Chapter 13 Hidden in Plain Sight #2
Noah looked up from taping his stick.
"What pictures?"
"The ones after the game."
Tyler scrolled through several photos.
"There are about twenty shots of you two celebrating."
Mason shrugged, hoping he looked casual.
"We won."
"So did the rest of the team."
Tyler grinned.
"But apparently you two celebrated with extra enthusiasm."
Liam walked over to look at the screen.
"What are people saying?"
Tyler began reading dramatically.
"'Thunderhawks' top line has become inseparable this season.'"
He scrolled again.
"'Their chemistry off the ice is translating into incredible hockey on the ice.'"
Another swipe.
"'Whatever Coach Morrison is doing, don't change it because Carter and Hayes look like they've been playing together for ten years.'"
Liam nodded.
"Seems pretty normal."
"Keep reading."
Tyler continued.
"'Someone should make these two roommates permanently.'"
Another comment.
"'Are they best friends now? They're together in every behind-the-scenes photo.'"
He laughed.
"People really notice everything."
Mason forced himself to smile.
"Fans always overanalyze."
"True."
Tyler tossed the phone into his locker.
"But they're right."
"You two are basically attached at the hip these days."
Mason reached for his helmet before anyone noticed the sudden warmth creeping into his face.
"We're roommates."
"That tends to happen."
"So does Stockholm syndrome."
Liam laughed loudly.
"I knew Hayes was secretly holding him hostage."
Noah joined the laughter naturally.
"I've been charging him rent."
"Too much rent," Mason answered.
The conversation moved on.
Practice began.
Outwardly, everything returned to normal.
Inside, Mason couldn't stop replaying Tyler's words.
People notice everything.
Coach Morrison ran a demanding ninety-minute session focused on playoff preparation.
Quick puck movement.
Short shifts.
Controlled aggression.
Mason usually found it easy to lose himself in hockey.
Today, his concentration drifted more often than usual.
Every time he and Noah naturally found each other during drills, he wondered if someone else had noticed.
Every shared smile suddenly felt more obvious.
Every quiet joke seemed louder.
After practice, the team gathered around the large television in the players' lounge while media staff played highlights from recent games.
The room filled with laughter as Tyler dramatically criticized his own terrible interview from the previous night.
"I sound like I forgot the English language."
"You usually do," Liam answered.
"I walked into that one."
Coach Morrison eventually entered carrying a stack of scouting reports.
"Meeting in ten."
Players slowly dispersed.
Mason remained behind long enough to refill his water bottle before heading toward the hallway.
He rounded the corner just as Noah stepped out of the athletic training room.
Their eyes met.
A small smile appeared on both faces almost automatically.
Nothing dramatic.
Just a moment.
Then both continued walking.
Unfortunately, someone else had been watching.
Veteran winger Ben Gallagher leaned casually against the wall with crossed arms.
Ben had played professional hockey for nearly fifteen seasons.
Nothing escaped his attention.
He watched Mason approach with an amused smile.
"You two spend more time together than my wife and I."
Mason laughed.
"We're roommates."
"So I keep hearing."
Ben nodded thoughtfully.
"You know..."
He lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"...if I didn't know better..."
Mason felt his heartbeat quicken.
"...I'd think you were secretly dating."
The words hit him like an unexpected body check.
His face warmed instantly.
"What?"
Ben burst into laughter.
"Relax."
"I'm kidding."
Mason tried to answer.
Only nothing came out.
Across the hallway, Noah heard the exchange and walked over carrying remarkable calm.
"What'd I miss?"
Ben pointed between them.
"I was telling Carter that if people didn't know you were roommates, they'd think you were secretly dating."
Noah didn't miss a beat.
He laughed easily.
"If that rumor gets us better line combinations, I'm not complaining."
Ben laughed harder.
"See?"
"Hayes gets the joke."
Mason finally found his voice.
"Very funny."
Ben clapped him on the shoulder.
"You blush way too easily."
"I don't blush."
"Your face says otherwise."
Tyler appeared at exactly the wrong moment.
"Who's blushing?"
"Apparently Carter."
"Excellent."
Tyler grinned.
"I've missed embarrassing him."
Mason groaned dramatically.
"I suddenly remember urgent business somewhere else."
"You've got a meeting."
"I remembered less urgent business."
The hallway erupted with laughter as Mason escaped toward the conference room.
Only after everyone settled into their seats did his pulse finally begin slowing.
Coach Morrison dimmed the lights and started discussing playoff systems.
Mason heard almost none of it.
His thoughts remained trapped in the hallway.
Ben had been joking.
Obviously.
Yet Mason's reaction hadn't exactly hidden anything.
He risked a quick glance across the room.
Noah looked toward him.
Instead of concern, Noah simply offered the smallest reassuring smile.
Everything's okay.
Mason nodded almost imperceptibly.
He hoped Noah was right.
That evening, after dinner, they sat together on the condo balcony wrapped in blankets while the city lights reflected across the river below.
Neither spoke for a while.
Finally Mason broke the silence.
"I completely panicked today."
"You did."
"I thought he'd figured us out."
"I know."
"I was terrible."
"No."
Noah shook his head gently.
"You were surprised."
"There's a difference."
Mason sighed.
"It felt obvious."
"No one actually thinks we're dating."
"They think we're close."
"That's all."
Mason looked toward the skyline.
"What if that changes?"
Noah considered the question carefully.
"It might."
The honest answer caught Mason off guard.
"You really think so?"
"We spend a lot of time together."
"We're happy."
"People notice happy."
He smiled softly.
"We can't stop being ourselves every second of every day."
Mason rested his elbows on the balcony railing.
"I never realized how difficult secrets could be."
"They're exhausting."
"You've done this before."
"For different reasons."
Noah's expression grew thoughtful.
"I don't want us living in fear."
"I don't either."
"But I also don't want to risk your career before you're ready."
Mason nodded slowly.
The truth settled quietly between them.
Keeping their relationship private wasn't impossible.
But it was becoming more complicated with every passing day.
Every shared laugh.
Every instinctive glance.
Every ordinary moment that felt extraordinary because they belonged to each other.
For weeks, the Thunderhawks had seen two teammates becoming close friends.
Sooner or later, someone might start seeing something more.
As Mason looked out across the sleeping city, one realization became impossible to ignore.
Falling in love had been the easy part.
Keeping that love hidden might become the greatest challenge either of them had ever faced.
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