Page 95 of Hockey Halloween
Mason
Looking up into the stands and realizing Lilith had left the game made me feel some kind of way.
I’ve never been ashamed of playing hockey, or of the things I do while on the ice, until tonight.
If fighting with Johnny upset her, I’m going to have to grovel.
And there’s no way the article online didn’t upset her too.
While we were all getting changed after our win, Ares told me that the Johnny situation was handled.
He said that the de la Penas did what they always do and protected their own.
The roaring lion in my chest that feels similarly about the team and those in my inner circle settles down at the disclosure.
The article is gone, but the damage likely is not.
I don’t know where she is, or how to get in touch with her. I don’t have Athena’s number to try to get hold of her, and the boys left the rink before I had a chance.
I shoot off a text to Apollo, asking for Lilith’s number and make my way back to the hockey house. I’m exhausted, need a soak in a hot bath, and there’s nothing much else to be done about finding my Pennywise tonight until I have her number.
The lights are on at home, the path to the door is lit up by a slew of Halloween decorations Tate and Penelope put up a couple weeks ago. Turns out, they’re both creepy-loving fuckers. And since they met at a Halloween party, too, they go all out, every year.
I open the door with caution, the Halloween Hell-raisers have been known to booby trap the door and leave buckets of goop, or glitter bombs attached to strings. I’m showered, I’m in my nicest game night suit, and I do not want to get covered in something that sticky and gross.
The door swings open with ease; I wait a long moment. I’ve seen Home Alone, I know that pranksters lure you into a false sense of security before they pounce. But still, nothing comes.
There’s a melodic laugh coming from the den, women’s voices chatting. Hope and curiosity drive me to investigate. I’m not that lucky, am I?
Turns out, I’m exactly that lucky. Athena sits facing Lilith on the bigger of the two sofas in the den. They both have one leg pulled up on the cushions and are leaning toward each other in deep and easy conversation.
When Lilith catches my eye, she gives me a shy smile. She’s showered too; there’s no trace of her costume, or make up, or those damn suspenders that have been driving me wild.
Athena slaps her thigh. “That’s my cue to head out.” She smiles at Lilith before hugging her as though they’ve been friends for ages. Athena isn’t known for being a particularly big people person. I guess my little ghost has a knack for connecting with people.
The oldest de la Pena sister squeezes my bicep on the way past. “Take care of her, Mac.” There’s caution in her tone but it’s not menacing. I meet her stare with a firm one of my own. “Yes, ma’am.”
Her lips twitch, then she leaves. I’m still standing staring at Lilith. She’s wearing a hoodie and yoga pants, her hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders, and her skin has a mild pink hue—probably from scrubbing off the maniacal clown make-up.
She pats the cushion next to her. “I figured we should talk.” Her tongue snakes out to wet her lips, drawing my attention. I don’t want to talk; I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her until she forgets every single word Johnny White ever said to her .
Still not moving, I drop my kit bag onto the floor. “What do you want to talk about, Ghost?”
The nickname makes her lips quirk. “I’m not a fan of you dropping the gloves to pound out your issues on my ex’s face.”
I nod, taking a step toward her. “Noted. It wasn’t my finest moment. He was asking for it though.”
She rolls her lips together, and her eyes turn toward the ceiling. “He always does, but if we’re going to do this dating thing, you can’t be baited by him at every game. You need to find a way to keep it in check.”
I nod again. Another step. One more, and I’ll be able to sit on the edge of the couch.
“You want to date me, night monster?” I tip my head.
She smiles again, and I want to get lost in it. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. The way the freckles over her nose scrunch up, the way her eyes light, and the way her pouty red lips spread into a smile. She’s perfect.
She checks her nails like she’s not holding my heart in the palm of her delicate little hand.
“I’m not sure.” She looks up at me from under fluttery, sultry lashes.
“I’m concerned that dating a hockey player won’t be good for my image.
And I came to a new city to avoid being the centre of any gossip or drama. ”
I take another step. When I sit, she doesn’t stop me. “I can’t promise no gossip or drama, but I can promise to try to minimize it. And as you’ve seen tonight, the de la Penas can make a lot of shit no longer relevant.”
She nods. “She assures me she has my back, and I believe her. But I’m still… anxious.” She rubs her chest, and the lion in mine rears its head, wanting to chew Johnny White into tiny pieces for making her ever feel afraid of anything.
“I’m not like him, Lilith.” I hold her guarded stare.
She leans forward to caress my cheek. “I don’t think you are, Mason.”
Mason.
No one calls me Mason. Not even Mom. Everyone calls me Mac, or Beast. The way Lilith says my name warms something deep inside.
Heaving out a sigh, I hang my head, making my shaggy hair hang over my forehead. “I’m so tired of people only ever seeing the beast.” My voice breaks. It’s a bone-deep vulnerability I’m not used to sharing with anyone but my therapist since the accident.
“Then how about you take some time to show me who the man behind the mask is?” She’s still tickling my cheek with her featherlight touch. I can’t help leaning into her soft skin, her gentleness, and her desire to know me, to really know me.
“I will. We have plenty of time for that, but what I’d really like right now is to kiss you again.”