Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
"Mackie! Always so neat." Ilya Rozanov skated to stand directly toward Macklin.
"Focus on the game, Rozanov." Macklin tried his best to sound tough. It's not like Ilya would listen to him, but everyone was watching them.
Ever since Ilya got drafted last year, everyone seemed too interested in both of them. Together.
Mack's friends always made fun of him because of the shipping videos online. He quickly realized they were watching them all of the time. He had to be careful.
"Whatever you need, captain." Ilya winked at his direction.
The game concluded 4-1 on a game against Boston Bruins.
Macklin gave a great speech about teamwork on the locker room and ran out before anyone saw him. He made eye contact with Will before leaving. They had plans to meet in less than an hour. Macklin had to get ready.
"Great speech, Mackie!" Macklin turned around and rolled his eyes as Ilya ran towards him. "Do you practice on the mirror before you speak? Or does it come out naturally?"
Ilya was such a menace. And a brat.
He knew how good looking he was. He also knew everyone knew that too.
"Great game tonight, Rozanov." Macklin mumbled.
Ilya's curls were wet from the shower. His gold chain was peeking out from his shirt. His cheeks were slightly red. He was flustered.
"Even better if you would've been there." He smirked. "What happened to you? I missed you."
"Shut up." Macklin frowned.
"Is something distracting you?"
"You're distracting me right now."
"Stop flirting with me, Mackie."
"Stop calling me Mackie. I'm not a child."
"I think it suits you. Is cute."
Macklin walked away, hoping Ilya wouldn't follow him.
"I hope you get some rest because we play again in next week and i'm pretty sure you have to show up then." Ilya yelled at him.
Macklin ran towards his car and had to wait in traffic for twenty minutes before getting to his apartment downtown. He quickly dressed his best and made an overnight bag.He drove as fast and responsibly as he could. Will was waiting for him in his car. Before getting in, Macklin looked around hoping nobody would see them.
"You're late." Will said when Mack got in the car.
"Sorry. I got stuck in traffic because Rozanov was bugging me again. He made me late."
"Not really bugging you though."
Will started driving with an angry look on his face.
"What do you mean?"
"He's into you."
Macklin gasped. "Do you think he's gay?"
"I don't know what he is, but he's so into you."
Will turned to look at the road.
"Are you jealous?" Macklin smiled.
"You wish."
Macklin shrugged. "A little maybe."
Will smiled.
They had broken up before Ilya was even drafted, but they were hanging out more often than ever. Macklin wanted to get back together but Will had found himself a girlfriend and they were just friends. For now.
"You played good tonight." Will said.
"I think I could've done better."
"We won."
"Still room for improvement."
Will laughed. "I wish you would take it slower. You're the best player ever."
"I'm not better than Rozanov."
Macklin waited for Will to reassure him, but he didn't. "Do you think he's better than me?"
"I didn't say that." Will said.
"You do think that!" Macklin pouted. "He doesn't even try. It's so annoying. He's so annoying."
"He's the best as what he does. You're the best at what you do."
"That makes no sense."
"It makes sense to me."
"Whatever. I need more practice." Macklin looked out the window. "Can we practice when we get to the cottage?"
"Of course. But umm.. Hailey's there."
"You invited your girlfriend? I thought it was going to be just us."
"Don't be mad. She wanted to meet you."
"I don't want to meet her."
"Please, Mack. She really wants to meet you."
"Did you tell her about us?"
Will shifted uncomfortably on his seat. "No."
"Are you serious?"
"Whats there to tell? We're not getting back together."
Macklin turned to look at him. Will was serious. He wasn't thinking about being together again. He didn't care he was breaking Macklin's heart by saying those words.
He turned to the window and swallowed his tears. Macklin was ashamed. He shouldn't have agreed when Will asked him to come to his cottage for the weekend. Whatever type of love Will used to have for Mack, had turned into completely platonic.
"Fine. I'll meet her. But I won't be nice."
"You're always nice. So nice, Mackie."
The way Will said Mackie was so different as to when Ilya said it. It sounded mocking both ways but Will had been the one who started calling him like that when they started dating. Ilya was just trying to get his attention, apparently.
When they got to the cottage and Will's girlfriend was there, Macklin tried his hardest not to cry. He also tried his hardest to be mean. But it was impossible. Hailey was so sweet and she had bought dinner for them.
"My father is like your biggest fan." said Hailey. "It truly is amazing to meet you."
Macklin smiled.
"He's not all that." Will joked. "Theres better players in the team."
"Like Rozanov." Mack said.
"Stop mentioning Rozanov!" Will spat. "Sorry, it's just that you keep talking about him. He's not even that good."
Macklin smirked. "You said he's good."
"I don't truly think he's better than you."
So Will was jealous. Maybe Macklin had been wrong about Will's feelings.
"I don't think so either. Hollander is the best one hands down!" Hailey said excitedly.
Macklin couldn't stop smiling.
"It's a tie between the four of us." said Will. "We're all pretty great."
"You are the best, baby." Hailey gave Will a kiss on the cheek. Will avoided Macklin's eyes.
Macklin went for a swim on the lake the next morning and tried to make a plan to get back together with Will. Whatever it took. Will had to like him again. He'd done it once. He could do it again.
He looked at his phone when he was walking back into the cottage.
Three texts from Rozanov.
[picture]
[picture]
never stop grinding mackie 💪💪
Ilya had sent pictures of himself at the gym. He looked extremely hot. And extremely available.
Macklin smiled as the idea came to his mind.
"Morning!" Hailey said. "I made coffee"
"Thanks." Macklin left his phone open on the table and walked to the coffee pot.
"Is that Rozanov?" Hailey wondered, looking at his phone. "Wow. He's gotten so big."
"Who's gotten big?" asked Will walking in his pjs.
"Ilya Rozanov."
Will rolled his eyes. "Why are we talking about him again?"
Hailey took Macklin's phone and showed Will the pictures he sent.
"He sent this to you?" Will asked Macklin.
Macklin shrugged and took a sip of the coffee.
His smile grew bigger as Will frowned more.
"He calls you Mackie?" Will looked annoyed.
"Everyone does." Macklin muttered.
"You do too, Will." said Hailey.
"Why would he send you shirtless pictures?" asked Will.
"He's excited for the game next week."
"Yes. We can see how excited he is." Will walked towards Macklin and gave him his phone back.
"How did he get so big so fast? I saw him at a game last month and he did not look like that!" said Hailey.
"Working out? I don't know. And i don't care." Will stated. "He shouldn't be sending those pictures. It's completely inappropriate."
Macklin smiled wide.
He knew exactly what he had to do.