ivey

You had spent four years convincing yourself you were over Beckett.

Four years learning how to hear his name without feeling your chest tighten. Four years avoiding interviews, game highlights, and photographs of him smiling beneath arena lights as though the life he had chosen had given him everything he had ever wanted.

Four years of raising the little boy who had inherited that exact same smile.

Declan Sennecke was three and a half years old, endlessly curious, stubborn beyond reason, and already obsessed with hockey despite your best efforts to introduce him to practically every other sport.

He slept with a tiny hockey stick beside his bed, He insisted on wearing jerseys over his pajamas. Whenever someone asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he answered confidently, “A hockey player. A really, really fast one.”

You always smiled.

Then you went somewhere private and tried not to think about his father, You and Beckett had been together for two years.

You had loved him before the interviews, before the packed arenas and before strangers screamed his name from the stands. You had loved him when his biggest worry was whether he had played well enough to impress the scouts watching from somewhere above the ice.

You had loved him when he climbed through your bedroom window after late practices because your parents had already gone to sleep.

You had loved him when he promised that nothing would change once he reached the NHL.

But everything had changed, Not because Beckett had stopped loving you. At least, you had never truly believed that.

His schedule became suffocating. Practices, road trips, games, media appearances and team events slowly filled every space that had once belonged to you.

Calls became shorter, plans were cancelled and arguments became more frequent.

You were both young, exhausted and too proud to admit that neither of you knew how to protect a relationship from a dream that demanded everything from him.

The final argument happened over the phone while Beckett was away with the team.

You had waited almost the entire night for him to call. When he finally did, his voice was tired and distracted, and you could hear his teammates laughing somewhere behind him.

You accused him of forgetting you.

He accused you of making him feel guilty for living the life he had worked toward for years.

Neither of you meant the things that came next. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop you from saying them “Maybe you don’t have room for me anymore,” you whispered.

There was a long silence on the other end, then Beckett exhaled shakily “Maybe I don’t.”

The call ended.

So did your relationship.

Three weeks later, you found out you were pregnant, you called him. Once, then twice. By the fifth attempt, every call went directly to voicemail.

You wrote messages and deleted them before sending them. You drafted emails that remained unfinished. You even drove to his parents’ house one afternoon, only to sit outside in your car for almost an hour before turning around.

You kept telling yourself that you would try again. After his road trip, after the season, after the baby was born.

Every passing week made the truth harder to confess.

Then Declan arrived, red-faced and screaming, with Beckett’s eyes and Beckett’s dimple, and the secret suddenly felt too large to carry anywhere near him.

At first, you convinced yourself that you were protecting your son.

Beckett had just begun his NHL career. His life was unpredictable, public and constantly moving. You feared becoming an obligation he resented.

You feared him demanding custody, you feared watching him look at Declan and feel nothing. But most of all, you feared that Beckett would love him instantly.

Because then you would have to face exactly how much you had already taken from both of them.

Your family knew.

Your parents had been disappointed in your decision, though they supported you and helped with Declan whenever they could. Your brother had been the one who stayed beside you during the pregnancy, attended appointments when you were scared and held Declan in the hospital while you finally slept.

He never fully agreed with keeping Beckett in the dark, he simply loved you enough not to betray you. Until one photograph changed everything.

It was Declan’s first time properly skating without holding someone’s hand.

Your brother had taken him to a small outdoor rink near your parents’ house. You stood beside the boards, cheering while Declan shuffled across the ice in a miniature helmet and a jersey that was almost too large for him.

He fell twice, he laughed both times.

By the end, he managed several uneven steps on his own before collapsing into your brother’s arms.

Your brother took dozens of pictures.

One showed Declan grinning at the camera, both hands wrapped around his tiny hockey stick. His helmet was pushed slightly backward, revealing messy hair and flushed cheeks.

He looked unbearably happy, he also looked unmistakably like Beckett. Your brother posted the photograph to Instagram that evening.

Little man might be ready for the league before the rest of us. Proud uncle moment.

He didn’t tag you, he didn’t mention Declan’s last name and he had a private account, followed mostly by old classmates, relatives and friends. Neither of you considered the fact that Beckett still followed him.

Beckett had almost unfollowed your brother years ago.

He had unfollowed several of your friends after the breakup because seeing fragments of your life hurt too much. But your brother rarely posted anything, and Beckett had forgotten the account was even there.

Until the picture appeared while he was mindlessly scrolling after practice, at first, he only saw a little boy holding a hockey stick.

He nearly kept scrolling, then something about the child’s smile stopped him.

Beckett stared at the photograph.

The shape of the eyes, the dimple in the left cheek, the way one eyebrow lifted slightly higher than the other.

He knew that face, he saw it every time he looked at childhood pictures of himself. His stomach turned.

Beckett clicked onto your brother’s profile.

He searched through every picture he could find, there weren’t many of Declan. Your brother had always respected your wish to keep him mostly offline, but there were enough.

A birthday photograph from several months earlier, Declan sitting on your father’s shoulders during the summer, a Christmas picture where only part of his face could be seen as he reached toward the tree.

Then Beckett found one posted shortly after Declan’s third birthday. Your brother held him in his arms beside a cake shaped like a hockey rink.

The caption read:

Three years of being your favorite uncle. Happy birthday, Dec.

Three years, Beckett stared at the date then he calculated backward. Once, twice and a third time because his hands were shaking so badly that he thought he had made a mistake.

The child had been born less than a year after your breakup, Beckett called your brother immediately. The first call went unanswered, so did the second.

On the third attempt, your brother finally picked up “Beckett?”

“Who is he?”

There was silence, your brother didn’t need to ask what he meant “Beckett—”

“Who is the little boy in your picture?”

Another silence, Beckett stood from the hotel bed, his heart pounding violently against his ribs “How old is he?”

“You need to talk to YN.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“I’m not the person who should tell you this.”

Fear turned into anger so quickly that Beckett barely recognized his own voice “Is he hers?”

Your brother exhaled “Yes.” The room seemed to tilt, Beckett gripped the edge of the desk “And who is his father?”

Your brother didn’t answer, he didn’t need to “Oh my God.”

“Beckett, listen—”

“He’s mine.” It wasn’t a question, your brother remained silent. Beckett pressed a hand over his mouth as he looked at the photograph still glowing on his phone. The little boy’s smile suddenly felt like a knife beneath his ribs “He’s my son.”

“I’m sorry.”

“How long have you known?”

“Since she was pregnant.”

The betrayal came from every direction at once, you, your brother, your parents. Everyone had known that Beckett had a son except Beckett himself.

“Send me her address.”

“I don’t think showing up angry is the best—”

“Send me her address.”

“You need to calm down.”

“I just found out I have a three-year-old child through Instagram,” Beckett whispered fiercely. “Do not tell me to calm down.”

Your brother eventually gave him the address, Beckett didn’t sleep that night.

He spent hours looking through every photograph he could find, studying Declan’s face and trying to imagine all the moments that had happened without him.

The pregnancy, the birth, the first smile, the first word, the first step. Three birthdays. Three Christmases. Three and a half years of his son’s life had passed while Beckett hadn’t even known that he existed.

He flew back the following morning.

You were in the kitchen making Declan lunch when someone began knocking on your front door. Not a polite knock, a desperate one, Declan looked up from the table “Someone’s here.”

“I heard, sweetheart.”

You wiped your hands against your jeans and walked toward the entrance, expecting your brother or perhaps your mother, the moment you opened the door, every ounce of air left your lungs.

Beckett stood on your porch.

He looked exhausted. His hair was dishevelled, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell as though he had run the entire way there.

His phone was clenched in one hand, the photograph of Declan filled the screen. You couldn’t speak.

Beckett’s eyes searched your face “Tell me he isn’t mine.”

Your stomach dropped, behind you, Declan’s chair scraped against the kitchen floor “Mommy?”

Beckett froze, you turned quickly “Stay in the kitchen, baby.”

Declan ignored you, appearing at the end of the hallway with half a sandwich in one hand. He looked curiously at Beckett.

Beckett looked back and all the anger disappeared from his face. For several unbearable seconds, he simply stared at the little boy standing inside your home.

Declan had your hair, but almost everything else belonged to Beckett, his eyes, his nose., his dimple. Even the way he tilted his head while studying a stranger.

Beckett’s lips parted, but no sound came out, Declan looked at you “Who is he?”

You couldn’t answer, Beckett’s eyes filled with tears “How old are you?” he asked softly.

Declan held up four fingers “I’m three and a half.”

Beckett closed his eyes, the confirmation visibly shattered something inside him “Declan,” you said carefully, “go finish your lunch. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Your son hesitated “Is he your friend?”

Beckett made a broken sound that was almost a laugh, you swallowed “He’s someone I used to know.”

Declan seemed satisfied enough with that answer and returned to the kitchen, the moment he disappeared, Beckett looked at you again “Is he my son?”

There was no reason to lie anymore “Yes.”

Beckett staggered backward as though you had struck him, you stepped outside and closed the door behind you so Declan couldn’t hear “Beckett—”

“You had my child.”

“I know.”

“You had my son, and you didn’t tell me.”

“I tried to.”

His expression twisted “You tried?”

“I called you after I found out.”

“When?”

“Three weeks after we broke up.”

“I was travelling. My phone broke during that road trip, and I changed my number afterward.” His voice shook. “Why didn’t you contact my parents? My agent? One of my teammates? Anyone?”

“I went to your parents’ house.”

“And what happened?”

“I couldn’t get out of the car.”

Beckett stared at you in disbelief.

“I was scared.”

“So you decided I didn’t deserve to know.”

“No.”

“That is exactly what you decided.”

“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

“We broke up!” he whispered fiercely. “We were angry, and we were terrible at communicating, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t want my own child.”

Tears burned behind your eyes “I know that now.”

“Don’t say that like it fixes anything.”

“I know it doesn’t.”

Beckett looked toward the front window, Declan was visible through a small gap in the curtains, sitting at the table and swinging his legs while eating.

Beckett stared at him like he was attempting to memorize everything at once “I missed his birth.”

Your throat tightened.

“I missed his first word. His first steps. His first birthday.” His voice broke. “I missed him learning to skate, and I found out because your brother posted a picture.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?”

“I know it isn’t enough.”

“No, it isn’t.”

The tears finally slipped down your cheeks “I made the wrong decision,” you whispered. “I made it because I was hurt and terrified. Then every day that passed made it harder to undo.”

“Did you ever actually plan to tell me?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

You had no answer that would satisfy him, Beckett laughed bitterly and turned away “Does he know about me?”

“He knows his father plays hockey.”

“That’s it?”

“I’ve shown him pictures of you.”

Beckett looked back sharply “You have?”

You nodded “He has some of your hockey cards. He knows your name, but he doesn’t know you’re his dad.”

Pain crossed his face “Why would you show him pictures but not tell him?”

“Because I didn’t want you to be a complete stranger to him.”

“I am a stranger to him.” You flinched, Beckett’s expression softened for half a second before the anger returned “Can I meet him?”

“You already did.”

“You know what I mean.”

You glanced toward the house “He’s three, Beckett. We have to do this carefully.”

“I’m not going to hurt him.”

“I know.”

“Then let me meet my son.”

The desperation in his voice destroyed the last of your resistance “Come back tomorrow.”

His jaw tightened. “Why not now?”

“Because you’re furious with me, and he can sense when something is wrong. I need to explain it to him in a way he can understand.”

Beckett looked toward the window again “You’re not going to disappear?”

“No.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

He nodded, but he still didn’t move, his eyes remained fixed on the house. Finally, the front door opened slightly, Declan peeked outside “Mommy, my sandwich is gone.”

“You ate it, sweetheart.”

“Oh.”

His attention moved to Beckett again “You’re really tall.”

Despite everything, Beckett smiled “So are you.”

“I’m not tall. I’m three.”

“You’re tall for three.”

Declan appeared to consider that, then he smiled, the dimple appeared, Beckett’s eyes filled with tears all over again “I’ll come back tomorrow,” he whispered.

You nodded.

Beckett arrived the next morning twenty minutes early, He stood on your porch holding a stuffed duck in one hand and a child-sized hockey stick in the other.

Despite the weight in your chest, you nearly smiled “A duck?”

Beckett looked down at it. “I panicked.”

“You panicked and bought a duck?”

“The woman at the store said children like stuffed animals.”

“They do.”

“The stick felt like too much on its own.”

“It probably is too much.”

“Should I put it back in the car?” Before you could answer, Declan appeared behind your legs, his hair was still messy from sleep, and he wore dinosaur pajamas with one sock missing.

He looked at Beckett “You came back.”

Beckett crouched slowly “I said I would.”

Declan stared at the duck “Is that for me?”

“Yeah.”

Declan accepted it carefully “What’s his name?”

“I thought you could choose.”

Declan inspected the toy “Puck.” Beckett laughed softly. “Puck the duck?”

“Yes.”

“That’s perfect.”

You invited Beckett inside, the first hour was painfully awkward.

Declan remained close to you while Beckett sat on the living room floor and asked careful questions.

His favorite cartoon was Bluey, his favorite food was pancakes, but only when they were shaped like dinosaurs, his favorite hockey team changed depending on which jersey was clean.

Slowly, Declan relaxed.

He showed Beckett his toy cars, his collection of hockey cards and the small plastic net in his bedroom. When he found the cards with Beckett’s face on them, he proudly brought them into the living room.

“That’s you.”

Beckett accepted one with trembling fingers “Yeah. It is.”

“Mommy bought them.” Beckett looked toward you, you busied yourself arranging toys that didn’t need arranging.

By lunchtime, Declan was sitting beside him on the couch, explaining the rules of an elaborate game involving dinosaurs and hockey players.

Beckett listened as though every word mattered, then Declan rested his head against Beckett’s arm without thinking.

Beckett froze, his eyes lifted toward yours. They were wet, you turned away before he could see that yours were too.

After lunch, Declan fell asleep on the couch clutching Puck the duck. Beckett remained seated beside him “He looks like me,” he whispered.

“He does.”

“But he has your expressions.”

You smiled faintly. “He has your stubbornness.”

“I’m not stubborn.”

You gave him a look, for the first time since Beckett arrived, a genuine smile appeared on his face. It faded quickly “I want to be in his life.”

“I know.”

“All the way,” he clarified. “I don’t want to be someone who visits when hockey allows it. I want to take him to appointments. I want to know his teachers. I want him to call me when he’s scared.”

“You can.”

“I want to teach him to skate.”

Your stomach tightened “He already knows a little.”

Pain flashed across Beckett’s face, you regretted saying it immediately “Who taught him?”

“ my brother and I.”

“You hate skating.”

“I learned for him.”

Beckett looked down at Declan “You’ve been a good mother.”

Your eyes burned “Thank you.”

“I’m still angry.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be angry.”

“I understand.”

“But I don’t want him to see it.”

“He won’t.”

From that day forward, Beckett built his schedule around Declan whenever he could.

He attended preschool pickup wearing a baseball cap and hoodie, only for Declan to announce loudly, “That’s my daddy. He plays hockey on the big TV.”

Beckett cried in the car afterward.

He learned how to make dinosaur-shaped pancakes, though his first attempts resembled misshapen clouds. He discovered that Declan couldn’t sleep unless the hallway light remained on and that bedtime required exactly two stories.

He spent hours teaching Declan how to hold his stick properly, even though Declan was more interested in hitting the puck against the furniture.

The first time Declan called him Dad without being prompted, Beckett stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence “What?” Declan asked.

“Nothing.”

Beckett pulled him into his arms “I love you.” Declan wrapped his small arms around Beckett’s neck “I love you too, Daddy.”

Beckett buried his face against his son’s shoulder, you stepped into the kitchen and cried silently into your hands.

Months passed, the anger didn’t disappear, but it became less sharp.

Beckett began attending therapy because he didn’t want his resentment toward you to affect the way you raised Declan together. Eventually, you joined him.

You talked about the breakup, the pregnancy, the unanswered calls, the years of silence. You apologized until Beckett finally told you that he believed you.

He apologized for making you feel abandoned until you finally admitted that you believed him too.

One evening, after Declan had fallen asleep, Beckett found you sitting on the back steps. He lowered himself beside you “You’re quiet.”

“I’m thinking.”

“Dangerous.” You nudged his shoulder with yours, Beckett smiled, it had become easier to smile with him again. That frightened you more than his anger ever had.

“Declan asked why you don’t sleep here,” you said.

Beckett glanced at you “What did you tell him?”

“That adults are complicated.”

“That’s fair.”

“He told me we should stop being complicated.”

“Smart kid.”

“He gets that from me.”

“Obviously.” His hand rested on the step between you, close enough that your fingers could touch if either of you moved.

“I’m scared,” you admitted.

“Of me?”

“Of us.” Beckett nodded.

“I don’t want to hurt Declan.”

“Neither do I.”

“What happens if we try again and it doesn’t work?”

“Then we handle it better than we did the first time.” He looked at you. “But what happens if it does?”

You swallowed.

“I’m still angry sometimes,” Beckett said quietly. “I look at photographs of him as a baby, and it feels like someone punched me in the chest.”

“I know.”

“But then I remember that you were alone too. You were scared and pregnant, and you raised him while I was gone.” His voice softened. “I hate the choice you made, but I don’t hate you.”

A tear slipped down your cheek, Beckett gently wiped it away “I couldn’t hate you,” he whispered. “I tried.”

You released a watery laugh “How romantic.”

“I had a better speech planned.”

“You were never good at speeches.”

“I’m good at other things.” You raised an eyebrow, his cheeks turned pink “I meant we made that beautiful kid”

“Of course you did.”

His thumb remained against your cheek “Can I kiss you?” four years earlier, Beckett would have simply done it. This time, he waited.

You nodded, his lips touched yours carefully. There was no urgency and no attempt to recover every lost year in one kiss.

It was soft, familiar, devastating. When he pulled away, his forehead rested against yours “I never stopped loving you.”

“I know.”

“That wasn’t the response I wanted.”

You smiled through your tears “I never stopped loving you either.”

Beckett exhaled shakily and wrapped his arms around you, for the first time in four years, being held by him didn’t feel like remembering.

It felt like coming home.

Your second chance wasn’t perfect.

There were difficult conversations and painful reminders. There were nights when Beckett mourned the milestones he had missed and mornings when your guilt made it difficult to look him in the eye.

But there were new milestones too.

Declan’s first NHL game with his father’s name across the back of his jersey. The first time Beckett carried him into the locker room and introduced him proudly as his son.

The first photograph the three of you took together.

Nearly a year after Beckett discovered Declan through your brother’s photograph, he stood in the middle of your living room holding a small ring box.

Declan stood beside him with a handmade sign covered in glitter and uneven letters.

MOMMY, WILL YOU MARRY DADDY?

“You helped him write that?” you asked, already crying.

“Mostly,” Beckett admitted. “The glitter was his idea.”

“It makes it fancy,” Declan explained.

Beckett lowered himself onto one knee “This isn’t me trying to erase what happened,” he said. “I don’t want to erase it, because somehow it gave us him. But I want every year that comes next.”

Declan leaned closer to him “Ask her, daddy”

“I’m getting there buddy”

“You’re too slow daddy.”

You laughed through your tears, Beckett smiled up at you “I loved you when we were too young to know how to protect what we had. I loved you during every year we spent apart, even when I didn’t understand why losing you still hurt so much.” His voice trembled. “And I love the woman and mother you’ve become.”

He opened the box “YN, will you let me spend the rest of my life loving you and our son?”

Declan tugged at your sleeve “You have to say yes, Mommy.”

You looked at your son, then at Beckett, the man who had every reason to walk away, yet chose to forgive—not forget—and build something stronger from everything you had broken.

“Yes.”

Declan cheered before Beckett could stand.

Beckett slipped the ring onto your finger and pulled you against him. He kissed you as Declan wrapped both arms around your legs, nearly knocking all three of you over.

You laughed into Beckett’s mouth, a second chance didn’t mean returning to the relationship you had lost.

It meant creating a new one.

One built by people who had grown, suffered, forgiven and finally learned that love wasn’t only about choosing each other when life was easy.

twitter. january 1st, 2026.

january 10th, 2026.

ynlaurier

liked by _willsmith2, lexiwhite and 1m others

ynlaurier in the wise words of ella langley im back to loving life again

view all 300k comments

fan1 IS THAT A FUCKING WILL SNEAK????

fan2 UM SOFT LAUNCH HELP?? HELP ME?????

fan3 she may be getting better at these insta dump captions

fan4 CAN SOMEONE PLS TELL ME IF THIS IS A JOKE

fan5 and its will making her love life again THANKYEWWW

_willsmith2 Who's that cutie w the pancakes?

-> ynlaurier @_willsmith2 idk i found him on the street he's kinda cute tho

twitter. january 27th, 2026.

january 29th, 2026.

_willsmith2

liked by ynlaurier, mackcelebrini and 704k others

_willsmith2 So far

view all 20k comments

fan1 is anybody going to address the elephant in the room...

fan2 we all saw the pics u aint slick

fan3 DROP THE HARD LAUNCH

fan4 will can u pls give us y/n crumbs we know u have them

fan5 DROP THE DATE DETAILS

fan6 can we have a storytime pls will

mackcelebrini Papa

-> fan7 @mackcelebrini pls not again

ynlaurier can u score a hat trick for me pls i asked nicely

twitter. february 1st, 2026.

y/n and will. february 12th.

february 14th, 2026.

ynlaurier

liked by _willsmith2, mackcelebrini and 4.2m others

ynlaurier i heard they're calling this the best hard launch of all time?

firefly ft my sunshine out now, happy valentines day! 𝜗𝜚⋆

view all 999k comments

fan1 ARE YOU FUCKING JOKING

fan2 IM GONNA DIE OH MY GOD

fan3 MOMMY AND DADDY ARE BACK

fan4 include me saying they'd get back together like two years ago

fan5 DO U GUYS UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME IM DEAD

fan6 someone hold my hand rn

lexiwhite will smith music video

_willsmith2 My gorgeous girl

-> ynlaurier @_willsmith2 i lob u so much sunshine

-> _willsmith2 @ynlaurier I lob u more pretty

_willsmith2

liked by ynlaurier, mackcelebrini and 1m others

_willsmith2 Life's good

view all 100k comments

fan1 WILL FINALLY GETS HIS HARD LAUNCH AWW

fan2 im actually so happy i could cry

fan3 will is proof that never giving up on ur girl works

mackcelebrini Number one yearner got his girl Im so proud

fan5 MAMA E PAPA

fan6 i feel like i proud mother

ynlaurier my cutie patootie i love u so bad

-> _willsmith2 @ynlaurier My pretty girl I love u

ynlaurier ill be home in 5 get ready to get touched

-> _willsmith2 @ynlaurier Kiss ya in 6

ynusername added to their stories!

february 28th **

cooper_flagg replied to your first story!

god i miss you

it's been a month yet feels like forever

⤷ i miss you too

⤷ it feels strange being here

⤷ but i'll be back before you know it ;))

you better.

cooper_flagg replied to your thrid story!

so pretty bambi

gonna expose you for wearing glasses when you don't need them...

⤷ excuse me??

⤷ these are blue light glasses so they don't affect my vision as much

i guess...

they suit you very well

⤷ of course they do

⤷ i'm me.

gonna call you in a bit

ynusername

march 14th **

liked by; bestfriend, cooper_flagg, oldmutual, bestfriend, bestfriend, oldmutual, bestfriend, oldmutual, and 11.2k others!

ynusername ; never wanna leave ;((

comments;

cooper_flagg: well you have to

cooper_flagg: i'm going crazy without you

cooper_flagg: how am i supposed to wait until april??

⤷ ynusername: it'll pass by fast <33

bestfriend: london gyal now 😍😍

bestfriend: girl where is your coat????? it's in the negatives there.

⤷ ynusername: it was behind the scenes, trust i am not walking around like this 😭😭

bestfriend: NEW HAIRRR OMGG

bestfriend: don't leave then... we can stay here and live that european life

⤷ ynusername: tbh not having an ac is lowkey making me tweak 😄😄

oldmutual: omggg londonnn

view 129 comments posted!

cooper_flagg

april 3rd **

liked by; dukembb, chime, att, ynusername, newbalance, gatorade, cbbfanpage, ynusername, bestfriend, kon2knueppel, mavsfan101, overtime, dukebarstool, mavsnation, worldstar, nbaovertime, and 309.3k others!

cooper_flagg ; the work continues

comments;

kon2knueppel: 👊👊

mavsfan101: can we start winning some games please?

dukebarstool: cooper we love you man but cmon... we just want some more wins

⤷ user44: it's useless atp

randoo21: the breakup is hitting him hard

user09: work continues because he scored 50 points tonight...

⤷ mavsfan23: he better win roty

nbaovertime: legend

gatorade: we pledge allegience to the flagg

⤷ user81: i guess

randoo33: him and his girl broke up, which explains these back-to-back losses

user41: we thought the breakup would help him

⤷ user21: how is an individual breakup going to help a team effort? go touch grass

view 2,873 comments posted!

ynusername added to their stories!

april 15th - april 19th **

bestfriend replied to your first story!

AHHHHH

MY FAVS ARE REUNITEDDDD

wait...

why are we still soft launching

that is cooper right???

⤷ yes it is LMAOO

⤷ girl yk i love to be mysterious, xx

so happy you guys are together!! <33

⤷ we are too

⤷ i'll see you soon 😉

cooper_flagg replied to your third story!

😍😍😍😍

in awe

my bambi

even if you don't give me credits

⤷ my camera. my rules.

⤷ thank you for breakfast this morning, xx

did you see the gift??

⤷ i did, i'll repay you somehow

i can think of a few ideas...

⤷ last time we almost did one of your ideas we almost died...

bestfriend replied to your fourth story!

what number are you so we can support??

⤷ LMAOOO

⤷ not on the lineup unless they need a last minute miracle goal

⤷ look for 32

we're supporting your football journey 😍😕

cooper_flagg added to their stories!

april 15th - april 19th **

ynusername replied to your first story!

i hate we don't have this good of a nando's back home

⤷ it was absolutely delicious

⤷ i see why you ate this almost everyday 😂😂

and you didn't want to believe me

just admit it

i'm the goat when it comes to food

⤷ never.

⤷ ms. only eats dino nuggets

ynusername replied to your second story!

loving the millenial pose

it's so you coded

⤷ it wasn't my intention

⤷ i just had to make sure everyone was in it

if you see marlon, tell him i say hi

⤷ uh 🤔🤔

⤷ no.

meanie

dallasmavs

april 29th **

liked by; dukembb, chime, att, ynusername, cooperflagg, nba, newbalance, gatorade, and 700.8k others!

dallasmavs ; ONE OF NONE. COOPER FLAGG IS YOUR 25-26 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR! #MFFLAGG

comments;

mavsnation: LFGGGGGG

randoo11: ROTYYYYYYYYY

user10: and they doubted him. look at him stunning

chime: well deserved, enjoy the moment cooper

dukembb: our champion

att: earned not given 🙌

nba: CONGRATS COOP

newbalance: SAY IT LOUDERRRR

gatorade: THAT'S OUR BOYYY 🗣️🗣️

fortnite: ANOTHER #VictoryRoyale

userr4: overrated and undeserved, kon was the clear winner

user31: won it without a gf

⤷ randoo18: i think she's still present tbh

⤷ user30: nah they're done

view 3,539 comments posted!

mavsbarstool

april 29th

liked by; cbbfanpage, mavsfan101, overtime, dukebarstool, tmz, mavsnation, worldstar, nbaovertime, and 87.1K others!

mavsbarstool ; it's being announced that ynusername was indeed present at cooper flagg's roty award presentation...

comments;

user12: weird they didn't say anything??

rando39: why all this fuss when they've been together all this time???

⤷ user8: people are just nosy

randoo55: oh she looks so good

user12: all those rumors just for them to be together i'm crying

user44: so they never broke up?

⤷ rando14: nope

⤷ user53: you don't know that

⤷ user20: he's been commenting and liking her stuff on her page

⤷ rando81: he was also just in london with her

⤷ rando87: she never moved away, she only did a semester abroad and now she's back

user92: right so... weird

view 822 comments posted!

ynusername added to their stories!

cooper_flagg replied to your second story!

fuck

so beautiful bambi

tell me i didn't do a good job

⤷ you're getting better by the second!! <33

i have the best teacher

cooper_flagg replied to your third story!

moments before disaster LMAOO

⤷ to be fair that bird came and attacked us out of no where

⤷ next thing i know i'm in the water

⤷ and you're crying of laughter

it was funny, admit it

⤷ no (i almost peed myself)

bestfriend replied to your fourth story!

no way this man is playing basketball while on a vacation...

⤷ THANK YOU

⤷ YOU GET IT

⤷ he did it because a little kid, mind you, beat the high score

⤷ so there he goes and beats it twice

HELP

he is so unserious

⤷ a literal child

cooper_flagg added to their stories!

ynusername replied to your second story!

i was going to use this picture

copying me now aren't we

⤷ finders keepers 🤷🤷

just say you want to be me so bad

⤷ i want you so badddd

not what i said... but me too

ynusername replied to your third story!

give me another reason why we can't adopt him

⤷ is me being allergic to them not enough?

you'll get used to it after a while

⤷ bruh

cooper_flagg added to their stories!

bestfriend replied to your second story!

why is she working on vacation??

⤷ she’s “studying”

⤷ allegedly

can’t blame her, the scenery is perfect for the occasion

⤷ but then that means she won’t spend time with me…

you’ll survive

you did it when she went abroad to london

⤷ don’t remind me… that was so hard

ynusername replied to your third story!

love how these past stories are all me

you’re my number one fan

⤷ it’s the other way around bambi

ehhh idkkk

whatever helps you sleep at night

⤷ you do

⤷ i love you

me more

now hurry because i’m hungry

ynusername

liked by; cooper_flagg, dukembb, chime, att, ynusername, newbalance, gatorade, cbbfanpage, ynusername, bestfriend, kon2knueppel, mavsfan101, overtime, dukebarstool, mavsnation, worldstar, nbaovertime, and 793.7k others!

ynusername ; getaway with my lover!! <33 proud of you baby ;))

comments;

ynusername: so many likes... okay i'm going private again...

cooper_flagg: my gorgeous girlfriend i love you

cooper_flagg: wouldn't want to spend my time anywhere if it isn't with you :))

⤷ ynusername: i guess me too ;//

⤷ cooper_flagg: what is that supposed to mean 😒😒

⤷ ynusername: shh not here...

bestfriend: why is he ruining your aesthetic photo dump??

⤷ ynusername: he forced me to, i swear

⤷ cooper_flagg: and because of all these aesthetic pics i took, which she is giving no credit for...

comments are limited!

user1 the way he looks over at her in that first pic… sir that is your girlfriend not the mic

-> obliviousfan they aren’t together dumbass 🤡

user2 cooper flagg race car driver arc unlocked

-> user5 a win for the f1 girlies

user3 she’s literally the coolest on the media team like she just gets to casually ride in the pace car for content im jelly

dallasmavs our ROTY doing ROTY things 🔥

-> readersusername he’s a natural

-> beccagenecov agreed

user4 imagine being her. dating a future nba star and getting to ride in a nascar pace car

user5 he is so hot this is actually insane i need him in the helmet 😍😍😍

cooper_flagg Best co pilot I could ask for 😂

-> readersusername i was crammed in the nonexistent backseat but okay

-> cooper_flagg Bet no more content of me ever

-> readersusername hi so no thats kinda my job

-> interruptingfan8 “best seat in the house” LMAO

cooper_flagg

liked by readersusername, dukembb and 292k others

cooper_flagg Grateful

tagged @ nascar and @ txmotorspeedway

view all comments

beccagenecov @readersusername no tag for the shots is crazy

-> readersusername oh he WANTS to fight ⁉️

-> cooper_flagg You two quit whining

-> readersusername @beccagenecov ARE WE SEEING THIS

-> beccagenecov trust me.

-> cooper_flagg 😂🥀

user6 the mavericks social team ate this

-> user7 they really said “film everything” and they did

user9 the focus on his face while driving… hello??

readersusername best driver on the track today ♥️🏎️

liked by creator

-> cooper_flagg only because you were right there with me

-> user10 HELLO HER COMMENST ??—€&sjajNah AND she commented so fast im screaming

-> user11 i know theyre actually so cute together its unfair

dallasmavs our guy 🏎️🔥

liked by creator

october 1st, 2025.

ynlaurier

liked by _willsmith2, lexiwhite and 1.2m others

ynlaurier hurt my feelings tour is officially over and i am the biggest sappy mess walking the earth today :( i cannot even begin to explain the love ive felt throughout this entire experience, and i owe every single one of you my life for changing my life in ways i never thought were possible. to everyone who showed up, streamed the album, showed their support, i love you, and ill never ever forget these few months. i’ll be back soon, i promise 🪽

view all 20k comments

fan1 i’m so depression

fan2 thank u for giving us the best album in the world

fan3 we’re so proud of u i hope u know that

fan4 thank you for everything, take alllll the time u need after this run

fan5 hurt my feelings changed my life thank u twin

fan6 nothing will ever amount to watching every show on a shitty tiktok livestream

lexiwhite ugh my baby i love you

_willsmith2 Can’t even put into words how proud I am ❤️

→ fan7 @_willsmith2 MY FUCKING PARENTS BRO 😭😭

_willsmith2

liked by ynlaurier, mackcelebrini and 167k others

_willsmith2 Pre season

view all 2k comments

fan1 sharks are 2-0 in the pre season does this mean something guys

fan2 will smith hockey save us

fan3 him n mack saving hockey one franchise at a time

fan4 fresh prince of san jose iktr

fan5 ANOTHER Y/N LIKE LETS GOOOO

fan6 hi can u score a goal tonight pls and thanks so much

fan7 dada

mackcelebrini Yum

→ fan8 @mackcelebrini not again.

ynlaurier sharks prodigy

october 2nd, 2025. 1:24pm.

y/n and lexi.

twitter. 7 hours later.

fear wasn’t something y/n felt, it was something she wasn’t familiar with.

through sold out stadiums, headlining coachella, stagecoach, fear wasn’t something she felt. right now, though? knowing that in just a few seconds will would be knocking on her door after almost two years of not seeing him? fear was just about all she felt.

every night for the last two years, just like clockwork, the idea plagued her mind. what would it be like when she saw him again? would it be normal? would he still be the same boy she fell in love with? maybe he was taller, maybe his hair got darker. every single situation had played through her head at least once.

yet nothing quite prepared her for the real thing.

the whole plane ride from argentina to california was spent thinking. not about her new single she planned on releasing, not what she’d have for breakfast. not even if she’d made sure she had all of her luggage, but instead it was what she was going to do when she saw him, and as she paced her apartment back in california, that thought plagued her mind. she’d finally forced herself to sit on the couch, but the nervous bounce of her leg gave away how quickly her mind was working.

will, though? not much better.

he wasn’t his usual self during practice, couldn’t skate as quickly as he usually did, hit the crossbar instead of the back of the net more than he’d like to admit. everyday since that night he ended things, he regretted it. to him it felt like life just wasn’t right. it was, though. he was playing in the nhl, had the best group of people around him, better than he could’ve asked for, but the one person he needed by his side wasn’t there.

she wasn’t there because he’d left her and his heart back in boston.

the thought of seeing her was both terrifying and comforting. terrifying because of the what if’s. what if he’d spent the last two years of his life begging the universe for a second chance, and by the end of it all, it didn’t work again. comforting because for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, he got to see his girl. she didn’t know the affect she still had on him, how much she meant to him even after all these years. he wasn’t exactly sure of it either, but sometimes the reminder kicked him square in the chest and knocked the wind right out of him.

as he stood at the front door of her penthouse apartment, he swallowed back the fear that had settled deep in his chest. this was just y/n. the girl he spent everyday with for almost three years, the girl he’d wanted since he said goodbye.

and it was only with that reminder that his knuckles rapped against the wood of the door.

the sound of the knock was a reminder of what was really happening, and she had to wipe her sweaty hands across the fabric of her jeans to even be able to open the front door. she inhaled a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to regain any sense of normalcy. her feet moved faster than her mind could, and she almost stopped for a moment so she didn’t seem desperate.

was it normal to open the door less than ten seconds after someone knocked? she couldn’t remember, but right now, she didn’t care. as soon as the door opened and she was met with the sight of him, she almost let out a sigh of relief, but she’d rehearsed, and making a loud noise was not apart of her plan. instead, without thinking too much about it, she smiled.

will wasn’t sure what he was feeling. terror, comfort, happiness, anxiety, maybe all of it, but as soon as the door opened and he was met with her familiar blue eyes, he wasn’t sure he felt much of anything anymore. it was almost like his brain just stopped.

god, she was gorgeous.

“hey.” her voice came out a bit smaller than she’d hoped for, but will was right there behind her.

“hi.” he smiled, that same stupid, dopey smile he’d reserved just for her all of those years ago. don’t think she missed that slow blink, either.

she didn’t respond yet, rather just looked at him. not an awkward glance over, just a soft, quiet stare that didn’t strike either of them as uncomfortable. it took a second for y/n to remember how to be a good host, because someone didn’t just leave their guest standing in the door.

“come in." she stepped away from the door, giving him more than enough room to step in.

the conversation flowed easily. it always did between the two of them. when silence filled the air it wasn’t awkward, rather comforting and familiar. even after all those years apart, deep down they were still the same people. the girl who fell in love with boston colleges hockey prodigy, the boy who fell in love with the girl who had the prettiest blue eyes and annoyingly perfect hair. their conversations were familiar. hockey, tour, life. but just like always, they got comfortable. comfortable enough for will to finally tell her the truth. what had killed him since the day he left.

“you know,” he spoke, breaking the comforting silence.

y/n looked over at him, leaning her arm against the back of the couch, cheek in her palm. she didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to for will to know she was listening.

“remember what i said? on the phone the other day?” he asked, and he didn’t mean for his voice to sound as shaky as it did.

she nodded, subconsciously tilting her body towards his. “yeah. about… the truth? right?”

he nodded, tongue darting out to wet his dry lips. he’d been through this scenario in his head one too many times. what he’d say, how he’d say it, if he’d dump the whole truth on her or only tell her bits and pieces, but when she was looking at him like that, eyes familiar and warm, he couldn’t hide anything from her. he’d forgotten she had that affect on him.

his nerves were written all over him. in the way his hands seemed a little too restless, his slow blinks turned a bit too fast, and that slight blush to his cheeks that he only got when he was nervous or embarrassed.

“i’m sorry.” was the first thing that came out of his mouth. he needed her to know he was sorry, that he regretted everything. more than anything, she needed an apology. “i’m sorry for the way that i left. you didn’t deserve that. nobody does but… not you. especially not you.”

an apology wasn’t something she was expecting. not because she didn’t think he'd apologize, but rather because she just never really thought about it. things happened, life moved on. she swallowed thickly, shaking her head just slightly. “i’m not upset with you, will.” she said gently. “i just want to understand, you know?”

he knew she needed the truth, and as terrifying as it was, it needed to be said. “i know,” he spoke softly. “i know, and that’s why i need to tell you properly.”

he took a breath, hoping that in someway the breath would say what he needed to say for him. repeating the truth in his head over and over again was one thing, but saying it out loud solidified the truth, his feelings, and that was the scariest part.

“i didn’t leave because i didn’t care.” he said. “it was the opposite, actually. i think i cared too much.”

her eyes searched his, but she wasn’t sure what she was looking for. maybe she was looking for any hint of a lie, or maybe she just couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off of him. she was sure it was the ladder.

the breath he let out was heavy, heavy with the words about to leave his lips. “i was in love with you.” he continued, eyes flickering up to meet hers for a second before dropping again. “like… completely. and it scared me more than anything ever has.”

there was no hesitation in his words. he didn’t try to hide his feelings anymore. he couldn’t.

“i’d spent my whole life working towards hockey.” he said. “everything i did, every decision i made, it all led to that. and then you came into my life and… you mattered just as much. maybe more… a lot more.”

his voice faltered slightly, like even admitting it now still overwhelmed him.

“and i didn’t know how to handle that.” he admitted. “i didn’t know how to be good at both. i didn’t know how to not… mess it up.”

she wasn’t sure how to react. part of her wanted to cry, because she just wished that he’d told her the truth earlier on. but another part of her almost felt relief, like the truth was finally out, she knew how he felt. she inhaled a shaky breath through her nose, and her gaze softened, something almost fond in it.

“you thought you’d lose one or the other.” she said quietly.

“yeah.” he nodded. “and i couldn’t risk losing hockey. but i also couldn’t—” he swallowed, his voice cracking slightly at the thought of his next words.

“i couldn’t stand the idea of hurting you because i wasn’t enough. or because i got too distracted, or too busy, or… anything.”

he shook his head slightly, because he was frustrated with himself even now. he couldn’t understand why he’d thought leaving was the right option. how he’d let himself lose her over the fear of not being enough.

“so i did the worst possible thing instead.” he said softly.

“i left before i could mess it up.”

she didn’t know what to say. what do you say when someone drops the truth like this? she wanted to tell him the truth too, but she couldn’t. she couldn’t tell him that losing him killed her everyday, that he was always her first thought after waking up, that she still loved him. “will…”

“i know,” he rushed out, almost panicked that she might think he was justifying it. “i know it doesn’t make it right. it doesn’t. it never did, and i— i think about it all the time, how i should’ve just stayed and tried, how i should’ve talked to you instead of deciding everything on my own, i owed that to you.”

his voice cracked, just barely, but it showed her the ache he still felt without saying it outright.

“i regret it. every single day.”

those words hung heavy in the air around them. it was honest, he didn’t try to sugar coat it. he regretted it, he had since the day he left, and she needed to know that. he owed it to her.

her expression didn’t harden, it softened even more, if anything. like hearing that didn’t hurt her, it just made her understand him better. because it did. she had the truth now, and though it had haunted her for years, she knew the reason, the real reason, and somehow that made it hurt less.

she wasn’t thinking when she made her next move, but when did she really think around him? she couldn’t, nor when there was this invisible magnetic force between them.

her eyes fell to his hands in his lap, watching the way he picked mindlessly at his nails, something he did when he was nervous, something she noticed before big games, before he told her something he was all anxious about. she’d never forgotten his tells, and maybe that’s why her hand landed on his, her thumb brushing softly against his knuckles.

“you don’t have to punish yourself for leaving.” she spoke softly, almost reverent.

will almost forgot what he was going to say next when he felt his hand on hers. it was familiar, it was them. it reminded him of the way he used to run cold, and her warm hand would always find his. whether it was just them in their dorms, after a game when his hands were red from the cold of the ice. he remembered, and it seemed to hurt more than he’d thought it would.

“i’m not trying to punish myself.” he replied quietly, almost like he was trying to believe himself. “i just… i hate that i hurt you. that’s the part i can’t let go of.”

he looked down at their hands, and before he could think too long about it, fear if she’d pull away or tell him to leave, he laced his fingers with hers.

she didn’t miss it, and in a way it grounded them both. that’s why she squeezed his hand gently.

“i mean, yeah, you hurt me but, i mean, i don’t resent you for that. you just confused me for a bit and that’s… that’s okay. because i know the truth now, and i don't hate you for what you did.”

he let out a shaky breath, something like relief breaking through. “still,” he said, softer now. “you deserved better than how i left. you deserved an explanation. you deserved a chance to decide what we could’ve been.”

breanna nodded slightly. “maybe. but you weren’t ready to give that then.” and it was the truth. nineteen year old her did not think the same way she did now, and now she knew that was the case with will too. and that was okay.

“no.” he admitted. “i wasn’t.” than a small, lingering pause. like every word that left his lips since the beginning of this confession terrified him, and they did. the truth had always scared him, and now he was telling her.

and then, quieter, “but i am now.”

she studied him for a moment, like she was really seeing him, maybe even seeing through him. she saw every bit of sincerity, every ounce of regret he wasn’t trying to hide.

his words hung heavy in the already stuffy air around them. it wasn’t awkward, not uncomfortable, just heavy with the realization that even after all of these years, they still felt the same.

“me too.”

and this time, the truth didn’t feel like something painful or unfinished.

it felt like a promise, a promise to never let each other go again.

it felt like something that, even after everything, still held them together in the softest way.

the next morning.

will and mack.

ynlaurier

liked by _willsmith2, lexiwhite and 1m others

ynlaurier argentina you are soooo beautiful, thank you for one of the best shows so far! 🤍🤍🤍

view all 20k comments

fan1 something was in the air tonight i’ve never seen this girl so happy before

fan2 prettiest girl to ever walk the earth

fan3 something fishy’s goin on…

fan4 HELLOOO GORGEOUS

fan5 as someone who was there tonight she was so happy it was so cutie

fan6 purple is ur color

fan7 mommyyyy

lexiwhite mama

_willsmith2 Do you happen to live on pretty girl avenue?

→ fan8 @_willsmith2 IM SO SORRY, WHAT???

twitter.

_willsmith2

liked by ynlaurier, mackcelebrini and 300k others

_willsmith2 @redbullusa

view all 7k comment

fan1 like that’s my man thank yeww

fan2 everyone’s favorite redbull athlete

fan3 since ur a redbull athlete does that mean ur gonna do backflips on their account….

fan4 dada

fan5 helloo beautiful

fan6 loving these scraps will thank u

mackcelebrini Hi daddy

→ _willsmith2 @mackcelebrini Can you actually shut up

ynlaurier redbull gives you wingsss

→ fan7 @ynlaurier get ur man back bro

will and y/n.

september 28th, 2025.

ynlaurier

liked by _willsmith2, lexiwhite and 1m others

ynlaurier i just got nominated for a grammy???? hello???? sorry, being sappy on main for a second! this is the most insane thing ever, and i cannot thank you guys enough for loving this album, for loving me throughout the hardships i’d felt while writing, performing. you guys are my everything, and whatever happens, this grammy is for you 🤍

view all 30k comments

fan1 SO PROUD OF U BABYY

fan2 i hope u know hurt my feelings means the world to us

fan3 she just gets bigger and better baby

fan4 im crying you deserve this so bad

fan5 y/n grammy sweep iktr

fan6 everyone on three say thank you will smith

fan7 nobody deserves this more than you do pretty

_willsmith2 Proud of you Sunshine. You deserve this a million times over ❤️

lexiwhite my baby 😭😭😭

twitter.

instagram stories / y/n and will.

_willsmith2

liked by ynlaurier, mackcelebrini and 200k others

_willsmith2 One more

view all 6k comments

fan1 god we’re being fed so good this offseason

fan2 do unspeakable things to me thanks!

fan3 number one macklin celebrity dick rider posted again guys

fan4 go play hockey loser

fan5 FIRST PICTURE HELLOOO

fan6 mm yummy

mackcelebrini Cutie

mackcelebrini Come home

fan7 why does mack have to embarrass himself in the comments every time will posts