Page 6 of Broken Ice
Pavel ran his gloved hand down his face. “Jesus Christ.”
“That one is also a strong contender.”
Pavel gave the conversation up, letting himself be drawn into some playful games of keep-away. Beau was delighted by how little it took to get Pavel to be almost inappropriately competitive, accusing Beau of cheating after Beau won a board battle and scored.
“Are you scared I’m going to take your place on the first line?” Beau asked with fake sympathy.
“You’re a winger.”
“Okay, bitch. Sorry we can’t all have a God complex and want to be the centre of everything.”
Pavel rolled his eyes. “Let’s go again.”
They were both sweaty but laughing by the end of the game. Or, well, Beau was laughing, and Pavel was complaining, but it was good-natured.
Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
***
Beau trotted out of the arena, feeling surprisingly light. He had already found an apartment, and although he wasn’t exactly looking forward to unpacking, he was eager to get his home habitable before his next heat.
Speaking of heats, the car park smelt disturbingly like Torres. Had he pissed all over the cars? What the—
“Lavoie.”
Beau let out a very manly holler and not at all a high-pitched scream. “What the fuck? Jesus Christ, Torres. Warn much?”
Torres smirked, annoyingly amused. “Typically, saying someone’s name is the warning.”
“Well…don’t walk so quietly, you weirdo.”
Torres rolled his eyes. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“So you cornered me in a deserted car park. Cool. I love that.”
“There are people right there,” Torres pointed out flatly, gesturing to a gaggle of women in one of the corners.
“I’m speaking metaphorically.”
“Well, metaphorically, you’re an idiot.”
Beau glared. “If you’re just here to insult me in private—”
“No. Sorry. I’m not here to insult you.”
“Okay…” Beau made a ‘get on with it’ gesture. “So?”
Torres cleared his throat. Through clenched teeth, he said, “I just wanted you to know that I don’t have a problem with you being an Omega.”
“Wow. That was great. How about you try that again, but this time, try not to seem like you’re taking a giant shit.”
Torres’s eyes narrowed. “I’m trying to be welcoming.”
“And you’re failing spectacularly.”
“Look—”
“No,youlook.” Beau took a step closer, watching with grim satisfaction as Torres leaned away. “Do you think I haven’t been dealing with asshole Alphas like you all my life? People who tell me my scent is too strong, that I’m too much, that an Omega shouldn’t smell like this, or act like this, or be like this? You’re a dime a dozen, bud. Frankly, I don’t give a shit what you think, just don’t make it my problem.”
