The championship game, unlike all of the others in the playoffs, was not a series. It was part of a special weekend event consisting of the game and an award ceremony on the last Saturday and Sunday of May, respectively. It was held in a different city each year and this year, it just so happened to be in Seattle.

Each member of the team had been allowed to invite two people on the trip with us. I had naturally chosen my mother and Mark. I was excited to properly introduce them and explore the city for a bit before all of the pre-game shenanigans for tomorrow began, but alas, almost the second I dropped off my things in our hotel room, I got a call from Coach Hawthorne saying that the manager of the MLH’s Seattle Buzzards was downstairs in the lobby and asking to speak to me.

“Good to see you, Mr. Haynes. Please take a seat.”

I did as the man asked. We were seated across from each other in one of the hotel’s hastily cleared out conference rooms. It still smelled vaguely of coffee and donuts from whomever was conducting business in here before.

“Now as you’re surely aware, you are a very hot commodity in the world of hockey right now. I was wondering if you’d given any regard as to where you’d like to play during your professional career?”

I folded my hands on the table. At one time it had been all I ever thought about, but now...now I wasn’t sure I even wanted to leave Coronado at all. I could hear Sal’s words from the first day we met echoing in my head in haunting synchronicity: This is my last year. I don’t want this team to fall to shit after I’m gone.

“I’ve gotten a couple of different offers,” I said honestly. “I was thinking I’d just enter the draft and let the lottery decide.”

I could practically see the man, Jeremy Ironwood, scoffing.

“You do realize you’ll earn significantly less money that way, right? I mean, I’m talking millions.”

I shrugged, uncomfortable.

“Money isn’t everything.”

Jeremy smiled a shark’s smile.

“Of course not! But, I think if you give it some thought you’ll find that the Buzzards organization has everything you’re looking for: a great record, benefits, sponsors, charities, and not to mention some of the greatest hockey players in the world. You could very easily be one of them if you wanted to be. Not to mention, any of those other lesser hockey clubs are going to want to send you down to the minors for a few months to test your mettle. We’re prepared to have you play for us right away.”

My chest tightened. He was right. The Buzzards were a great team. They’d even won the cup two years ago. Here I was being handed a ticket to make all of my dreams come true, and yet, all I could think about was Mark and Sal and Steve and Shannon and all of the rest of my newfound family. Sure, Sal would be graduating next year anyway, and the team wouldn’t be the same, but it would still be my team, the team that supported me when I had no one else. And I loved Mark with every fiber of my being. I knew we would be able to make things work long distance, but did I really want to do that when I didn’t actually have to? Surely if all of these teams wanted me now, they’d still want me in three more years. It’s not like my hockey was going to get any worse, not unless I got hurt…

“What kind of offer are we talking here?”

“Full three-year exclusive contract with no trades. Two million dollars a year plus signing and games played bonuses.”

I nodded.

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t think I’ll be making any real decisions until after the game tomorrow.”

“Of course, Mr. Haynes,” Jeremy said, pulling something out from under his chair. “Please take this to look over at your own leisure. It’s the full terms and conditions of your pending contract. All you have to do is sign.”

I thanked him once more, took the stack of papers with shaking fingers, and retreated back to my room.

“Is that…?” Steve asked once he saw what I was holding.

I set the contract down on top of the dresser and nodded.

Steve’s eyes bounced back and forth between the contract and my sullen expression.

“What are you going to do?”

I shrugged miserably.

“I don’t know.”

Steve nodded, and for once he decided to leave the situation well enough alone.

Mark and Shannon arrived twenty minutes later. Shannon immediately ran to Steve and dragged him outside. I couldn’t tell whether they were going out exploring or back to her room to have sex. Either way, I no longer had room to judge.

I took Mark into my arms and gave him a quick kiss.

“What’s with the suit?” I asked.

He stepped back and smoothed down his jacket.

“I’m meeting your mom for the first time. I wanted to look nice. Besides, it’s my turn to be overdressed, remember?”

I reached over and straightened his tie.

“Well, you do look very nice,” I conceded. “And very overdressed.”

He smiled toothy and wide.

“So where are we having dinner?”

“At a sports bar. My mom found out they had a special on buffalo wings.”

Mark’s eyes widened and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“On second thought, maybe I will change…”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” I said, reaching for his hand. “Your good first impression awaits.”

The meeting went about as well as I had expected, that is to say, my mother and Mark loved each other. Within five minutes of sitting down together, the two of them had completely forgotten I was there and were talking up a storm. My mother was giving him years’ worth of embarrassing hockey stories and Mark was eating them all up with vigor.

“And there was this one time he took a puck to the face and he comes home with bloody gums and a handful of teeth in his pocket. He had to wear a special placeholder for six months. Hold on, I think I have a picture here somewhere…”

“Mom, no,” I said, pretending to be exasperated even though it actually felt good to be having such a normal first boyfriend experience. I never once thought I would get here. That I would allow myself to get here.

As much as I hated it, watching my two favorite people in the whole world interact only made me think harder about the contract waiting for me back in my room and the impossible decision I would soon have to make.

When everything was all said and done, Mark insisted on paying for all three of us and then gave me a quick hug goodbye and a promise to swing by my room in the morning before the pregame media circus. I watched him go with an audible sigh.

“So what do you think?” I asked my mom even though I already knew the answer.

She grinned and placed a hand over my wrist.

“Honey, I think you better marry that boy because he’s cute and sweet and smart and I’ve never seen you happier in your entire life.”

I couldn’t hold back my smile.

“I mean, you’re not wrong.”

“Of course I’m not. Mother knows best.”

Something sad must’ve flickered across my face because one moment my mother was smiling fondly and the next she was frowning and asking me what was wrong. I told her about the contract.

“Oh, sweetheart. That’s amazing. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted. Why are you upset about that?”

I bit my lip and glanced at the door that Mark had just departed from. My mother’s eyes widened in understanding.

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize...I’ll tell you what. Don’t even think about it right now. Focus on playing your best game tomorrow and spending some time with your cute boyfriend and just go with whatever your heart tells you, okay? Hearts are never wrong.”

I nodded my head.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Honey, are you crying?”

“I’m just...I’m just really glad you’re here.”