me into a quick, firm hug. “Of course we made it. I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was so excited. We’re damn proud of you, son.”
Emotion clogged my throat. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”
Gideon slid in like he hadn’t been complaining about his hangover ten minutes ago, smiling and charming my parents so smoothly it should’ve been illegal.
Emma maneuvered around them and announced, “Toronto’s favorite traitor!” in a voice loud enough to turn a few heads.
I shot her a look. “Keep it down, will ya? I’m trying to fly under the radar.”
Liam snorted. “Good luck with that, bro. Your mug is on every other billboard in the city.”
We settled around the big table and ordered breakfast. While my parents chatted with Gideon about their drive to the city and the renovations back home, Emma leaned in, dropping her voice.
“Soooo,” she drawled. “Toronto’s losing its mind about your return. Think you’ll be able to concentrate with all your extracurricular activities in the news?”
I groaned and dropped my forehead into my palm. “You’ve seen that?”
“The Sun ran a whole spread on ‘The Secret Life of Mason Callahan,’” Liam added, barely containing his laughter. “Complete with blurred-out photos that leave just enough to the imagination.”
My gut tightened. “Do Mom and Dad know?” I flicked a glance at them. They were still deep in conversation with Gideon.
Emma snorted. “Are you kidding? Mom still pretends she doesn’t see the giant billboards of you in your underwear.” She patted my arm. “Don’t worry. They’re totally clueless about your kinky side.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “Jesus, Em. Lower the volume.” I leaned in, voice tight. “And there is no kinky side. The ‘sex dungeon’ thing was a stupid prank that went sideways. Gideon thought it’d be hilarious to redecorate my place. I’m not into that stuff, alright?”
“Sure,” Emma said, all innocence. “We totally believe you, Mase.”
I rolled my eyes, but my mouth still betrayed me with a small smile. As much as they drove me insane, I’d missed them.
“Speaking of your crazy life,” Liam said, his tone shifting, “remember that family dinner before you left for Miami? When Vanessa showed up uninvited?”
I winced. “How could I forget? She announced our nonexistent engagement to the whole family.”
“Yeah, about that.” Liam leaned closer. “Are you two still a thing? There are shots of you two getting cozy all over the internet. Seems like she’s not quite ready to let go.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, suddenly exhausted. “Trust me, it’s over. Those photos are old. Vanessa and I were never serious, no matter what she’s trying to sell.”
My dad’s booming voice broke into our quiet conversation. “So, Mason, tell us about Miami. How’s the new team treating you?”
Grateful for the change of subject, I straightened. “It’s good. Different, but I’m settling in. The team’s solid, and Coach Murray is…interesting. He runs a tight ship.”
The rest of breakfast was spent talking about hockey and Miami, my parents eager for details about my new life.
I gave them the highlights, but my mind kept drifting to Lila anyway.
I didn’t bring her up, not yet. Didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about her.
My parents promised they’d visit once the weather turned nasty up north, and I hoped that by then, I’d be able to introduce Lila as my girlfriend.
Breakfast ended with a final round of hugs and well-wishes. I stepped back and pulled on a confident smile. “Alright. I need to start getting ready. Gid, you good to hang out with the fam for a bit?”
Gideon flashed me a thumbs-up. “You know it, boss. I’ll keep them entertained with tales of your Miami exploits.”
I shot him a warning look. “Remember, I sign your paychecks,” I muttered, only half joking.
Gideon mimed zipping his lips, eyes bright with mischief. “Sealed. Now go get ready so you can show this city what they’re missing.”
Emma, always tuned in to my mood, squeezed my arm. “You’re going to be great out there, Mase. We all know it.”
A smile tugged at my mouth. “That’s the plan.”
My dad clapped me on the shoulder. “We can’t wait to see you back on home ice, even if you’re wearing the wrong colors. We’ll be rooting for you.”
After one last hug from my mom, I eased out of the group and headed for the elevators.
It was time to shut out all the distractions and focus on the one thing that always centered me. Hockey. The media swarm, the “sex dungeon” headlines, even the magnetic pull of Lila all slipped to the edges as the familiar thrum of game day built in my veins.
Tonight, under those bright arena lights, I was going to remind everyone exactly who Mason Callahan was. Not a tabloid punchline. Not Vanessa’s ex. Not the new guy in a Miami jersey.
Just a hockey player. Competitive and locked in, ready to leave everything on the ice. Back where it started, with something to prove.
It had been a long time since I’d felt nervous excitement before a game. Then again, this wasn’t ordinary. It was a homecoming and a reckoning, with a new beginning riding on top of it.
I sat in the locker room taping my stick, the weight of it all pressing against my chest. I welcomed it. Pressure was nothing new.
“Callahan.” Coach Murray’s gruff voice cut through my thoughts. “You good?”
I lifted my head and met his gaze. “Ready.”
“They’re going to come at you hard,” he warned, never one to sugarcoat. “Use it.”
I gave him a nod. The guys I used to play with knew my habits and my timing. But I knew theirs too. That advantage cut both ways.
King stood, and everyone snapped to attention. “Let’s make a statement tonight, boys. Show them what Miami’s made of.” His eyes found mine. “And let’s win this one for Callahan. Welcome him back to Toronto properly.”
Sticks tapped the floor in unison, hockey’s version of applause. I hadn’t been with the Fusion long, but it already felt like family.
I moved with my teammates down the tunnel I’d traveled a hundred times. Same concrete walls, same rubber mats. The Toronto crowd rumbled through the walls, a sound I used to live for.
When we stepped onto the ice for warmups, a mix of cheers and boos met me. Fair enough.
I circled, legs settling into rhythm, lungs filling with that familiar bite of cold air. Everything looked familiar. Lights. Banners. The smell of ice, sweat, and anticipation.
Until my eyes landed on the visitor’s bench. That part was surreal.
Across the rink, my former teammate Murphy spotted me and skated over, stopping with a spray of ice.