Page 65
Gwen
“ A gain,” Coach Hirata yelled, as the entire team did sprints, or ‘buggies’ as my team called them, across the ice.
Practice should have ended by now and the skate smash team was pissed at us, as they did skate drills on the other end of the rink.
“Fuck.” A firstie ran over to the bucket the assistant coach had put out and puked in it.
My stomach threatened to rebel and my feet hurt. Fucking firsties. Coach had warned us that skipping out on cardio, conditioning, and strength training would merit punishment.
“Back in line,” Coach yelled. “Keep going.”
Taking a deep breath, I went again. This wasn’t the day to wear my new skates–though they were more comfortable than I’d expected.
Also, better than I’d expected. They handled almost as well as the ones Tenzin got me.
I’d spent last night making some alterations and breaking everything in. This morning, I’d used the sharpener at work, and gotten the skate blades the way I liked them.
Here I thought it would be hilarious to wear it all to practice tonight and try everything out.
There was no clock, and I didn’t wear a watch, so I didn’t know how close we were to the Knights’ puck-drop. I’d definitely missed watching warm-ups. Possibly dinner in the family room too.
Coach was fully aware that the Knights' home opener was tonight and that most of the team planned on heading to Marabou Mike’s to watch it.
Finally, she let us go.
“Dinner’s cold, but that’s what you get,” she snapped. “Now get out of here. Next time you better listen to me or it’ll be worse.”
“Worse?” Giggles looked like she was about to puke.
“Yeah, it can get worse.” Bonnie gulped as we headed to the locker room.
Shit, I stunk. I should wash my hair, but there wasn’t time. However, I did soap myself down twice in the shower. Shoving my practice clothes in a grocery sack, I tied it, so it didn’t make everything else smell. Then I threw on my Knights’ EBUG PJ pants and hoodie, and slipped my feet into the cloud-soft slides I’d stolen from Clark.
At least I had no blisters.
“Are you going to eat or go straight to the bar?” Bonnie still looked green.
“I have a ticket to the game.” There was a super cute outfit waiting for me on my bed, along with my bucket bag.
I grabbed a couple of recovery drinks and some hydrogels on my way out, my bag full of my new hockey gear and my backpack over my shoulder. As I jogged to the subway stop, I checked the time. Shit.
The Maimers were doing a promo before the game to promote their season and I wanted to see it. This morning Constantine had told me who was doing the opening game ceremonial puck drop and sworn me to secrecy.
Yeah, I didn’t want to miss that.
Did I go home and change, risk missing everything or head directly to the game as-is? The problem was that I had all my stuff with me and it would burn time to take it back to the locker room.
I’d go straight there and deal with that when I got to the arena, glad I always kept all my credentials with me. On the subway, I focused on not puking and getting the recovery drink down.
I entered through the back of the arena, like I did when I was an EBUG, flashing my EBUG pass. Usually, I stored my things in the equipment office, which was attached to the locker room.
This close to the game, I didn’t want to bother anyone. Were there public lockers? It was almost time; I didn’t even have time to go to the family room and get food.
Oh! The family room.
I kept running, since it was close to the locker rooms. There were cubbies for the MASOs to store diaper bags, strollers, and coats. I’d drop everything there.
At the door, I flashed my shiny new family room pass and stumbled inside. A bunch of the MASOs were still there, finishing dinner and drinking wine. A couple of little kids played hockey with mini sticks.
“Um, I think you’re in the wrong room?” A MASO said, a baby in her arms. I’d seen her around. I think she was Vickers’ wife.
“I have a pass?” My voice was a squeak. Maybe I should have worn what I’d worn to class, not that jeans, a cute sweater, and ballet flats, compared to most of their outfits.
Everyone was dressed perfectly, even the ones wearing black and silver Knight’s jerseys with their players’ names and numbers on them.
“Hi, Ladybug. Running late?” Atty laughed, looking dapper, as always, in slacks and a blazer, shoes expensive and shiny.
“Coach held us for punishment drills. Puck hasn’t dropped yet, has it?” I looked for the cubbies. There they were.
“Not yet. The Maimers are about to go up,” Atty told me. His dark curly hair was impeccably done, his blazer and slacks perfect. He was a little shorter than me.
The cubbies were too small, so I half tossed it on top. I’d keep my backpack with me.
“That is quite the fashion statement,” Patrice smirked, sipping her wine, manicured nails tapping on the glass. “You’re not on duty, right? If you are, you’re cutting it close.”
She was Pauley and Nakey’s omega and that mom who could make a ratty T-shirt look glamorous. Tonight she wore a silver and black dress which showed off her mating bites. She was helping Atty with MASO stuff since Verity was too busy with her PhD program and work.
“Nope. Ty’s on duty. So I can drink. Why did I never know about these shoes? Clark isn’t getting these back.” I wasn’t feeling as nauseous now. Grabbing a water I chugged it, then I grabbed a beer from the small bar and chugged that.
“They’re so big, make him get you your own pair,” she laughed.
Eh. Between having older brothers and well, my alpha ex, and now my alpha boyfriend, I was used to wearing too-big stuff for funsies.
I put two bottles of fancy vitamin water and a lime soda in my bag, along with some snacks. They never had purple, my favorite color of water.
“Everyone, this is Gwen, otherwise known as Ladybug,” Atty replied. “She’s a student at NYIT and one of our EBUGs. Wonder Boy is her intrepid sidekick.”
“Oh, the one in that underwear commercial where he’s running across a roof? Nice. I think he lives in my building.” The MASO with the baby grinned.
“That’s the one,” I nodded. The plates were all ceramic, so I grabbed a plastic beer cup and filled it with chicken pasta. There wasn’t much left. Still, it was nice to have access, something I hadn’t had previously.
Some of the MASOs would grab me snacks when I was on duty.
“Gwen, you can get more food after puck drop. Your pass works the entire game and they will put out more stuff at intermission,” Atty told me.
I filled another with salad and covered both with napkins, grabbed two rolls and a fork, and put them in the cup holders on my backpack.
“Oh, yeah, I could, couldn’t I?” I got my beer refilled and looked at the TV, which was broadcasting the ongoings from the arena. “Gotta go.”
“We’ll see you up there.” Patrice waved. “Jackson, you need to eat your food.”
Jackson, her son, was much more interested in playing with Atty’s twins. Little Tori napped in her stroller.
“Wait.” Atty ran over to me with a little gift bag. “Here.”
He took a black and silver Knights cap with Clark’s fifty-five on it and put it over my gross hair, then shoved the bag at me, which I slid around my wrist.
“Your goody bag. Um, only Clark put you down, so it’s only his number.” Atty winked. “Maybe it will make Bucket jealous. See you up there. We’ll be there soon.”
“Um, thanks.” I darted to the elevator, trying not to spill my beer and crush my food.
Make Tenzin jealous? Ha! He’d barely noticed me all week. He hadn’t even come to family skate yesterday.
I made it to the family section and found my seat right as the Maimers came on and performed one of the dance battle routines. Oh, I was right by Verity and AJ. They were already seated.
Putting my beer in the cupholder, I waved to those I knew. The coaches’ packs and kids were all here. Cait gave me an enthusiastic wave and as did Coach Kirov’s kids. Coach Dodd was there with his wife too. Often he watched from the press box–he didn’t coach on the bench.
I got my cups of food and stuffed my face as I watched. Now that I was no longer nauseous, I was starving.
Mercy had taught me this Maimers routine and Tens was going to film it, so I could put it up with all the other dances. Well, he would if he ever found time for me. We’d already rescheduled twice.
Yeah, I knew hockey players had hectic schedules, but it felt personal.
The Maimers were good, but then they had an amazing skating coach. Also, their DJ was the best and had made another fire arrangement for them.
Everyone cheered as the Maimers finished their dance, and the announcer talked about their upcoming season. Nat the Knight came on and shot some shirts at the crowd to get them riled up.
“Oh good, you’re here.” Verity waved at me. “Rough practice?”
“Buggies until the firsties puked.” I made a face.
“Shit, I’m sorry.” AJ grimaced. He wore Grif Graf’s jersey. Verity wore a custom one with Grif, Dean, and Jonas’ numbers on it.
“Hey, Clark got in a shoving match with someone from the Gears during warmups. Jonas had to tear him away. Do you know what that’s about?” Verity asked, leaning over the back of her seat.
Taking my beer, I gulped half of it. “Number 16?”
“Yes,” AJ said.
I drained the rest of the beer. “That’s my ex. I have a feeling Clark is going to be spending some time in the sin bin tonight. I just hope he doesn’t get hurt.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize your ex got signed. Are you okay with being here? I’ll cover for you if you want to leave,” Verity told me.
Aww, how sweet.
Tonight I wasn’t feeling sweet though.
“I want to see him smashed against the boards,” I snarled as I got out a vitamin water.
The intros started. First came the Gears. I booed every single Deloitte. Seven of them if you counted the coaches.
I also remembered I had a goody bag, and I looked at all the cute stuff with Clark’s number on it.
“Verity, why did I get a party favor?” I held up the earrings with 55 on them. There was also a bracelet with Edwards 55 and a little hockey stick.
“Clark had you added to the MASO group and paid your fee,” Verity replied. “We missed you at the welcome tea party. I tried to tell them you had class, but it’s what worked for most everyone.”
“Oh. Nice. Everything is super cute.” Immediately, I put the bracelet on and put the earrings in my ears.
“Yeah, though my earrings are really dangly with three numbers.” She laughed and showed me.
“Oh, is that why I’m in the group chat?” I hadn’t known that. I hoped the fee wasn’t expensive. It covered things like baby, wedding, and mating showers the MASOs threw, and gifts–like the bracelet Janessa got when Elias and Winston retired, with little charms on it, like their numbers and a hockey stick.
And goodie bags, apparently.
“Yes. You’ll get invited to all the stuff now,” she added.
They did lots of fun things, like sip and paint nights, and going to the spa. The MASOs helped each other out–making meals when someone was sick, getting injured players to appointments, and babysitting for each other. Being with a hockey player could get hard. They also did things to help out the rookies and players that didn’t have significant others.
The Knights came onto the ice and had their intro, which was full of smoke, lasers, and Nat the Knight, pretending to ride a horse. I cheered hard for everyone as their names were called and they skated out, wishing I had more food–and beer. They announced the lineup and played the national anthem.
“We welcome retired New York Knights, Maria Barilla-Russo and Giovanni Russo to do tonight’s ceremonial puck drop,” the announcer said, as both teams lined up out of respect.
They said a few things about Mia and Gio and their accomplishments. I wanted to visit them before they returned to Italy, but things had been so busy.
The goalies from both teams came to the center. Usually they had a carpet for those dropping the puck to walk out on, but Maria and Gio skated, wearing their old jerseys. Shoving my now empty beer cups of food under my seat, I stood and cheered, grinning, as my phone started vibrating.
Ty
You think she’ll sit in the press box?
Me
If she does, text me.
I could use one of her hugs. There was also a text from Tenzin.
Tenzin
Hey Firecracker, I’m so happy you’re in the crowd tonight. I’ll look for you. I’ll get you a beer at Tito’s after the game?
Me
Yes, please. Good luck tonight.
Awww. That was a much more meaningful text than I’d gotten in weeks, and it warmed me that he took a moment before the game to text me.
Mia and Gio dropped the puck. JP, who looked a little unsteady, gave her the puck, which she got to keep. She and Gio left the ice and everyone was cheering.
The opening offensive line was Nia, Pauly, and Anders. That had made Anders a lot happier about staying with the Knights. Though Anders was also an excellent player.
Jonas and Tenzin were on defense. Tenzin looked for me as he skated out. I waved at him, and he waved back.
However, the Deloitte brothers were all in their opening line. Austin wore the skates I bought him.
“The balls on that knotwaffle,” I muttered as I rubbed my scar. No wonder Clark got into a fight with him during warmups.
It looked like choice words were said as the puck dropped and things immediately got rough with Anders slamming into 16, as Nia stole the puck and went for the goal, being chased by 17, one of Austin’s brothers.
Nia faked a pass to Pauly and got it in the goal between the goalie’s legs. The crowd went wild. Anders tripped 16 as the line changed.
The Deloitte brothers weren’t called in. The Gears kept their players on the ice a little longer than the Knights. Clark, Grif, and Carlos came out. I braced for it.
3… 2… 1
Grif stole the puck and Clark slammed Austin into the boards, hard. A fight broke out, with players from both teams coming to fight.
The ref and linesman broke it up. Clark and Grif got sent to the penalty box, as did the Deloitte brothers and the Deloitte defenseman.
Clark tapped on the glass in front of the family section as he was escorted to the box and blew me a kiss. I blew one back.
“Aww, he beat him up for you. That’s so sweet.” AJ grinned at me.
“It really is,” I replied as Clark flashed me a heart from the box.
First period was an absolute bloodbath, the refs continually blowing their whistles. As soon as Austin returned to the ice, Tenzin slammed him into the boards. Austin fell to the ground. Nia tripped Austin as he got back up.
The thing was, it wasn’t only Clark going after Austin. Or even Tenzin, because I could see Clark telling him.
It was everyone.
I sucked in a breath. “They all know Austin is Bronson Deloitte.”
Not that I minded. If anything, the fact that the entire team was defending me like that was sweet.
AJ nodded. “I’m sure after the warmup fight, Coach asked Clark what he was thinking. Clark, being an honest guy, told them everything.”
My phone buzzed.
Constantine
Can you come up to the press box at intermission?
Me
Of course
The period ended, and I stood. So far, the Gears hadn’t scored on us.
“Getting some more beer?” Verity asked.
“I’ve been summoned to the press box. Get me one if you go down?” Making sure I had my phone and credentials, I left my backpack on my seat and headed over to the press box.
“Hey. You look comfortable,” Ty snorted, looking at my PJ pants and hoodie. While he wasn’t wearing a suit, he was dressed nicely, per the program rules.
“I came straight from practice. It ran long because firsties are asshats, so I didn’t have time to get cute,” I replied. Oh well.
Good thing Isa didn’t follow hockey, so she couldn’t call me a fashion disaster if I ended up online, from one of the fashion reporters that liked to show the player’s suits and the MASO’s purses. My hair sort of deserved it. At least I had a hat.
“My boyfriend stole both my PJ pants and my hoodie.” Ty rolled his eyes.
“I’m sure he looks amazing in them.” I grinned.
Ty frowned and looked at me. “It is him, right? He always wanted those skates. That’s why he plays so familiar?”
“Yeah. It’s him.” I rubbed the scar on my forehead.
“Huh. It’s so weird.” His nose scrunched.
“I know. But I don’t care. I don’t want an explanation. I don’t want justice. I’ve moved on and I’m good,” I told him. If Austin was missing a few teeth or had a black eye after the game, I wouldn’t be sad.
The door opened and Constantine walked in with a bunch of people.
Ty started happy-dancing. “She’s here.”
I hung back a little as Constantine introduced Mia, Gio, Vail, Hazel, and Jules to everyone. Hazel and Jules were teachers.
“It’s an honor,” Ty said. “You’re Gwen’s favorite.” He pushed me forward.
“Hi, Mia, looking good out there.” I grinned. “You, too, Gio.”
“Buttons.” Mia gave me a big hug. “You’re so tall now.”
Yep. I’d only been four-foot-nine when I was fifteen and the doctors didn’t think I’d be much over five feet. When I’d had the opportunity to use normally illegal, unless you had a really good reason, growth hormones to make myself taller, to change my profile back when I was being hidden, I took the chance.
There was no way I’d make it in the PHL as a five-foot goalie. Now I was the same height as her.
“Long time, no see.” Gio hugged me so hard my feet lifted off the floor. He was almost as tall as Grif Graf.
“Maria Barilla is your aunt?” Ty gave me a look. “That answers so many questions.”
I laughed. People had thought that before. “I wish. When I was little, my grandparents lived next door to them. She’s the reason I’m a goalie and not a figure skater.” I looked over at my old skate coach. “Hi, Vail.”
“Hi, Buttons.” They gave me a side hug. “Next time you’re going to put up skating videos, please warn me,” he teased.
Right, the Russo pack hadn’t known this name, leading Mia to ask my family about me and message me on social media.
“Sorry.” I grinned back and went to greet the others, while people talked to Gio and Mia.
“Buttons, I made you cookies, hoping you’d be on duty. Happy Birthday.” Hazel, the tiny Russo omega, gave me a hug. She smelled like chocolate and hazelnuts.
“Thank you.” I took the container she handed me from her bag. “But, um, my birthday is in February. It’s okay. My family decided to start talking to me yesterday and sent me all sorts of nonsense to my work .”
“Oh.” She looked startled. “I didn’t even think of that. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I will take all the food. Especially your cookies.”I hugged the container tight.
Vail looked concerned. “ Start talking to you? They haven’t talked to you since…”
“Pretty much. It’s safe now, which is why I answered Mia when she messaged me. I wasn’t ignoring you. It’s just that I wanted you to be safe.” I gulped.
“Understood. Gwen Di Rossi?” Jules grinned. “Really?”
Gwendolyn Ross was the badass main character in my favorite sci-fantasy series I’d loved as a teenager, Gwendolyn Ross, Intrepid Space Explorer . The ones Clark had got me at a bookshop by his house to replace what Austin wrecked. The same author wrote the new space romantasy series he’d bought me on our bookstore date.
“I needed to be brave. I wish I had a space whale.” That’s what happened when you let a teenager pick their own name.
I had zero regrets.
“Her new series is good,” I added. I wasn’t sure if I’d rather have a space dragon or a space whale. Both maybe?
We talked a little longer and Mia gave me a big hug. “Gio and I have to go back to Italy, but we’ll return in a few months. Also, visit the barn anytime. ”
The barn was Vail’s training center on their property. When they bought the old farm next to Nonna’s, they’d converted the giant dairy barn into an ice rink and opened a training center.
Ty looked jealous after they left. “You got cookies? And you know her?”
“Knew. Haven’t seen them since my grandparents died,” I replied softly, opening the container and letting him have one. “I’m going to go back down.”
I stowed the cookies in my backpack, not interested in sharing more. Second period kicked off with Grif getting the puck and a fast and furious race for the goal. At one point Tenzin and Clark were in the box, both flashing me hearts with their hands.
The Gears’ goalie, a Deloitte cousin, got cut by a skate and had to go for stitches, though she’d stopped the puck.
“Shit,” I muttered as another goalie took her place, drinking the beer Verity got me. I should stop after this one if I planned on drinking at Tito’s later.
Whoops, I still needed to do some reading for class. Fortunately, I’d mastered the ability to study and watch hockey simultaneously.
Ty sent a picture to the EBUG group chat of him sitting in the equipment office half dressed in case he was needed, which was protocol. Yeah, I was so glad that he was on duty. That would be beyond awkward.
A few moments later, Clark, fresh out of the naughty box, had the puck. Austin chased him, so he passed it to Grif, the other two Deloittes barreling after him, as the two defensemen covered the goal. There was a giant collision as Grif scored a goal, bringing it to 2-0, Dean’s goaltending game strong.
Another fight ensued–Grif, Clark, Austin, and a couple others going in the box, again. The announcer made a snarky comment about Clark getting another penalty. While Grif spent plenty of time there, Clark didn’t.
The game didn’t restart as the linesman was talking to the goalie, who was on the ground. My belly tightened as he was carried off the ice.
Ty
Don’t hate me if I go in?
Me
Play the shit out of this game.
I was happy for him. Ty might only play for a few moments, while the goalie got checked out. He could play the entire game.
The ice crew came on and swept the ice, their patterns always so fun to watch.
Finally, the announcer finally spoke. “The Gears’ goalie has been injured and taken for care. Since Deloitte is also out, you know what this means…” An alarm sounded through the area. “Did someone call for an EBUG?”
The EBUG song blasted and lights flashed. It was the song Calling for a Hero, which had been changed to Calling for an EBUG .
The crowd cheered. Everyone loved an EBUG.
“Let’s welcome Tyler Yamato, tonight’s emergency backup goalie. He’s making his PHL debut, filling in as goalie for the Motor City Gears. This is his second year taking part in the New York Knights’ goalie development program, and is a starting goalie for UNYC, where he’s in his last year and studying graphic arts. The Great Lakes Boaters have also drafted him. Get out there and show us what you can do,” the announcer continued. Ty’s picture, which had been taken during orientation, flashed up on the screen.
Ty skated out in a grey Gears’ jersey, UNYC pads, and a mask in Knights’ colors. I stood and cheered. He might be covering for the Gears, but still was one of mine.
“If our EBUG is covering the Gears, what happens if we need one?” Verity asked as play restarted.
“There’s never been a game with two EBUGs in play. Present, but not playing. An EBUG in play is rare enough. Theoretically, since I’m here, they might ask me. Coach Kirov and Coach Dodd are also allowed to step in.” I took a big gulp of beer. “There’s usually at least one goalie on the ice crew.”
Coach K
Are you drunk? I’d understand if you were.
Me
Not drunk
Tired. A little thirsty. My feet hurt. But I was a university athlete. Two and a half beers was nothing.
Coach K
If we needed you, could you go in?
Understand if it’s no. I can see if Arden can stand by.
It was procedure.
Me
Put me in, Coach
Dean hadn’t let in any goals, and if something happened–which I hoped didn’t–we had JP.
Still, I stopped drinking beer, switched to water, and took some painkillers. Fatigue pressed down on me and I wished I’d taken an energy drink.
Things were getting rough again. Number 17 had the puck and barreled across the ice, knocking LeeAnn down. Vickers got in his way. Number 17 passed to 16, who took the shot. I sucked in a breath. Austin had yet to make his first regular season PHL goal, and I didn’t want it to be during this game.
Dean caught it and I cheered. Austin said something to Dean, and Vickers smacked him, another fight starting.
The line changed. Grif stole the puck from number 18 and raced across the ice as the Gears chased him around the Gears’ goal, where Ty valiantly watched for the puck, ready.
Defense came from the other side. Grif looked like he was passing it to Carlos, but instead hit it to Clark, who shot it into the goal.
Clark’s body stiffened as his goal music played and I could imagine how guilty he felt scoring on Ty. He might even say sorry.
But the Knights couldn’t go easy on Ty–and Ty knew it.
Spinning in my direction, Clark turned and made a heart with his hands. Oh, the cameras caught that. I made a heart right back. 3-0 and a goal for Clark. What an opening game.
Celine looked upset and held up her phone to let people know she was taking a call. It was probably work calling her out early.
A moment later, a steward in a Knights’ polo came over to me with a coffee.
“Thanks.” I took the coffee, frowning. It was nice, but why?
My phone buzzed right as Dean tripped one of the Gears, who tried to take him down with him.
Coach K
JP has food poisoning and is being taken to emergency. I need you down here.
Now.
Me
Yes, Coach
AJ’s head whipped around and I stood. “What’s wrong?”
Oh fuck. But I was a professional, and this was my job. Sometimes you had to work with asshats. It was a part of life and I’d have to suck it up.
The chance of me playing was slim-to-none, anyway, so I pushed those butterflies away.
“JP’s sick. I have to go down in case Dean gets hurt. Which I hope he doesn’t.” I winced as Tenzin got slammed into the boards, then shoved the offending player hard.
I’d lost count of all the firsts, hits, and penalties. It was only the end of the second period.
AJ gave me a hard alpha stare. “You’ve got this. If you go in, show that fuckhead that you’re the one who belongs in the PHL, not him.”
“Absolutely.” This would end like every other time–with me eating snacks in the equipment office. Part of me wanted to whack Austin with my stick. I wasn’t going in though. There’d never been a two-EBUG game, and we weren’t going to start tonight.
And I was okay with that.
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