Page 33 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs (Haven Ever After #8)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

MANORIN

“ G ods, this town could be mine like that .”

Gil Fucking Stoneswallow snaps his fingers as he flops into the seat opposite me at Higher Grounds.

“I will absolutely rule this place,” he muses as he looks around at the busy coffee shop.

I sigh. “I’m waiting for someone, Gil, so that seat’s taken.”

He smiles and uses both forearms to lean onto the table with a wicked grin. “Arkan, I know. I saw him on the way here. He’s gonna tell you about an idea I had, a coach-off, if you will. We’re gonna host a game here in Ever, me against you.”

I refuse to let shock show on my face. Instead, I sit back in my chair, steepling my fingers.

“I’m coming to the end of my trial period.

If that’s what Arkan and the leadership team want to do with the rest of it, that’s fine by me.

We’d already planned an exhibition game, but I suppose we’ll repurpose that? ”

“I’ll get Alkazar, of course. I bet he’ll stick around for it.” Gil says with a sneer. “You might coach him now, but it won’t take much for me to get him.”

He doesn’t know shit about Alkazar—that much is clear— because that kid is big and quiet, but he’s also smart as a whip, and he sees right through assholes to the gross, gooey center.

Off the skyball pitch, he gets underestimated a lot, but for being such a young, soft-spoken male, but he doesn’t suffer fools.

Higher Grounds’ door opens, and Arkan steps in, looking around until he sees us. His friendly smile becomes forced when he notices Gil sitting at the table. I stand to greet him like a fucking professional, and Gil remains in the seat I told him was taken.

When Arkan joins us, I smile. “Good to see ya this morning, Keeper. Gil was just leaving, as he’s on your bench.”

Gil snorts and stands just as Arkan opens his mouth to say something. Arkan shoots him an irritated look that Gil doesn’t appear to notice.

“See ya, Boss,” is all Gil says before he gives Arkan a mock salute and turns for the door.

I don’t bother to watch him go, but I do level Arkan with a look as he settles down onto the curved centaur bench across from me. “If you hire that asshole instead of me, I’m gonna be offended, kid.”

“He’s worse than I thought,” Arkan muses.

“This morning, we had a check-in because he’s asking the players to do practices, which, as you know, isn’t really their thing.

And I mentioned the exhibition game, which he somehow turned into a coach-off thing, and now it’s his idea, and he’s already bringing new life to our tired program.

” He gives me a displeased look. “His words, not mine.” His expression’s wry as he stares at me.

I pick up my black coffee and take a sip as I look at the young keeper.

“You don’t have to hire me, although I hope you will, but please don’t hire him.

Keep lookin’. If you end up not wanting me for this role, I can hand you a short list of qualified, excellent coaches.

I don’t know if any of them are looking, but… ”

Arkan snorts. “It’s not gonna be Gil if I have anything to say about it.

” He winks at me. “Plus, Catherine’s got a pretty big say in it.

” His smile falls. “She’s seemed a little morose since you returned from Pine Gulch.

It’s not my way to meddle super deep in monsters’ business, but do I need to check in on her?

Seems to me it might be between you two. ”

I suck at my teeth, staring around at the coffee shop. I can’t share what Rip told me; it’s not my secret to tell.

Returning my focus to Arkan, I opt for as much of the truth as I can share.

“I’m being courted by another team on the down-low.

I told her because I didn’t want to hide it, but as you might imagine, it upset her.

She really loves skyball,” I tack on, unsure how much, if anything, she’s shared with Arkan about our arrangement.

Arkan nods, glittering eyes scanning my face. “And you have to consider this other role?”

I’m straying close to dangerous territory.

“It’s an excellent offer,” is all I say.

“Well.” Arkan grins at me. “I guess we’ll just have to make you a better one, then. Let me know what you need to keep you here, Manorin, and if I can make it happen for you, I will.”

I consider that as we talk through final logistics of the coach-off event.

Catherine’s with the Hector triplets all day, painting signs for the team and distributing them around downtown.

Arkan and I talk through glamouring downtown to really bring the feeling of game day to Main Street and Shifter Hollow.

But my mind’s never far from my Sunshine.

If they give me this job, I’m taking it, and I need to remind her of that in no uncertain terms. Because, when I think about going home to the Gulch and coaching, I feel a mix of excitement and dread.

I could come see her relatively easily, but it wouldn’t be the same.

A coach has to live in the haven they coach in.

My dream of going back home doesn’t feel like it fits me anymore. Losing a chance with her would devastate me more than anything else.

By the time Arkan and I finish our meeting and finalize the details, I’m ready to stampede through the door to get back to the Annabelle and level set with Cath.

When we leave the shop, Arkan’s mate, Hana, stands outside. Her face lights up with a smile when she sees me. “Are you by chance headed back to the Annabelle?”

I nod, and she reaches down, slipping her hand through my elbow. “I’m gonna walk with you. Mate, I’ll find you after, alright?”

I look between them. “Why does this feel like some sort of intervention?”

Arkan grins. “Okay, bye!” Turning, he clip-clops off toward Main Street.

Hana smiles over at me. “Mmm, not an intervention. More of a ‘please don’t leave us with that asshole, and please do make Catherine the happiest female alive by staying.’”

I laugh as we cross Main and head up Sycamore. Looking up at the young centaur, I give her a bemused look. “You know, this is a conversation for me to have with Catherine before I have it with the rest of town.”

“I know,” Hana says lightly. “I’m just here to reiterate that Ever loves you, the leadership team came around very quickly, and we’re all in on a skyball program with you. But frankly,” she looks around, “I told Arkan if he even thinks about hiring that asshat, I’m gonna divorce him.”

“Harsh words from a species who usually mate for life.” I grin up at her.

“I would rather be single,” she says with a snort. “Being the Keeper’s mate keeps me busy, so I can’t play full-time. But I’d like to be considered for a backup, and I’d like to come to the practices.”

And here’s where things get a little tricky .

“I don’t know if I can agree to that, Hana,” I admit. “Even second-strings are full-time folks. They come to every practice, every meeting, every game.”

“I’d have to be an exception to that rule,” she says easily. “I’m just saying, if you’re down to the dregs, and you need a girl to step in, let it be me!”

I snort out a laugh, the ring in my nose quivering. “The dregs. Gods help me, I hope we don’t have any dregs on the team after I’m done recruiting.”

Hana smiles as we continue past the Community Garden and take a right toward the Annabelle.

“You haven’t asked for my opinion, Manorin, but anyone with eyes can see the draw between you and Catherine.

I’m as bossy as my husband is, maybe worse, so I say go for it, ya know?

Get that love over the finish line, to use sports terms.”

I groan. “Hana, that was the worst analogy I’ve ever heard. Stick to regular words, please.”

She winks at me as we arrive at the Annabelle, who waggles her primed shutters. I take my leave of Hana and jog up the front steps, calling for Catherine.

Annabelle waves the stair runner, indicating I should head upstairs. Instinct tells me to follow her lead, and I do all the way to the third-floor attic that Catherine occupies.

When I knock, quiet footsteps let me know she’s inside.

It shocks me how nerves fill me every time I get to see her. A few hours apart are enough to make me crave her presence.

She swings the door open with a paint brush in one hand, and I grip the frame as her scent wraps around me like a blanket and drags me toward her.

She’s drenching the air in pheromones. They practically drip like honey from her, reducing me to pure sensation and emotion as I stare deep into those gray eyes.

“I’m here to beg for the job,” I manage, pushing into the room far enough to pull her curvaceous body against mine .

She spins and takes my hand, pulling me into the room as I stare in awe. Two entire walls are covered in paintings of Ever. Stacks of canvases lie everywhere, and open paint cans sit in a corner. A partially finished painting of the view from my property back home sits on an easel.

She leads me across the wood plank floor and runs her fingers over the dry paint.

“You don’t need to beg for the job, Nor.

Come here. I was just reminiscing about the horses and your view, and I had to paint it.

I had planned to gift it to you when, well—whenever, really. It’s yours no matter what happens.”

I slide one hand along her jaw to cradle the back of her head. “Offer me the job, Catherine, so I can take it and put your unease to rest.” I back her against the bed and hover my mouth over hers. “Ask me now.”

She stares up at me, gray eyes gone wide as her pretty bow mouth drops open.

“Ask me,” I command.

“Manorin.” She covers my hand with hers, pressing her cheek into my palm. “Shouldn’t we take this slowly? You might not wa?—”

I silence her with a press of my muzzle to her mouth. I’ve never wished more to be able to kiss her, but I’ll settle for nipping softly at those beautiful lips.