Never Date a Genius

Chapter 45: The Game That Mattered

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The first whistle blew, and the gym erupted into a roar of noise.

Mason took his position on the court, heart pounding, muscles tense. His mind wasn't on the playbook or the cheering crowd it was on Sophie. On that familiar seat in the stands, the way her eyes never left him, the way her quiet presence steadied the chaos inside his chest.

But the first few minutes weren't kind. Mason fumbled a pass, his hands feeling clumsy and heavy. The opposing team took advantage, and the whispers started, echoes from recent days he couldn't shake.

He's been off in practice...

Fumbled the last two games...

Coach was furious...

Sophie's thoughts drifted back to what Yasmin had told her just days before: Mason wasn't himself. Something was off, and it showed.

She clenched her fists, willing him to focus.

During the first timeout, Mason slumped onto the bench, wiping sweat from his face. He scanned the crowd frantically, as if searching for an anchor.

Chris, munching on a granola bar beside him, caught his eye and smirked. "Yeah, Sophie's here. You better not mess this up or she might trade you for someone who can actually shoot." He nudged Mason, teasing.

Mason forced a small grin but the tension didn't ease.

Then, across the noisy gym, his eyes locked with Sophie's. The world quieted.

She held his gaze, heart pounding. Slowly, deliberately, she smiled, her eyes glistening as she raised her phone. His eyes widened, curious and hopeful as he saw the message written.

"I LOVE YOU, MACE. ALWAYS HAVE."

His eyes widened, and his gaze went back to her teary-eyed face and she gave him a watery smile. His face brightened and he smiled, suddenly, feeling like he could do anything.

A flicker of something changed in Mason's shoulders. He rolled them back, exhaled deeply, and when the next play started, he moved with purpose.

Pass after pass, shot after shot, Mason found his rhythm again.

Sophie watched, silently cheering.

He was playing for the crowd, yes, but more than that, he was playing for her.

The final quarter came down to a fierce battle, the score tied.

With less than a minute left, Mason dribbled down the court, heart racing faster than his footsteps.

He felt Sophie's eyes lock onto him, steady and unwavering.

This time, he didn't hesitate.

He drove past the defense, jumped, and released the ball with all the hope and love he could muster.

The buzzer rang.

The ball hit nothing but net.

Mason's teammates swarmed him, but all he could see was Sophie rising to her feet, tears glistening in her eyes.

He ran toward her, heart bursting.

Because with Sophie there, all the noise around him, the roaring crowd, the flashing lights, the weight of the game dissolved into nothing. In that moment, he wasn't just running plays or scoring points; he was fighting for the one thing that gave his world meaning. She was his anchor, his reason to keep going when everything felt like it might fall apart. Without her, the game was just noise. With her, it was everything.

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