0014

Mason’s Pov

I slammed the door shut and let out a whistle that echoed all the way down the hallway.

If someone had told me a month ago that I’d walk into Captain Perfect’s suite and find our fierce, mysterious new rookie sleeping soundly against his chest, I would have laughed in their face. But there they were. The ultimate hockey power couple of Silvercrest Academy, tangled up in a blanket on the living room couch like a couple of lovesick kids.

As soon as I gave them my warning and backed out, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. This was absolute gold. I had enough blackmail material to tease Asher for the rest of our natural lives.

The morning team meeting couldn't come fast enough. I walked into the locker room, grabbed my stick, and immediately locked eyes with Asher. He shot me a look that could have frozen water instantly—a dark, warning glare that clearly meant if you say a single word, I will end you.

I just grinned back, leaning lazily against my locker. "Morning, Captain. Rough sleep?"

Asher gritted his teeth, pulling his jersey over his head with enough force to snap a twig. "Shut up, Mason."

"Hey, I didn't say a word," I teased, throwing my hands up innocently. "Though you do look extra relaxed today. Must be the... fresh air in your suite."

Across the room, Rowan walked in just then. She looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Her cheeks were bright red, and she kept her eyes glued to the floor, quickly heading toward her locker without making eye contact with anyone. But even with her embarrassment, something about the way she carried herself was different. She wasn't an outsider anymore. She belonged right here with us.

Throughout the morning, I made it my personal mission to enjoy every single second of their panic. Every time Asher walked past Rowan, he didn't realize it, but his eyes tracked her every move like a hawk. And Rowan? Every five minutes, she’d glance over to see if Asher was looking at her, thinking nobody else noticed. Spoiler alert: everyone noticed.

By the afternoon, the team piled into the vans for a team lunch outing down in town. It was a good chance to blow off some steam before our next big home game. Naturally, when we got to the crowded diner, I made sure there were only two seats left open at our large booth—right next to each other.

"Oops, guess you guys have to share," I said innocently, sliding into the booth across from them.

Rowan shot me a murderous glare, but she slid in anyway. Asher sat right beside her, his broad shoulder brushing hers. For the next hour, they spent the entire lunch arguing over whether hockey stick curves should be slight or aggressive, but neither of them moved an inch away from each other. They were practically radiating electricity.

I laughed, taking a bite of my burger, but my good mood faded fast when I glanced toward the front of the diner.

Sitting at a corner table near the door was Bianca Wolfe.

She wasn't eating. She was staring straight at our table, her eyes locked on Rowan with an expression so cold and calculating it gave me chills. It wasn't just normal high-school mean-girl drama. There was real venom in the way she watched our rookie.

Before I could process it, Bianca stood up and walked over, sliding right into the empty seat next to me.

"Hey, Mason," she smiled sweetly, though her eyes were as hard as glass.

"Bianca," I nodded, keeping my tone flat. "Can I help you?"

"I was just wondering," she murmured, leaning in close so the others wouldn't hear over the noise of the team. "You spend a lot of time with the new rookie. What do you actually know about her? Where she came from before Silvercrest?"

My guard went up instantly. "She's a teammate. That's all I need to know."

"Is it?" Bianca raised an eyebrow, letting out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Because it feels like a lot of people around here are trusting someone who has a lot to hide. You should be careful, Mason. Not everyone is who they pretend to be."

She stood up just as quickly as she sat down, tossing her hair over her shoulder and walking out of the diner without looking back. I watched her go, a bad feeling twisting tight in my gut. Bianca was gunning for Rowan, and she wasn't going to stop until she broke her.

Later that night, after we got back to campus, my mind was still spinning from Bianca's weird interrogation. I decided to head over to Rowan and Asher's suite to check in on things, maybe drop a hint that Bianca was up to no good.

As I walked down the quiet hallway of the dorms, I neared Suite 301. The door was pulled slightly closed, but I could hear muffled voices coming from inside. It sounded intense. Asher and Rowan were deep in conversation, the tone sharp and hurried.

I paused, raising my hand to knock, when Rowan's voice suddenly cut through the wood, raised in absolute panic:

"You don't understand, Asher! If people find out, everything I’ve worked for is over."