Page 32

Gwen

H oliday music blared on the speakers as the Knights and their families skated around the rink. Vickers had Sammy in a carrier and was skating arm in arm with Muriel. Pauley and Nakey helped their son, Jackson, along with Nia’s twins, shoot pucks into the net while Dean pretended to be the worst goalie ever. Nia had Pupper in a red sweater and he skittered across the ice, greeting everyone and keeping an eye on the twins.

A lot of people wore ugly holiday sweaters for the contest. There’d also be cookie decorating and hot cocoa.

I’d been with Kylee, who’d then had me give an interview for SportsBeat. Since according to her we needed to get ahead of things. I’d also talked to Marcell in HR, Maryellen, who technically coordinated us, Stu, my agent, Coach K, my lawyer, and Matty.

Yeah, the Knights weren’t going to fire me. My contract specifically stated what I could be let go for–and what reasons I could break it. But the fact that Mr. Longfellow tried , unsettled me.

And during the holidays. Ugh.

I put on my hockey skates and got on the ice. Carlos and Anders were being silly, skating around and taking people’s beanies. Hopefully, there’d be snacks, because I’d missed lunch and was starving.

“Hi, Pupper.” I bent down and gave him a cuddle, which made everything a million times better. He licked my face.

“Are you okay, Ladybug?” Nia had on an ugly sweater that matched Atty’s.

“It’ll be fine, thanks.”

“Firecracker, what are you wearing,” Tenzin growled, skating up behind me and putting his hands around my waist.

“You did say you wanted me to wear your clothes more.” I gave him a coy look. I’d changed and now wore one of his ugly sweaters, with a belt, over some tights. I looked cute.

“Where did you even get that?” His grip tightened as he buried his face in my neck.

“Cooter sent it to me. You left it at his place.” It was hideous.

Atty started laughing. “Always with the worst outfits.”

“Absolutely. Should I wear it to the game tomorrow? I have to keep my worst dressed MASO streak.” It was ugly sweater night. Also, while I didn’t care what some small-time fashion influencer thought about my game outfits, Isa did. Riling my sister was so much fun. I had just the fancy shoes and purse to wear with it, too.

“You should.” Atty laughed again, then took Nia’s hand.

Damien skated by wearing Ty’s EBUG pajama pants and hoodie. “Ladybug.”

“Can you even be skating with it being Once Upon A Snowflake season?” I laughed. I might be mad at Ty, but I always had a moment for Damien.

“Probably not.” He laughed.

Clark came over and wrapped his arms around me. He was wearing a blinking Defender League sweater.

“Clark, Tens, do you remember Damien, Ty’s boyfriend who’s in the ballet? So, did you get them?” I bit my lower lip and looked at Damien.

Damien’s face fell. “No. I’m so sorry. Nothing before you leave. I might be able to get you some around New Years. The show runs until then.”

“Thanks for trying.” Disappointment rose up in me, but I could just stand in line and try to get student tickets like a normal person. I was allowed two. Maybe one of the guys would go with me?

“I want to see you in the mushroom dance. Oh, here, my brother found this.” I brought up a picture of me on my phone. “I was in Once Upon a Snowflake a few times as a kid. Here’s me as a snow mouse back in Vancouver. Oh, and here’s me in the wind dance.”

Clark kissed my nose. “You're an adorable little snow mouse.”

“That is very cute. You know,” Damien’s look went sly. “If you get in line right after this ends, you might score student tickets for tonight. If this morning was any indication, I could be the Bear King today and not a mushroom.”

“Damien, don’t lock your competitors in the bathroom,” I teased. “That is amazing. But I have a special secret holiday present date with Clark tonight. I can’t wait.” I gave Clark a smoldering look.

I had no idea what we were doing, but I’m sure it would be fun. It had been a while since I’d gone out with just Clark.

“I love present dates. I hope I get a massage,” Damien replied. “Enjoy your date tonight.”

Ty came over and joined us. “Um, Ladybug, I—”

I shook my head. “Just leave it, Ty.”

“I can’t believe they tried to fire you. Also, your ex should pay for what he did.” Ty frowned.

“It’s fine.” I sighed.

“No, it’s not.” His frown deepened. “He’s an ass. Do you know why they call him Toilette? Because he’s the shit. Like who does that?”

Verity, wearing a very cute holiday sweater, waved me over.

I sighed. “Team Mom’s summoning me. I hope she brought cake pops.”

“Oh, yeah, she made those snowman ones last year.” Ty nodded.

“Damien, I hope to see you dance soon.” I skated over to her and got off the ice.

“Ignore the haters, they’re stupid,” she told me as she hugged me. Verity gave really good hugs. She also had a basket of cake pops.

“Thank you.” I took one shaped like a snowflake.

“There you are.” Marcell from HR joined us.

I gave him a look. “You said not to leave. I’ve been in the building the whole time.”

“You can’t fire her.” Dean was right there, an arm around Verity, a scowl on his face. “I will lead a goalie revolt. Also, the Maimers will glitter bomb.”

Marcell gave an exasperated sigh. He wore a sparkly holiday sweater vest. “We’re not firing Ladybug. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. No glitter bombs, please.”

“Legal wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to sue the Knights,” I replied.

“The legal department’s literal job is to keep the Knights from getting sued.” Marcell rubbed his temples. “I just want to make sure you are okay.”

“Is everything okay here?” Tenzin was at my side. Dimitri and Jonas, too.

Marcell sighed again. “Everything’s fine. I was checking on Gwen.”

“Good,” Dimitri huffed.

None of them backed off, and Marcell exhaled again heavily.

“Is Mr. Longfellow okay?” I asked. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered. He seemed pretty confused.

Marcell’s look went pensive. “I think he came back too soon. He’s gone home.”

“He needs to retire,” Jonas snapped. “He should have retired last year after he tried to fire Grif.”

Marcell’s look said, probably. With a wave, he left.

Constantine was watching everyone skate, while talking furiously to a couple of people in suits. None of which were any of the Daughtry’s I knew by sight. However…

“Is that Myra, like the goalie for that finance bro rec team that’s really good?” I asked Jonas, indicating the fierce, statuesque blonde woman in a red suit. She was at the championship cup dinner with him. I’d also seen her around a lot.

“Like AJ’s boss? Yes. She and Constantine are friends. She’s been helping him a lot, according to AJ,” Jonas replied.

Tenzin held out a hand. “Would you like to skate some more?”

“Please.” I took it and we started to skate. Clark and Damien were talking–they did have the Defender League in common.

The music cut out, and the lights went dark. The music changed, the lights went red, and the Maimers skated on, dressed like snowmen–raiding our skate as usual.

That was okay, we were going to raid theirs tomorrow, dressed in Maimer gear. The pranks this year had been tame.

The lights came back up as they did a little holiday dance.

Tenzin’s phone rang and he skated off to take it. Clark was now talking to Dimitri.

Mercy and Kaiko came over and hugged me. “We have your back online.”

“Thank you. What did I do to have such great friends?” I asked, hugging them back.

“We are pretty great.” Kaiko grinned.

Tenzin got off the phone and went over to Coach Atkins, who was skating with Cait and Connor. Cait had on lavender figure skates with sparkles.

When they finished talking, I went over to Tenzin, worried. “Is everything alright?”

“You’ll be okay for a couple of days?” Tenzin asked me.

“Of course. Why?” But I knew.

“I need to catch a flight to Portland,” he told me. “Morgan’s having the babies.”