Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 81

Ashley asked with a frown. Koi silently held it out and waited. Ashley looked at it with an untrusting expression, then reluctantly took it.

When he unfolded what was in his hand, it was a small, folded two-dollar bill. It was the one Koi always carried. It was so old that the crumpled bill showed clear signs of wear and tear, and was even tattered.

Ashley looked down at it for a moment, then handed it back to Koi.

“I have two dollars too.”

He thought it was absurd that Koi would hand over a lucky bill he had clearly cherished for years just to win a homecoming game. But instead of taking it back, Koi hid his hands behind his back and said,

“You probably don’t have this two dollars.”

The corners of his mouth pulled up with clear effort. Ashley noticed that Koi was trying his best to lighten the mood. That effort seemed to make his messy feelings a little better, and Ashley also let out a small laugh. When a relieved Koi sighed, Ashley held out the bill again and said,

“It’s okay, this is precious to you.”

Koi felt like crying at his kind words but held back, smiling, and gently pushed Ashley’s hand away with one of his own.

“I’ve already had my wish granted.”

“A wish?”

“Yeah,” Koi nodded.

“I met you.”

Ashley looked up at him without a word. Koi tried his best not to lose his smile, adding in a trembling voice,

“It’s right for me to give it to you. You’re the one who granted my wish.”

Ashley fell silent again. This time, his expression was blank, as if he’d been struck by something, but Koi had no way of knowing why, and it didn’t matter. As long as Ashley was happy.

“I hope you win and achieve what you want.”

Koi smiled broadly. Ashley simply watched him silently. For a moment, they looked at each other. They had so much to say, but no words came to mind. Both were overwhelmed with emotion for different reasons and couldn’t speak.

“Well then.”

Koi spoke first.

“I’ll go first.”

And he turned and headed for the dugout. The second period would end soon. And his role was now finished.

As expected, everyone, including Ariel, was gathered in the dugout. The vice-captain, who spotted him first, spoke up.

“Welcome, Koi. You came just in time, didn’t you? I was wondering if I should go look for you.”

Koi smiled awkwardly and replied, “Yeah.” Ariel turned to him and smiled brightly. Koi smiled back at her. For some reason, his chest felt lighter. The horn signaling the end of the second period blared, and they stepped onto the ice in sync.

*

“Oh, Ash.”

“Ash, how are you? Are you okay?”

The ice hockey team members, who had been watching the cheerleading team’s choreography from the dugout, greeted Ashley warmly when he finally appeared. They were as boisterous as ever, but there was also a hint of anxiety. Ashley felt a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head.

“I’m okay now, I’m sorry.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

“Yeah, then it’s fine.”

“There’s still the third period left!”

The team members took turns speaking, patting Ashley’s back and arms. Ashley moved to his spot, hugging each of them and patting their backs.

On the ice, the cheerleading team’s performance was still ongoing. Of course, Ashley immediately found Koi. His hand, gripping the hockey stick, tightened involuntarily.

I hope you win and achieve what you want.

Of course, Koi.

He had almost ruined everything, blinded by silly jealousy. Get a grip, Ashley Dominique Miller. He slapped his own cheek hard, put on his gloves, and began to prepare for the next game. A stronger fighting spirit than ever burned in his eyes.

*

Finally, after the cheerleading performance ended, Koi rushed back into the dugout as before. He was out of breath, but felt much better than before. Unlike his first performance, he was able to move with a certain calmness, partly because it was his second time, but also because he had somewhat sorted out his feelings. He sincerely wished for Ashley to win the game. That’s why he had given him his most precious treasure, and he had no regrets or lingering feelings of loss.

Ash and Al are both my precious friends, so it’s okay.

Koi thought and prepared himself mentally. When the game ended, Ash would surely run to Al first.

As expected, when the third period began, Ashley’s movements completely changed from the previous game. His performance was even sharper and fiercer than in the first period, immediately igniting the crowd, who roared with cheers. The cheerleading team also screamed in excitement, punching the air, and shouting “Buffalo!”

Koi watched the game, his heart pounding, mixed in among them. Just then, Ashley was tied up by two opposing defenders with the puck between them.

Get out, Ash!

He shouted in his mind, tense, and just as he seemed to turn and break free, he suddenly shoved one of them hard. The momentarily distracted player stumbled back, and Ashley, not missing the opportunity, shot the puck. Bill, who was waiting, immediately received it and passed it back, and the crowd began to roar.

The net rippled violently as the puck landed in the goal, and the score went up again. After successfully scoring three times in a row, the atmosphere was completely heated.

“We’re going to win, aren’t we? We’re going to win!”

A girl from the cheerleading team screamed and cheered, and the other kids shouted along.

“Of course we’ll win! We cheered so hard!”

“Right, our team is invincible!”

“Buffalo, Buffalo!”

“Woooooah!”

Even Ariel screamed, wildly swinging her arms. There wasn’t much time left. The score was precarious because the opposing team had caught up quite a bit in the second period. Of course, they knew that too, so the atmosphere was one of not giving up until the very end.

“Ugh!”

The guy who had punched Ashley earlier yelled and chased after the puck. Ashley immediately followed, creating a one-on-one situation. The guy deliberately moved around, taunting Ashley.

“You weakling. Was that even a punch?”

Compared to earlier, it was hardly even a provocation. Ashley chuckled.

“Who was it that got a nosebleed from that ‘weakling’ punch?”

“You just got lucky.”

“Yeah, I guess I was lucky to be matched with a lightweight like you, huh?”

“What did you say? You son of a—”

Just as the guy was about to curse, Ashley swiftly intercepted the puck in front of him. Leaving the momentarily flustered guy behind, Ashley skated away, shouting,

“And you’re stupid too!”

“You f***ing bastard!”

The infuriated guy immediately chased after him. A defender blocked the front, but Ash quickly changed direction and slipped to the side.

“Bill!”

“Got it!”

Bill, who received the immediately shot puck, continued to skate. There wasn’t much time left. This was the last attack. If they didn’t score this goal, it would go into overtime. In that case, the first team to score wins.

Ashley didn’t dislike the risk because it was unsettling; he simply couldn’t tolerate the game being prolonged.

This had to be the last one. He skated with all his might.

“Ugh…!”

Another player from the opposing team threw his whole body to stop him, but couldn’t catch up to his speed and was pushed straight into the fence, colliding with it.

He saw the goalie in front of him. He was the one who had been highly praised as the best goalie last season. He had also blocked quite a few of Buffalo’s goals today.

He tensed his whole body and followed the puck with his eyes. The goal he guarded seemed to have no gaps. Bill also seemed intimidated by the momentum and hesitated.

Just then, another opposing player blocked his path. The moment he tried to intercept the puck, Ashley intervened.

“Oh!”

“Ah!”

Screams erupted from everywhere. The puck slid across the ice, and everyone’s gaze was fixed on it at once. Immediately after, the goalie threw his body to block the puck. At the moment when gasps of regret and relief mingled, Ashley immediately swung his stick.

Clack! A loud sound seemed to echo. The goalie, surprised, stretched out his arm. The black, flat object floating in the air was particularly etched into everyone’s vision. Three seconds. Two seconds.

“Wooooooah!”

The net rippled, and the next moment, the horn blared, and the game ended. Everyone in the stands stood up, and “Stars and Stripes Forever” began to play.

“Yeah! Ash!”

“We won, we won!”

The ice hockey team members cheered, hugging each other in a frenzy, while the cheerleading team kids watched, clapping. Among them, Koi looked at Ariel’s back, then shifted his gaze back to Ashley.

Goodbye, Ash.

I really liked you.

Just then, his nose tingled, and he sniffled softly. When he lowered his head and then raised it, he saw Ashley skating across the ice, running towards them.

He’s going to confess to Ariel.

Koi, and everyone else, thought so. Feeling a bitter pang at his unusually bright smile, Koi braced himself. Soon, Ashley would confess to Ariel and ask her to get back together. He might even kiss her.

Then I’ll have to say congratulations.

He waited, having steeled himself. Ashley ran with incredible speed. And ignoring the dugout where the kids were gathered, he put one hand on the fence, launched himself, and leaped over it.

Huh?

The direction he was running was strange. Ariel was over there, wasn’t she? He turned his head in confusion, and in an instant, Ashley, who had run right up to him, suddenly grabbed Koi and pulled him into a hug.

Huh? Huh?

When he opened his eyes wide in surprise, Ashley released his arms from the hug and cupped his cheeks. And before Koi could even collect himself, their lips met.

Koi wasn’t the only one flustered. Everyone watched, bewildered, as Ashley, after pressing their lips together firmly and then pulling away, looked down at Koi. With a flushed face, he said,

“I like you, Koi. Be my boyfriend.”

Koi froze in shock. No one could speak. But nothing else mattered to Ashley. Only Koi’s answer was important.

The noise and music from the stands, unaware of the dugout’s situation, continued to reverberate around them.