33. Mason
MASON
My grip inside my glove faltered right as I released the puck toward the net. The buzzer blared inside my helmet. Fuck, I’d screwed up the pass. We were headed into sudden death.
Then I was blindsided by a tackle from half the team and collapsed under their combined weight.
I could barely breathe under the pile of gear and Hawthorne Prep players.
A beat, then another, like we were one living, breathing creature, and it hit me.
What they were screaming. Their faces. A crush of celebration.
Finally, bodies shifted off and I got to my skates. The stands writhed like an electrified entity screaming, shouting with tears and laughter. I stared up at the scoreboard, still dazed, needing to see the score for myself.
4-3.
I almost collapsed with relief. We’d won.
Two failures. I’d been here two times before and couldn’t clinch it. I’d failed. But we finally did it. I did it.
The whole scene was a surreal explosion of realization and triumph. I floated on that high.
Slowly, Hawthorne calmed enough to line up.
Verona skated single file opposite of us with the bitter acceptance of loss carved on their faces.
The same feelings of piercing failure we’d experienced.
Only now, we were on the other side. Couldn’t say it didn’t feel good to skate by them, exchanging those “good game” handshakes with the championship trophy waiting on center ice.
Some shakes were harder than others. A few shoulder knocks in there. Ryker’s face bobbed between the heads of his teammates and he got closer. I basked in all my wins tonight—the trophy and Lilah here for me with my name on her back.
His grip on my hand hung up his line for a couple seconds. “She’s too good for you.”
All the times he’d tried to talk Lilah out of being with me. Whenever he tried to talk shit about me, she’d shut him down—none of it had worked.
Instead of a good game, I let him know how much he’d lost tonight. And I grinned in his face. “You think I don’t know that? But she’s here for me.”
Sweat stung my eyes, but riding the wave of euphoria kept the cheers coming.
Galen grabbed my jersey and yanked me over to him. Heavy thuds hit my back.
“You guys couldn’t give me a night off, huh?” His face was flushed and the heavy lines of his mask dug into his forehead.
I shoved at him. “We couldn’t have you sit on your ass all night.”
He grinned and looked around at all the fans against the glass. His smile faltered.
Erik knocked into me, nearly taking my legs out. “State champs!” He cheered and shook his wet hair out, splattering us all with his game sweat.
Calder shoved him away.
“We did it.” Calder hugged me. “Killer game to be our last one.”
The end of an era. Galen and Erik joined us, our arms over each other’s shoulders as we stared up at the stands. They were emptying as disappointed Verona fans left the building and euphoric Hawthorne fans swarmed the glass.
The league officials broke up our team celebration to present the trophy.
We slipped on our Hawthorne hats and skated to center ice.
More handshakes and official photos while we were all swimming in sweat.
The corner of Calder’s lips twitched as he stared at the trophy with wonder.
Then the higher-ups withdrew, and it was only us, soaking up the final moments as a team.
The second we left the ice, we’d never play another game together. A bittersweet moment.
The screams from the crowd reached ear-splitting when we hefted the trophy overhead. The gold-plated cup got passed between each of us. Families waited at the open bench doors. Lilah’s face popped up between shoulders close to the glass.
One more photo all together. Galen lay out across the ice, propped on his elbow. Erik was in a near split on his knees. Calder cradled the trophy like a proud father, with me right beside him.
Departing the ice felt like closing a book on a chapter I’d never thought would end. Even with all the plans for what came next, leaving these guys behind, who’d been by my side since fourteen, hurt.
Even with the joy of this moment, there was a lump in my throat. Then I stepped off the rink and my future was there. Waiting for me.
Lilah ran to me, out of breath, flushed and so beautiful it sent an ache spiraling through my chest. She was in my arms. I must have smelled rank, and damp spots appeared on her clothes where she hugged me, but she didn’t seem to mind.
I kissed her as the chaos of the hundreds of bodies around us closed in. A quick peck, knowing she wouldn’t want me to maul her in front of everyone like I wanted.
She grabbed the sweaty hair at the back of my head and gave it a little tug. Fuck. Lilah grinned at me and poured herself into another kiss that left me craving more.
I let go of her and wanted to bolt out of the arena without stopping until we found the closest private, horizontal surface.
But my father’s hardened stare broke through the fireworks burning in my chest. I kissed the side of Lilah’s face and let my arms drop.
Soon, I needed to tell him I’d be following Lilah to Seattle without telling him I’d be following Lilah to Seattle and playing for the guy he blamed for ending his career.
Lilah caught sight of my family and stepped back. I moved in front of her, blocking her from the dissecting gaze my father had us under.
He looked from me to Lilah before looping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me in close with a heavy grip on the back of my neck with a small shake. “You could’ve had a hat trick if you hadn’t passed to your captain.” Another shake and nod of his head. “No matter. You won.”
Zoe flung herself at me and I squeezed her back even as she tried to wriggle away from my sweat.
Alena kissed my cheek. “Wonderful game, Mason. And I sent the details of your request to my friend. They said no problem, but the options are limited. We can talk later.”
“Thanks, Alena.” For both things. But her connections had hooked me up with the big ask for Lilah.
My father’s hold on my shoulder tightened and he turned me toward him. “We will have dinner tomorrow and smooth out the next steps. Tonight, you celebrate with your team.”
“I don’t think the rest of the school would have it any other way.”
He released his grip on me. “Good. I will have a surprise sent to your room to enjoy. Good night, son.”
That word hit me like a lightning strike. He’d never called me that before. Son. After pushing myself harder than I’d ever thought possible, I’d finally have his name. The recognition I’d craved for so many years.
The surprise sent to my room—maybe a watch or a new car like he’d gotten Bair when he’d ended his four-season championship run? Or the finalized paperwork for the name change?
A nick chipped the edge of the idyllic picture of approval in front of me.
But how did this all change when I told him about Seattle?
How did things change for Zoe and Mom? Alena wouldn’t let anything happen to Zoe, but a bitter, acidic guilt scored my stomach.
Would he cut my mom loose if I went against what he wanted?
I shoved those ingrained parental obligation instincts aside.
Now was the time to bask in the glory I’d been chasing since I knew a state championship was a thing. Then I’d worry about the fallout.
Everyone set a land speed record to shower and get to the party to celebrate the win.
Lilah: Where did you want to meet? Or are you going out with the team?
Mason: I’m celebrating with my girlfriend
Lilah: Oh, then I’ll go back to the hotel with Paige and give you two some alone time
Mason: Your butt better be waiting for me in the lobby
Lilah: Yes, sir
There were pictures and interviews, but mostly a shit-ton of cheering and taking turns holding the trophy. One more shot of us all together and we were released out into the wild.
All I wanted to do was get out from under the cheering, hugging and handshaking, but there were three seasons of pent-up victory laps to wade through.
Outside the arena, fans had continued the party, but I wouldn’t be deterred from my single goal.
Lilah.
She sat on one of the blue lobby couches, looking at a video on Paige’s phone. A replay from the game was already firing off through the group chats.
When I was within steps of her, she turned and caught me in that pull-me-into-her-depths gaze. That’s when I gave her the kiss I’d wanted to give her at the rink. Her tongue brushed against mine, and I dove in, not wanting to stop tasting her.
Paige tapped on my shoulder. “Whoa, guys, we’re getting looks.”
Lilah buried her face against my chest and laughed.
“Let’s go up to the room so we can change. Then it’s time to paaaarty.” Paige call-and-response chanted her way to the elevator with other Hawthorne Hawk fans. We followed behind, fingers intertwined.
The whole elevator ride up, my pulse pounded harder and harder. Maybe we wouldn’t go out to celebrate. Paige could go do that on her own.
Inside their room, Paige grabbed clothes off her bed and rushed into the bathroom first. “I’ll be out in a couple minutes. And you can stay here tonight, Mason, if you want. I plan on being out all night,” she called out through the partially closed door.
I peppered Lilah’s neck with kisses. “Do you want?”
A gasp escaped her lips and shot a bolt of lust through my body.
“Yes.”
“Then I’m not sure if we’re making it to any of the parties.”
She laughed. “Come on, at least for a little while. You deserve it.”
Lilah was the prize I’d give up all others for.
Dad: The gift is in your room. Go soon, so it does not spoil.
Frustration rippled through me. What the hell was it? A cake?
I looped my arms around her waist and swayed back and forth with her. “I’m going to go to my room, pick up my dad’s gift, and get a change of clothes since Paige won’t be here tonight.”
“You don’t want to go to bed wearing absolutely nothing with me?” She shot me a sultry pout that sent me to half-mast.