Chapter Ten #2
“That’s because I wanted her all to myself,” the man who I’m assuming is Max says as he makes the transition from ice to mats flawlessly.
My hand instinctually wraps around Mason’s waist as I’m introduced to his teammate and his girlfriend, Sabrina.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you. Mason has mentioned you about a gazillion times.” Max grins, giving his buddy a punch to the shoulder. “He’s practically obsessed.”
My stomach flips at the knowledge of him talking about me. My mouth opens to say something, but I have no idea what.
“The feeling’s mutual” are the words that end up coming out, surprising me beyond belief. But I mean them.
Mason gives my temple another kiss, this one a little longer. When he pulls back, he’s still looking at me.
“How could I not be? Victoria is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
We’re supposed to be pretending. Our admissions don’t feel pretend. What is happening?
“Boys! Huddle in. Let’s get this thing going,” a voice booms across the ice.
“Crap. Okay, we’ll catch you two ladies later,” Max says, giving Sabrina a long kiss before he motions to the ice.
“I’ll just be supervising drills if you need me,” Mason says softly as he gives my waist a reassuring squeeze.
“Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you will. You’ll be with me.” Sabrina tucks her arm around mine in a friendly bonding gesture.
I chuckle. This woman is direct. I love it.
“See?” I motion to Sabrina. “I’ll be fine. Go have fun.”
Staring at me for a second longer, Mason nods. He turns, about to make his way back onto the ice, when he turns back. Confused, I’m about to ask him if he’s forgotten anything, but his lips capture mine.
And I melt.
Not in a subtle way. Not in a maybe this is just for show kind of way. I melt like I’ve been waiting for this moment longer than I realized. Like my body knew something I didn’t.
The kiss starts soft. Tentative, almost unsure. But then I curl my fingers into the front of his jersey, tugging him a little closer. He makes a low sound in the back of his throat that does something dangerous to my insides.
His hands frame my face, thumbs brushing along my jaw, holding me in place for the taking. And when he tilts his head and deepens the kiss, I forget everything—where we are, what we’re doing, what’s real and what’s not. The only thing that matters is this. Him. Us. Right here.
I’m not sure how long we stand there kissing, caught up in something neither of us expected but both of us clearly want. Eventually, we break apart—just an inch. His forehead rests against mine, and I can feel his breath, warm and unsteady.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for forever,” he murmurs.
I let out a shaky laugh, because oh my God.
He smiles, and it’s soft this time.
And for the first time, I wonder if maybe…
“Okay,” Sabrina says, breaking the moment. “As much as I’m enjoying the show, I think the kids are about to riot. Better get out there, Warren, before the hockey moms are able to pull out their phones and start the gossip train.”
Oh.
Oh.
Had he done that for a publicity opportunity? Is it possible I wasn’t reading the situation right because…well, my feelings are starting to get in the way?
Shit. I’m so confused.
Mason presses one last, lingering kiss to my forehead before finally pulling away. “We’ll talk later,” he says, like a promise.
And I nod.
Because we have to.
He dashes away, flying across the ice to a group of skaters who greet him with loud cheers. Mason hits gloves with all of them before starting whatever it is he’s about to teach.
“Well, damn,” Sabrina says, nudging me away from the boards and toward the closest empty bench. “You’re the real deal, huh?”
I blink. “What?”
She nods toward Mason across the rink. “I’ve known that man a long time. And I’ve never seen him smile like that.”
My stomach flips.
“Oh, it’s—” I start, but Sabrina cuts me off with a wink.
“Look, I’m a sports analyst, so my job is basically to take the numbers in front of me and the live action of the game and make my own predictions.
When Mason mentioned you a couple weeks ago, I had my suspicions.
After his last breakup, he was determined to be single for a long while and wait for the one.
Then you two started dating very quickly. ”
I’m struggling to find something to tell her but come up with nothing.
“Relax,” she continues, giving me a small knowing grin. “I know it’s fake. That’s the story, right? You’re both helping the other out.” Her smile softens. “Just be careful. Sometimes fake starts feeling real. And that can get…complicated.”
“Tell me about it,” I murmur.
“Mason is a really great guy, but he has shitty luck when it comes to love. Just be careful.”
I nod, still not having the words to adequately tell her the depth of my feelings or just how confused I am.
“Right.” Sabrina claps her hands, breaking the seriousness of the moment. “Let’s go get some popcorn and settle in to watch our men mentor children and have our ovaries explode because of the cuteness.”
A laugh bursts out of me. What?
“Sure,” I agree, thinking that stuffing my face with buttery goodness sounds brilliant right now. “Let’s do it.”
***
For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel so alone, trapped in my own head and struggling to mask what I’m truly going through. I didn’t expect to find kindred spirits at a hockey charity event—but Goals for Good has changed me.
Hearing Sidney Crane speak about his battle with anxiety and why starting this charity was so important has moved me to tears. I had no idea the pressures these men face both on and off the ice.
Thank God I’m in the back row, out of view of the cameras and reporters that are here. The last thing I would want to do is take the focus away from how amazing this day has been with my blubbering.
I’m no athlete, but I recognize the importance of a charity like this for the health of younger generations. Talking about our struggles shouldn’t be stigmatized—it should be shared so that no one feels alone or isolated.
If I’d had something like this when I’d first gotten into the music industry, how my career turned out may have been a lot different.
I can think of a couple of choices I made in the midst of a panic attack that weren’t the best. If I’d had more support, more awareness of what I was really battling—
It doesn’t do to dwell on things that can’t be changed. I didn’t always choose the best path, but I’m where I’m meant to be now.
As Sidney ends his speech, thanking everyone who came out and letting the kids know that he’s always there for them, the arena explodes in applause. My hands sting I’m clapping so hard, but the group deserves it. What an incredible day.
I stay in my seat as the crowd thins, and I watch as volunteers start packing up some of the tables that were filled with food, prizes, and brochures about the charity. My gaze scans the people mingling around and locks on Mason.
His body is angled toward mine, and he’s taking off his skates. When he catches my eye, he holds up his hand and flashes his fingers. I think he’s indicating he needs five more minutes, so I nod.
The five turns into a thumbs-up as he packs away his stuff and disappears down the long arena hallway. Making my way down the stairs to the main level, I hear my name being called and wave goodbye to Sabrina and Max as they head toward the main doors.
“Sorry to bug you, but are you Tori Westwyld? I’m a huge fan.”
Turning toward the voice, I almost lose my step when I realize it’s Sidney Crane talking to me.
“Umm, yes, I am. But I’m also a huge fan of yours, too, after today.”
“Sweet! I knew it was you. So cool of you to come out today.”
“Mason invited me. I had no idea your team had a cause like this. I know it was for the kids, but it really helped me too.”
For a second, Sidney looks confused. Then something must dawn on him because he claps his hands together and hunches over to laugh.
“Wait one fucking second. You’re Mason’s Victoria! That sly little fucker. He didn’t share all the details. Holy crap.” He notices my surprised expression and holds up his hands in defense. “Sorry. Sorry. Mason didn’t ever mention your last name, so the dots were never connected.”
“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense. It’s early days into the relationship anyways.”
“Not the way he talks about you. Pretty sure you’ve taken up permanent residence in his brain.”
“You better not be filling her head with lies, Crane,” I hear Mason’s voice echo from down the hall.
He appears, dressed in a Toronto Nighthawks sweatshirt and baggy shorts.
A huge duffle bag is thrown over his shoulder.
He shouldn’t look so handsome in comfort clothes, but he does.
Almost as good as he did in his suit when we first met.
Nothing compares to him shirtless.
“Nah, man, I just didn’t realize your Victoria was the Tori Westwyld.
She’s a fucking wordsmith.” Sidney directs his next sentence at me.
“When you made the switch from rock to country music, it was like you came alive. The world knew you had range, but damn, girl. I can’t stress enough how big of a fan I am. ”
“Just to get it right—you mean you’re a fan of my country music. Not the rock.”
“A thousand percent. ‘Dancing Stars’ is my hype music for when I’m working out.”
With wide eyes, Mason and I exchange a wild look before we all burst into laughter.
“I’m a Wyld One till the end, baby,” Sidney says, smiling like a fool. He’s just about to say something else when the look on his face changes.
“Bye, Mr. Crane. Thanks for the pointers today,” a young boy calls.
“You’re welcome, buddy. Take care of yourself.” Sidney’s eyes flick to something else further down the way. “And take care of your mom.”
“You got it! Go, Nighthawks!” he cries out with happiness.
“Go, Nighthawks,” Mason and Sidney repeat at the same time.
“Who was the woma—”
“Awesome to meet you Tori—or is it Victoria?” Sidney cuts Mason’s question off. “And Mason, see you in a couple days at camp.”
With that, Sidney is dashing for the exit, leaving us both whiplashed with the change in energy.
“That…was weird. That was weird, right?” I ask Mason. This was my first encounter with Sidney, so I don’t know if a dramatic exit is his MO.
“Yeah.” Mason draws the word out, his attention still where Sidney left. “I think maybe something is going on with that kid’s mom.”
“What? No. Didn’t he just meet all these kids today?”
“Not necessarily. The charity has been active for a couple years now, and you can attend events and trainings like today until the kids age out at sixteen. Then there are other programs that can help them onward.” His face turns thoughtful as he stares in the direction Sidney left. “Really felt like he knew that mom.”
“In the biblical sense?”
That gets Mason’s attention and smile back on me. “Intrigue. I like it. But I’m not sure. I don’t think Sidney would do that, but you never know. The heart wants what the heart wants. I’ll have to ask him about it later.”
“At camp? I didn’t realize your team liked the outdoors so much.”
“You really don’t know much about hockey, do you?”
I grimace, then grin sweetly. “Nope,” I pop the p. “All I really know is the sport is played on the ice, with skates, and that goals go in the net. Oh, and it’s Canada’s national sport. I think I heard that once on the news.”
“It’s Canada’s national winter sport. Lacrosse is the summer,” Mason informs me as he reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers.
We head out of the arena and off to the left.
He motions to where his car is parked. “Hockey is Canada’s number one pastime.
Meaning the most popular sport to play, support, and watch. ”
“You’re such a know-it-all.”
“It’s my sport, honey. Of course I know everything about it.”
The pet name catches me off guard. I almost trip over my own feet. Acting like the cute name didn’t shock my entire system, I give him a mischievous grin. “I’ll have to watch one of your games because I see the appeal. I’m not completely sold on the man ice aquarium, however.”
He stops dead in his tracks. With a stunned and confused look, Mason stares at me. “Ice aquarium?”
“Yeah. The rink is basically an ice aquarium. You skate around and around like fishes, and people watch from behind glass, knocking on it to get your attention.”
He blinks. Then blinks again.
“No…that’s not— Shit. No one has ever put it that way, but…yeah, we really need to get you to a game. Thank God the season starts next month.”
I shrug, totally up for giving it a try. I’m sure I’ll like it. If it involves Mason, then it’s got my support.
“And this camping trip helps with bonding or whatever before the season?”
“First, it’s a training camp. There’s no way in hell I’d willingly sleep on the ground.
That’s a young man’s game. And you’re right in the sense that it does help the team bond, but it mainly focuses on preparing us mentally and physically for the upcoming season and setting some strategies in place. ”
“Oh, so it’s kind of like when I do dress rehearsal sound checks for concerts.”
“Exactly. Just on ice and with more people.”
I snort, appreciating how different but alike our professions are.
Opening the passenger-side door for me, Mason helps me in and snaps my seat belt in place. His arm brushes against my chest, sending shock waves through my entire system. My breath hitches at the sensation, and our gazes lock.
“Okay?” he asks softly.
“Okay,” I say back.
The moment is full of unsaid words and heightening emotions. I want him to kiss me again. I’m desperate for it, now that I know the taste of his lips.
I should tell him the black-and-white lines of our agreement are blurring for me. That feelings are starting to bubble up on my end.
But what good would it do? We’re only a couple of weeks into our deal, and I need to pull it together so I can help him to the deadline of six months.
Even if it kills me.
Every day, we dance back and forth over the line of real and fake. And every day, I’m finding it harder and harder to distinguish which is which.
I know what side I’m on.
I just wish I knew his.?