Page 95 of Puck My Life

He starts the car and reverses. “We haven’t been very good to you, have we? Always taking and never giving.”

“You guys take care of me just fine.”

“You,” he says with a wink, “are a big liar.”

My cheeks heat, but he reaches across and covers one of my hands with his. I remember when our hands were the same size. I remember when I would be the one reaching out to him.

We drive, but I don’t pay any attention. All I can focus on is the warmth of his hand.

“We tried hard to make you proud of us this time, Veevee.”

“I know; I saw it. All of it. I was so happy.”

Mal smiles and flicks the indicator on. I’m transfixed by the softness of his expression. He seems content.

“It was a brilliant game, and you both deserve the win.”

“Fuck the win.”

I jolt, startled by his aggressive words.

He pulls the car into a carpark and turns to me with no intention of getting out of the car.

“You love hockey.”

“Vae, you are more important, and you need us. I’m going to step up and be the person you need me to be. Starting with this.”

I follow his finger as he points in front of us. The store is expensive; it’s high-end, but it’s full of nesting materials. Pillows, blankets, candles, lights, all the things you could possibly need to set up a nest that would see you the happiest of omegas.

When he gets out of the car, I stay sitting there, wondering how to gather the courage to even set foot in a store like that.

Mal opens the door and drags me out of the car.

“We should go somewhere else. Cheaper. Less high-end.”

“Just have a look, Vae.”

I shake my head, but he’s towed me into the store, and I can’t stop looking around. The lighting is a soft ambiance of warmth that I want to melt into. The entire store is set out in organised sections by colour and texture. There are poufs and beanbags made out of furry material, chandeliers of glittering light. Wind chimes that are hand-carved in polished wood and dream catchers that are as big as my torso.

I take a hesitant step forward, and a woman sweeps towards us. Her uniform is white and clean but soft and loose, flowing behind her as she moves.

“How can I help you?”

I step back and put myself half behind Mal.

He smiles charmingly at the woman. “Can we please see the…” he glances at me and raises an eyebrow.

I can’t look away from the shiny chandeliers. I know I shouldn’t want one, but it’s so pretty. It’s throwing light all over the place, tiny little rainbows.

There’s also a deep midnight green fluffy blanket that is draped over a white couch that is calling me. As we get close, I reach out and run my hand over it.

Mal snatches it up.

“No! Wait!”

“Uh-uh. You need these, and I have money I want to spend.”

“Mal,” I whisper, glancing at the woman and looking away when she smiles. “We can go somewhere else-”