Page 23

Gwen

“T hose are really pink skates,” Arden told me as I laced up my goalie skates in the staff locker room that the mascot and Ice Crew used, as we got ready for the game at the arena.

Even though I was on EBUG duty, the other EBUGs were helping with the Squire Foundation signed puck sale–and a little pre-game mayhem.

“My dads think I’m still a teenager.” I’d also been asked to wear them specifically tonight. While I preferred the goalie skates from Tenzin, the hot pink, sparkly, fuzzy, quilted skates I’d gotten for my birthday were nice, and I didn’t mind.

“These jerseys are amazing.” Ty joined us. “Last year I got some hats, but I’ve never gotten special themed EBUG jerseys.”

PHL teams had theme nights. Many of them included the players wearing special jerseys and fan giveaways. These ranged from fan appreciation night, where you got a Double D bobble head, to ones celebrating something specific, like Omega history month, or fun ones, like next month’s Ugly Sweater night.

The special jerseys were often auctioned off to raise money for the Squires program. Usually the staff had coordinating shirts and sometimes they threw us something, too.

“I love how our jerseys differ from the team’s,” Arden replied.

Tonight was Defender League night–with lunchbox giveaways, themed food specials, and people dressed like Defender League characters wandering the arena. And of course, special signed pucks for purchase, some of which would win you signed sticks or jerseys, also to raise money for the Squire Foundation. That’s why they were here even though I was on duty–to help out.

“I’m excited to participate in some mayhem.” I smoothed out my jersey, which, unlike the players, was not in Defender League colors. They all said EBUG on the back with our 00. I had a feeling Constantine was behind it. After all, he had a poisonous lizard, named Maddox.

Which was why we were in Doom Squad colors.

At the end of warmups, they’d play the Doom Squad theme music, and we’d skate on holding inflatable weapons, and then Nat the Knight would come after us in a Captain Everything costume and chase us around the ice. Amazing.

Kylee came in, wearing a special staff polo shirt that matched the theme.

“Look at you. Here you go.” Kylee handed us beanies and inflatable weapons, each color coordinating with a Doom Squad member. Though there were more than four in the squad.

I got the black ones, which represented Agent Doom, leader of the Doom Squad, probably because I was head EBUG.

Our social media guy took some pictures of us with Nat the Knight in his superhero outfit. I knew our mascot pretty well; he also ran the power skating practices for the Knights and did the choreography for the Maimers.

Warmup had already started. We went down to the area the Ice Crew used, which was also used by the MASOs and families, to watch warmups. Some MASOs wore cute Defender League themed dresses or shirts, and a few had purses or backpacks with the characters on them.

“Oh no, it’s the Doom Squad, should we get them?” Muriel cooed to her baby. She was in a full-on Scorpion outfit. Amazing . Baby Sammy was in a tiny version of it, and I was guessing he was dressed as Jenny, the Scorpion’s little sister.

“Oh no, it’s the Scorpion.” I made a silly face at Baby Sammy, as Muriel play-attacked me with the baby. He tried to eat my nose. I’d babysat him a couple of times when the guys were gone and Muriel needed an hour to herself.

Verity snapped some photos.

“Ladybug, can I have your sword afterward?” Jackson asked. He and Atty’s twins were dressed as the Fantastic Triplets.

“Only if your mom is okay with it.” I looked at Patrice, who wore a cute wrap dress with the Defender League logo on it, little Tori on her hip.

“I suppose.” She sighed, probably imagining the havoc he’d wreck if I gave it to him, and the ensuing tantrum if I didn’t.

I hung towards the back, so my guys wouldn’t see me. Dean was always entertaining to watch, because he’d sneak up behind his teammates and smack them on the ass with his stick or randomly tackle his mates. Grif and Clark got in a stick sword fight. Carlos skated around stealing pucks, sometimes putting them down people’s pants.

Besides the antics, it was fascinating to watch. It wasn’t just the goalie stretches or Vickers being everyone’s favorite pretty princess. Nia and Pauley both did some intricate stick handling. Carlos had this tradition with Silas, the equipment manager, where he’d knock over a puck tower right before he left the ice. Dean, Jonas, and Grif’s interactions were always cute.

Tonight the Knights were playing the Mexico City Tigres, and I looked for my two friends on the team–Fitty, who I’d played with last year at NYIT, and Jorge Rodriguez. Jorge was Carlos’s cousin. Those two kept trying to hit pucks at each other.

Kylee joined us. “Ready?”

“Ready.” I nodded.

“My boyfriend’s here.” Ty craned his neck.

“Awww. Damien needed that lunchbox, right?” I grinned.

Ty rolled his eyes. “You know he did. They’re in full-on rehearsals for Once Upon a Snowflake, while performing their current ballet, so that’s been fun.”

The arena wasn’t full yet, because there was still a bit until puck drop. Lots of people came down to watch warmups, many holding signs, asking to trade things for pucks and sticks. I saw a few offering Dean bread.

If people were smart, they’d be offering Clark Defender League stuff. Though I saw someone wanting to trade Carlos a massive squirt gun.

The music changed to the Doom Squad theme as lights and lasers blinked.

We skated out onto the rink, trying to avoid the players who I hoped were warned that this was happening. While I’d done mayhem with both the mascot and Ice Crew over the years, it had never been during warmup. I hoped the players had been warned, so we didn’t interrupt their groove. Though some had already left the rink, so hopefully they had.

“Oh no, it’s the Doom Squad, whatever will we do?” a voice said over the speakers.

The crowd went wild, as we did a lap around the rink, waving our inflatable swords. Villain music blared while the lights flashed. We skated past the MASOs and I waggled my sword at Muriel and waved at Jackson. The three of us play-heckled some fans who were at the glass.

“Oh look, it’s Captain Everything,” the voice said as Nat the Knight was lowered from the ceiling, in the Captain Everything costume, now holding a shield, which in the comics and movies turned into, well, everything .

We pretended to cower, then split as soon as Nat the Knight hit the ice and came after us, the music changing to the Defender League theme.

“You will not succeed,” Clark quoted, cutting me off, and brandishing his hockey stick like a sword, clearly enjoying himself.

We gently play-fought, him with his stick and me with my inflatable sword. Some players continued their warmups, ignoring us, a few more left, and others chased us around the ice. Carlos had gotten the squirt gun, which was filled, and shot Ty with it.

The music changed to Professor Weird’s music, and I paused, nearly getting hit by Clark’s stick. Kylee hadn’t mentioned Professor Weird.

Tenzin, in a Professor Weird cloak, and no helmet, skated right toward me, a huge smile on his face.

“Oh, shit.” I skated off, grinning at Tenzin being silly like this. Yeah, they must have warned the players, because I was pretty sure he hadn’t owned a cloak like that.

Nat came at me, giving Tenzin the time needed to catch me.

“I’ve got you now,” Tenzin laughed, picking me up and putting me over his shoulder in front of everyone. “Order has been maintained,” he shouted, skating off.

All I could do was hit him in the ass with my sword. Everyone was laughing, but it was also pretty funny. Not to mention there was a part of me that liked it when he threw me over his shoulder.

Mmmm, haul me away, Big Guy, then have your way with me.

Tenzin carried me off the ice, into the tunnel, and nearly to the locker room, then put me down. Before I could do or say anything, he’d pinned me to the wall with his body, the inflatable sword falling to the ground.

“You’re my prisoner now. Whatever should I do with you?” He grinned.

My heart thudded in my ears with excitement and I rubbed my thighs together, as I got a whiff of his desire. “Oh no, I am at your mercy.”

“Yes, you are.” Tenzin’s lips crashed into mine, as he kissed me long and hard. He rubbed his body against me, I could only feel his cup, but it still made heat pool in my core, as I clenched. Finally, he let my lips go.

“Hi, Firecracker. That was fun.” Tenzin touched his forehead to mine.

“You look sexy as fuck in that cape. Did Clark buy it for some roleplay?” I teased.

Tenzin blinked. “Um, I don’t know why he had it. I do like it very much, though.”

I laughed. Clark had .

Tipping up my head, I stole another kiss. “You can carry me off anytime.”

“That was so much fun. I wish you got to do stuff like that more.” Clark joined us. “I got you a candy bar, in case you get hungry.” He stuffed it down my sports bra. “I love how you have Doom Squad jerseys. I saw Constantine in one, and a few staff members, and I was so curious.”

“Thanks, Tesoruccio.” Awww.

“Locker room’s that way.” Coach Atkins rolled his eyes and walked away.

“I don’t want to get you in trouble–or disturb your routine. But this is nice.” I leaned my head on Clark’s shoulder. He was wearing his contacts, not his glasses.

“Here. These should fit.” Silas came over to me and handed me some skate guards.

“Thanks.” I put them on my blades, so I could walk around without taking my skates off. The special cushions, leading to the locker room, didn’t go all the way to the other locker room where my stuff was.

“Don’t forget to move all your things into the office. Don’t need you having everything everywhere.” Silas hurried off, because the equipment manager’s work was never done.

“Have a good game.” Giving each of them a kiss, I headed back to the other locker room.

“Come on, let’s head back to the tables.” Ty threw his stuff in an empty locker.

“I’m going to bother the MASOs before puck drop.” While I had my usual free food coupon for being on duty, I’d use it later.

I changed my skates and headed to the family room, holding the sword for Jackson. After puck drop I’d move my stuff.

The smells of deliciousness made my belly growl. Everyone was sitting at tables, eating, except for Jackson and a couple of others who were chasing each other around with mini sticks.

“Hey, Jackson.” I waved the sword.

“Thanks, Ladybug.” Jackson handed me a bag of chips.

“Thank you.” My boobs vibrated. I went to fish my phone out from my sports bra, but I had to get the candy bar out first.

Patrice started laughing.

“My dads thought the warmup antics were funny.” And happy I wore the pink skates.

I grabbed some food and sat, then quickly ate with Verity, AJ, Tegan, and a few others. Then I grabbed a bunch of chips and vitamin waters.

“You can come back and get more, Gwen,” Atty laughed.

“They’re for the other EBUGs. They’re helping at the puck sale tonight.” Arms full of snacks, I went by the table where they were selling the pucks and passed them out.

I hurried to my place in the stands and found a PHL official looking for me. “Hi, Gwen.”

“Hi!” I signed the tablet stating that I was here.

She left, so she could let them know I was here and that they could proceed.

The intros started. Because we were playing the Tigres, everything was in both Spanish and English. Both anthems played. When I’d gone to their camp, I’d pretty much spoken in Italian the entire time, because my Spanish was shit. It worked, even if they found it amusing.

So was me teaching everyone to make the ultimate late night drunk food–spaghetti burritos with spicy marinara dipping sauce.

The puck dropped and Nia was off. Martell, the Tigre’s goalie, was ready. Martell was a couple of years older than me, but he’d played for the same junior hockey team in Rockland that I had. He was your general entitled alphahole, but not an intentionally dickish one. Though we weren’t friends like me and Fitty.

Their usual goalie was out with an injury, one that at his age could be career-ending. Pity, he was good. They were borrowing someone from their national team to be Martell’s backup goalie, since the Tigres didn’t have a farm team.

Carson, one of their forwards, and Jorge, chased Nia around the ice going after the puck. Martell and Carson were good friends, and they’d been on the junior Olympic team together, years back. Carson enjoyed being a dick. He was from here and sometimes ended up at the same parties I was at. Dimitri hated him.

Darting and weaving, Nia passed the puck to Pauley, who slid past the Tigres’ defense and scored on Martell.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Pauley’s music played, and he held his stick in the air, then danced around.

My eyes went to a massive scuffle on the other side of the ice.

Dimitri punched one of the Tigres, threw him into the boards, and punched him again. Jonas and Tenzin tried to pull him off, but he kept going at him. The linesman got involved and dragged him away, people booing the linesman. Someone came out to attend to the Tigres player, and I realized that the player was Carson.

There was a story there, I’m sure. I remember Dimitri dragging Carson out of one of his parties for making Valya’s friends uncomfy.

Coach Atkins started yelling at Dimitri. Dimitri yelled back. Huh.

Shit. I hadn’t put my stuff in the equipment room.

“I’ll be back,” I told Verity and went down to the locker room to get my stuff.

When I came out of the equipment manager’s office after leaving my things, I saw Dimitri was in the locker room, getting undressed and swearing in Russian.

“Dimitri, are you okay?” I asked. Had he been ejected from the game for that fight?

He looked up and his eyes told me he wasn’t.

“Carson is a,” Dimitri muttered expletives in Russian.

“True. Did he hurt Valya?” My hands fisted. I knew Carson’s reputation.

“If he did, he’d be dead. No. He went after one of her friends, after I told him over the summer to leave them alone. It was when her choir was in Mexico City. They sang the national anthem at a Tigres game and had a special dinner with the players.” Dimitri growled. “She was scared and felt powerless, though ultimately he got kneed in the balls and she got away before anything truly dreadful happened. Though that was bad enough.”

“Oh, I feel that. I hope she’s okay. Valya’s friends are amazing, and there’s no reason for Carson to be a knotwaffle. If I go in, I promise I’ll smack Carson with my stick.” No one should be made to feel powerless by alphaholes.

“Anything else you want to talk about?” I added, remembering how he’d been grumpier than usual.

He went quiet, then shot me an imploring look. “I still can’t find her and the dreams feel different now. Everything’s changed and I don’t know why...”

“Oh. Have you thought about going to a matching center and seeing if they can help you track her down? My brother Luca didn’t dream of his omega, but the Center helped find her by her name and scent after she gave him a fake number at a party.” I felt so bad for Dimitri.

“That’s a good idea. I hate that I haven’t found her yet. I feel like she needs me.” He rubbed his chin.

“You’ll find her,” I assured. Hopefully, the dreams feeling different didn’t mean something was wrong.