Page 24

Clark

“ T ake that, Anders.” I laughed, as Anders, Dimitri, Carlos, and I played Go-goKart in my living room. On my big TV, my little red go-kart slammed into his, making him spin off the track as I raced onward. The remains of our pizza and empty beer bottles sat on the coffee table.

“I don’t know how Ladybug does it all day, work with the little children,” Dimitri grumbled from his place on my couch. He’d worked camp with us.

“I love the afternoon group. Fuck, some of those kids can play ,” Anders replied.

They could. The morning group… Well, they made me laugh. They had fun. They tried.

“Those little ones she had last week were like herding cats. Where is Gwen? It’s late.” Carlos looked at his phone as he tried to play with one hand. Pretty sure he was texting his ex. Again.

“She’s working the late shift all month. Her university coach started pre-season practices and held them in the late afternoon,” I told them as I leaned back in my gaming chair. At least we weren’t far from the training center. I worried about her coming back late at night alone.

Dimitri’s go-kart jumped over me as he used a power-up. “She works too much.”

“She’s worried about paying her tuition.” I frowned as my go-kart chased after him. “Does anyone know how much she owes?” A place like NYIT was probably much more than community college.

“Mercy does. Yesterday her and Team Mom asked me to contribute to get it paid. I threw some money on it.” Anders’ green go-kart caught up to me.

“I did, too. Gwen gets to keep anything extra to put toward living and shit. Though watching her race a shopping cart through Home Things was hysterical,” Carlos replied.

It was hilarious. I still had to take her to Swoop, which I was looking forward to.

“Team Mom’s organizing a fund for Ladybug? That’s sweet. She didn’t ask me to contribute.” Which was weird, since I knew Team Mom. She’d helped me out a lot last season, when I was a rookie and learning to live on my own.

“Team Mom knows you’re keeping Gwen’s ass.” Carlos laughed. “Just like she knows Dimitri dropped the GDP of a small nation on the shopping trip that Valya took Gwen on.”

“Looking good is expensive.” Dimitri shrugged. He came from money besides his high salary.

“Ladybug’s staying here?” Anders smirked. We were almost at the end of the track. Dimitri was in the lead.

“She’s house-sitting. ” Maybe I should have brought back a kitten–for me. Then Gwen would have a job to do. I didn’t even have plants for her to water.

There was a bump at the door, then a shuffle. The door flew open. Ladybug stumbled in with her backpack, and two large equipment bags–one that said NYIT Hockey and one that said Victory Sports.

They were a company that made equipment for pretty much every sport and sponsored her university. She also had two goalie sticks.

“Hi.” She waved and dropped her things by the kitchen island, then went right to the box on the coffee table. Her face fell when she saw it was empty.

“There’s food for you in the fridge. Give me a second.” I used a power up and raced after Dimitri, the end of the track in sight.

“It’s fine. Thanks,” she said.

Dimitri’s go-kart shot flames at me, causing me to stall as he sailed over the finish line, getting first. Carlos sped past me, getting second place, but I finished before Anders.

When I looked up, Gwen was in the kitchen, microwaving the personal pizza I’d ordered for her. She was the only one of us who liked pineapple and ham.

“Did you rob Athlete’s World?” Anders laughed.

“Coach Hirata did,” she snorted. “Guess what?”

“What?” I asked. Her energy was electric and I couldn’t help but get excited for her, whatever it was.

“Remember how Coach Hirata said they approached a couple of alumni about helping me out? Well, one of them came through. My tuition is paid for. I’m going to be okay.” She grabbed a beer from the fridge and opened it.

“Ladybug, that’s amazing. ” I vaulted up off the couch and entered the kitchen, so I could swing her around, her beer nearly spilling.

“Put me down, you goofball,” she laughed.

“Never.” I kept her up in the air. “Who was it?”

“Don’t know. They want to be anonymous.” She kicked her feet.

I put her down. “That is amazing. I’m so happy for you.”

“Also, I guess some other people are putting money on my account, too. It’s so nice that random people would do that.” She got her mini pizza out of the microwave and took a bite. “So good.”

The guys were whispering. All I caught was AJ.

Gwen plopped down on the arm of the sofa. “What about AJ? Oh. The donor is AJ. Shit. That makes sense. He attended NYIT before he played for the Hurricanes. He has ties to the Knights through his mates. Mercy knew about my tuition issues. Anonymous? What a drama queen.” She laughed. “Wait…”

Her face was a study as she put it together.

Carlos grinned. “Yeah, Mercy and Team Mom have been asking us to contribute to your account. You might think you’re ‘just’ an EBUG, but we do care about you, Mariquita.”

“Awww, you all are the best.” Her hand went to her heart and her eyes teared. “Fuck.” Gwen wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Carlos’ phone buzzed. He glanced at it. “Well, I’m out of here.”

“Don’t meet her. It’s a bad idea.” Gwen shook her head.

“What? I’m not meeting anyone.” Carlos feigned innocence.

“He’s been texting her all night,” Dimitri tattled.

Carlos hopped up off the couch. “Who? Just texting my boy Dusty.”

“Mmm hmmm.” Gwen rolled her eyes. “Be safe. Don’t trip and fall into her bed.”

I wasn’t sure what the deal was between Carlos and his ex. But I knew she came to town every few months, and it inevitably ended up with him hungover and full of regret. Once Dimitri had to bail his ass out of jail, which had gotten us all punished with sprints by Coach. I did know he had a long-time friend named Dusty.

“I’ll make good choices.” With a wave, Carlos left.

Right after Dimitri and Anders went home as well. Anders was staying in Dimitri’s guest room for the duration of Squire camp, then heading back to Sweden.

“Can we watch a movie?” Gwen grabbed another beer from the fridge. She held one up and I nodded.

“Sure. What do you want to watch?” I turned on the TV.

“Anything. I’m too happy to sleep.” She plopped down on the couch next to me, really close. “Oh, sorry.” Gwen scooted over and handed me my beer.

I grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch that my mom made and covered us.

“Does someone need a cuddle?” I teased. Oh, I’d cuddle her as much as she wanted. I couldn’t get Dimitri’s party out of my head, where I’d come so close to kissing her.

“Why do I miss being hugged?” Gwen snuggled into me, tucking her bare feet under her.

“Tens didn’t give you enough hugs when I was gone?” I joked. After I said that, I felt a little weird.

I pushed that away. No, no jealousy of her other friends. I hadn’t even met him yet.

“Tens and I aren’t hugging friends–or snuggling on the couch. Not yet anyway. I miss him though. We’ve been looking for the best muffins in the city. We also go country line dancing. It’s fun.” She looked up at me. “You should come.”

“You can do that here? It’s popular at home, but not something I’m into. I’ll go with you if you want, and I’ll snuggle you all you need.” Yeah, not a hardship.

“I hope you and Tens will be friends.” She rested her head on my chest, her muscular body feeling so right, as she practically melted into me.

I stroked her hair as I started the movie. “I’m sure we will.”

As long as he wasn’t an asshole, or mean to her, I’d be friends with whoever she wanted.