Page 43 of Fresh Ice
Suddenly, the air was thick with Levy’s Alpha scent. Alonso turned to him, startled—he’d never smelt Levy so aggressive, a threatening miasma building over him.
Alonso peered around to see what could have prompted it, but apart from some disgruntled expressions from nearby patrons, there was nothing strange. “Levy, what are you doing?”
As abruptly as it had started, the scent cut off, Levy looking genuinely embarrassed. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
That didn’t answer the question of what in the world had just happened, but Zee jumped in before Alonso could ask again. “No worries. You guys have to try the salmon skin rolls. I swear they taste like bacon.”
Viggs shook his head. “That’s not the selling point you think it is. Who the hell eats bacon sushi?”
The conversation moved on swiftly, and Alonso didn’t press, but he made a mental note to get an explanation out of Levy later.
It took a couple of minutes for Alonso’s heart to slow down after the pure urgency in that scent, but the meal went on without further incident. Viggs was a lot of fun, matching Levy’s energy easily, but Alonso was mostly caught up by Zee.
It was wild that Alonso currently felt more comfortable with him than during Juniors. All the weary fear of discovery had drained away now that they were on different teams.
It felt good to see himself growing away from the withdrawn, suspicious person he’d been before.
Zee tried to drag Levy into the conversation a few times, but the attempts were mostly unsuccessful. Levy was unusually subdued—he was taking the loss harder than he usually did.
By the time they left the restaurant, Alonso’s cheeks hurt from smiling. They walked a few feet in front of Levy and Viggs, Zee leaning in close, arm slung over Alonso’s shoulders.
“Hey,” Zee said quietly. “You don’t have to answer or anything, but how are things going with your dad? Is he off your ass now that you’ve made the show?”
Alonso stumbled in surprise, Zee catching him and pressing them together. “What? What do you mean?” Alonso asked.
“You know…no offence, but he was always a bit of a dick to you, yeah?”
Alonso was rendered completely speechless. It had never crossed his mind that people would pick up on how strict his dad was or think it was undeserved.
At Alonso’s stunned silence, Zee went on. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Just making sure you’re all right.”
Alonso didn’t know whether to feel touched or embarrassed or defensive or moved. “Yeah, no, it’s fine. We’re good.”
Zee watched him carefully for a few seconds but eventually smiled. “That’s good, then. And your boy over there seems to have your back, too.”
“Who?”
“Levy, you doofus.”
“Oh. Yeah, it’s been nice to have him around.”
Zee hummed. “Yeah, I bet it has.”
Alonso went to ask him whatthatmeant, but the other two men caught up to them as they finally reached the car.
If anything, Levy looked to be in an even worse mood, although at least his scent was under control.
It sucked that he hadn’t had a good time, but at least Alonso now knew he hadn’t failed at making friends before joining the NHL.
Notcompletely, anyway.
**********
Alonso was still smiling faintly when he and Levy made it to their hotel room. He felt freer than he had in a long time, the dry skin of his old ways peeling off, its claustrophobic cocoon falling away.
Levy was in the opposite mood. Alonso had never seen him so surly outside of a loss. Even then, he was one of the guys that tried to keep everybody in good spirits, one of those people who was ‘good in the locker room.’
Alonso gave him some space, changing out of his game-day suit and into something more comfortable. It was only when he’d finished brushing his teeth and getting everything sorted in his carrier bag for the early flight the next day that he finally caved in and asked.
