Page 25

Gwen

“ Y ou picked it up so quickly. It’s going to be so fucking cute. I’ve got the perfect outfit for you, too,” Mercy told me, as she taught me one of last year’s Maimer dance battle routines, on the small rink.

“Thanks. I’m really surprised they’re letting you use a Bro Ken song, though. I love his music, but it’s not always family-friendly.” Learning the dance-battles was always so much fun.

“Me, too. But it’s a fun one, and well, they’re trying to get him to sing at one of the games. I guess he’s from here?” She shrugged.

“He is. You should ask Carlos, they’re friends. He’s brought him to Dimitri’s parties before.” Though Dimitri didn’t like it because shenanigans always ensued. Like the hot tub catching fire.

“Okay. Sounds good. Um, did you compete in ice skating under a different name? I wanted to see little you in a sparkly outfit, but I couldn’t find you,” Mercy asked.

“I did. It drives Desiree nuts, since she can’t figure it out and wants to see if I was good or not.” I laughed. “I was average. But I had cute costumes.”

“That’s good. Verity’s outfits were hideous when she and Creed pair skated in middle school.” Mercy gave me a sly look. “Can I try to find you?”

I bit my lower lip. “For your and Team Mom’s personal amusement only? There are… reasons.”

“Yeah, totally. I get it.” Mercy smiled. “Are you still good?”

“Still good. Thanks for checking. I like living with Clark, it’s fun,” I told her.

Mercy and I finished up and I headed upstairs. There was a ton of laughter coming from the dining room. I peeked in and saw Castle playing ping-pong with Dean.

I quickly got changed and grabbed my backpack. Constantine’s office was open, and I knocked on his door.

He looked up from his desk. “Ladybug. Everything going okay?”

“Yeah. I caught some crickets and brought them for Maddox.” There was a big, beautiful enclosure for the lizard along one wall, complete with a miniature Doom Squad headquarters.

“He’d love that.”

I opened the top of the tank. “Hi, Maddox.”

“Having fun with Squire camp?” Constantine asked as he worked.

“I am.” I opened the plastic container I’d put the crickets in and let them go. I’d caught them on campus.

“Have you thought of coaching when you’re done with hockey? You have a gift.”

“Me?” I put the lid back on, making sure it was secure. “Um, no. It’s fun, but my background is in accounting. I always figured I’d work for the Bureau of Investigation as a forensic accountant.”

So that I could take down the untouchables that hurt people. First up, the prime ministers of Canada.

Constantine beamed. “You’re a numbers person, too?”

“Yep. I know you can’t tell me, but I hope you move up Castle,” I told him.

He nodded. “Bunty wants someone from the Scorpions. But I’m impressed with her. I noticed you and that Windy guy clash.”

“Sorry. Not trying to be unprofessional. He’s friends with my ex.” My head ducked.

“Got it. You’ve been with us a couple of years, right?” he asked.

I nodded. “This will be my third season.”

“Terrific. It looks like they haven’t gotten to you yet. Since I have the list in front of me, I might as well add you. Did you want a ring or pendant?” He looked up at me.

I had no idea what he was talking about. Probably some new swag the players were getting in their welcome back goodie bags. Last year, they had golf and tennis accessories. Carlos had given me his racquet cover, which had been destroyed when Austin ruined my racquet.

“I don’t know?” I didn’t expect to actually get one, but Knights’ jewelry would be fun. Sometimes the MASOs ordered cute stuff, like earrings and bracelets. They’d had matching jackets for playoffs.

“Ring. You want a ring. Do you know your ring size? Devon has the sizer.” He typed on his computer.

“Um, yeah, I do.” Because we’d been sized for our NYIT championship rings. I gave it to him and he added it to the sheet. “Thanks. Anyway, I have to go. See you later.” I waved and left.

Clark was in one of the workout rooms with one of the trainers.

“We’re going to Tito’s. Come? You’re not working tonight, right?” Clark asked as he did his exercises.

“Not working tonight.” I should make an appointment with the physio. I liked the ones here more than at NYIT. My hip had been bothering me, but I’d broken it when I was in high school and it happened sometimes.

“Okay, then, after Tito’s, do you want to go to the movies? Since you’re not working?” He grinned.

I sucked in a breath. “I haven’t been to the movies in so long. Can we get fancy popcorn?”

He nodded. “Yes. We can even put chocolate candies in it.”

“I’m so there.” Though he had me at popcorn.

I found Dean and his pack over by the bar at Tito’s. This included Team Mom and AJ, who wore a suit and looked like he’d just got off work.

“Hey, Ladybug, great job today,” Dean praised. “You’re so good with those kids.”

“Thanks.”

“Do I have you this semester?” Verity asked me. In addition to getting her PhD she taught some classes. Last semester I’d been in her plant mythology class with a bunch of my teammates.

“Nope. It’s all stuff for my major, pity.” It had been a fun class. I turned to AJ. I’d given Coach Hirata the thank you note for him at practice yesterday. “Thanks, AJ.”

“For what?” He kept his face passive.

“For being amazing.” I turned back to Verity. “And thank you. ”

She gave me a hug. “Anytime. It was all Mercy’s idea. Are you okay now?”

“I am, thanks. Especially since Tony’s cutting my hours at the rink.” I made a face.

“Why?” Dean frowned.

“Something about how much I can legally work. Laws, am I right?” I rolled my eyes. I understood wanting to protect people from being forced to work a lot, but I wanted to work a lot. There wasn’t much summer left.

AJ chuckled. “Oh, yes, those pesky labor laws.”

“Oh, I remember that. It gets hard to work, go to practice, and class, but shit’s expensive.” Grif made a face.

I waved and joined everyone. We finished up and I followed Clark to his motorcycle. He handed me his blue helmet with the Captain Everything shield on it.

“I’ll leave my keys with you. You can take it whenever you want. I’ll show you how to drive it.” Clark climbed on and I took my place behind him.

“I can’t even legally drive a car, let alone a motorcycle,” I admitted, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Never needed to.”

“We should work on that. It’s good to at least have one,” he told me.

“True. I know the basics. Here you have to go to driving school and I could never afford extras like that,” I told him. Okay, also, I was sort of afraid to drive after my grandparents died in a car accident.

We zoomed through the streets and I sucked in a breath as we pulled into the underground lot of an entertainment plaza.

“We’re going to the fancy theater?” I took off his helmet. It had big seats, and they brought you food while you watched the movie, like it was a restaurant.

“Yep. They have the best selection of fancy popcorn. Later, if you want, we’ll go to Swoop and get you what you need, since I leave Saturday night?” he asked. “Will you be okay? I’ll be gone for two weeks. But I’ll be back in time for us to attend JP’s wedding.”

“Go, spend more time with your family. I’ll be fine on my own.” Also, Tenzin came back on Sunday. We took the elevator to theatre level.

I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Also, feel free to bring back a kitten.”

His look grew mischievous. “I just might.”