Chapter 4

The morning before the game, I had prepared my usual makeup routine but added a little extra sparkle for the occasion. A touch of glitter across my eyelids, and tiny jewels placed delicately at the inner and outer corners of my eyes. It was the perfect balance—fun, but still very much me. Gabi, as always, looked effortlessly stunning. She kept her makeup minimal, focusing on a smoky eye that complemented her natural beauty. Her freckles were visible beneath the makeup, and she seemed to radiate this effortless coolness that I couldn't help but admire.

"Ready for the game?" she asked, adjusting her new navy blue Sharks crewneck. There was no name on the back, but the fit was perfect, and it suited her vibe.

"Always," I said, slipping into my Will Smith jersey, a tradition I had since I started going to games with him. "Just need to make sure Macklin sees my sign." I smirked at my reflection in the mirror as my makeup looked so good, and the jersey was tied back a little to show my curves.

Gabi raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. "You're really doing this, huh? Don't worry, I'm sure he'll notice." Gabi figured out that I found Macklin attractive after I may have mentioned that I thought he was a really cool guy to hang out with.

I chuckled, finishing up my look. "If he doesn't, it'll just be another excuse to make Will laugh at me."

We piled into the car, music blasting as we drove through the streets of San Jose. The anticipation was palpable, and we couldn't help but let the excitement get the better of us. The energy in the air was electric. Sharks fans were everywhere, each person in their jerseys and team colors, all heading toward the SAP Center to see their team play.

Before we even entered the arena, we were just chilling in our seats, vibing to the music, scrolling through TikTok, and eagerly awaiting the start of the game. Gabi was in her element, laughing at some of the videos on her phone, while I was just excited for the night ahead.

Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a call from Will. I answered, already smiling. "Hey, what's up?"

"Hey, Lex," Will said, his voice familiar and friendly. "Just wanted to see if you and Gabi wanted to hit up an after-party at my place after the game. It's at William Eklund's."

I exchanged a look with Gabi. "Yeah, we're down! Sounds fun. We'll see you there after the game, Will."

"Awesome. Catch you later," he said before hanging up.

I put my phone down, still smiling. "Looks like we're going to an after-party after the game."

"Perfect," Gabi said, adjusting her crewneck again. "Let's do this."

Will had managed to get us front-row seats next to the Sharks' bench, and it felt like a dream come true. I was closer to the action than I'd ever been, and I couldn't wait to see how the game would unfold.

"This is insane," Gabi said, her eyes wide with excitement. "I can't believe we're this close."

"I know," I said, taking in the view from our seats. The players were warming up, gliding effortlessly on the ice.

Will caught my attention first, of course. His grin was unmistakable as he skated by, and he gave me a wave, which I returned enthusiastically. He smiled at Gabi and her sign but when his eyes landed on my sign for Macklin he couldn't hide his smirk. I already knew I wouldn't hear the end of it later. Probably because he expected me to have a sign for him if anything.

But then my attention shifted. Macklin was skating by, his blue jersey standing out as the crowd cheered. I found him easy to talk to and excited to watch him play. He seemed down-to-earth, someone who wasn't too caught up in the spotlight despite being on a professional sports team.

I held up my sign for him: "Biggest Macky fan! Puck??" It wasn't much—just a simple message of support.

And then, he noticed. His eyes flicked to my sign, and he gave me a subtle nod, his lips curling into a small smile. Without missing a beat, he grabbed a puck from the bench and sent it soaring up over the barrier, the smooth motion of his throw perfect. The puck landed in my hands as I reached up for it.

I stared at it for a moment, feeling a mixture of disbelief and excitement.

Gabi's voice filled with awe and a bit of teasing. "You got a puck from Macklin."

I glanced back at Macklin as he skated away, and I couldn't help but grin. He looked over at me again, this time mouthing, "Did you see me score?"

I nodded enthusiastically, smiling back at him. "I saw it!" I mouthed, feeling a rush of excitement. It was one of those moments that felt almost too good to be true—just me and him sharing a fleeting moment, but maybe it was just all the happy energy in the air. The game had just started, but already, it was unforgettable.

The Sharks were in full swing, and Macklin's energy on the ice was undeniable. He was a standout, scoring twice and assisting on another goal. Each time he touched the puck, the crowd roared, and I couldn't help but cheer along, caught up in the excitement. Every play was more thrilling than the last. As the game went on, I couldn't help but respect his focus and precision. It wasn't just about his skills—it was about the way he moved on the ice, the ease with which he executed every play. There was a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself, and it was hard not to admire that.

The game ended in a 4-3 victory for the Sharks, and the crowd erupted in celebration. Gabi and I stood, clapping along with everyone else, still buzzing from the action on the ice. I glanced down at the puck in my lap and couldn't help but smile again.

"That was incredible," I said, my voice still filled with excitement. "Macklin really brought it tonight."

Gabi grinned. "You're not even pretending to be subtle at this point. I think he's got your attention."

"I'm not pretending anything," I said with a laugh. "It's just... impressive. The whole game was just... amazing."

We made our way out of the arena, still talking about the game, our energy unspent. The night wasn't over yet—we were heading to an after-party hosted by William Eklund, where I would get to see everyone again. The game might have ended, but the night was far from over.