Page 52 of Finding the Forward: Part One
Chapter Seventeen
Dean
We piled off the bus at the training facility, tired, but happy that we’d pounded the Dinosaurs last night. Even though I always sort of felt bad because they were sofuckingnice and had taken us out to their favorite bar after the game.
Glad to be home, I was looking forward to pancakes, pancakes, and some bread with my pancakes. Sometimes the team had a family brunch for us as something special. The fancy room on the third floor overlooked the main rink, where the Maimers were practicing. Everything was Halloween themed and smelleddelicious, making my mouth water.
The players with kids were immediately tackle-hugged. Nia’s little twins, who wore pumpkin costumes, gripped each of herlegs. She laughed as she continued to walk to greet her omega and pack.
Grif spoke quietly to Coach Atkins over by the waffles. He’d played another great game, and it looked like they were finally happy with him.
Good. I’d pitch a massive omega bitch fit if they tried to trade my husband away from me.
My eyes swept the lower stands where Verity often sat and watched the Maimers. When he could, Grif would join her for a snuggle in the mornings. Sometimes I crashed the party.
Occasionally, she still flinched when I made a joke. Though I tried to be good, I really did.
Of course, with our schedules, we didn’t see her every day. They kept having to push back their date–and her coming over. Grif had taken her and Mercy out a few times. But just them. Jonas kept telling me to give them some time.
I wanted a piece of Verity, too.
Something about Verity drew me to her–and it wasn’t only that her scent tempted me like a siren or that shebaked me bread.I liked her soft nature, her sweet smile, and that cute laugh. I loved the way she put her arm around Grif, her hand on the small of his back like the alpha she was.
Ah, there she was. She hunched over a laptop, perhaps grading papers or doing whatever she researched. I wasn’t certain what plant geneticists did.
Nat-the-Knight burst into the room wearing a pumpkin costume and started passing candy out to the kids. Well, the kids and Carlos.
“I’m going to get a latte,” I told Jonas, giving him a kiss.
“Should I come with you?” Jonas frowned slightly.
It was alpha nature for him to want to be with me, though I moved through the training facility freely on my own. Goalies had a lot of their own practices and meetings.
“I’m fine.” Slipping out of the room, I went downstairs to the coffee cart, getting a matcha latte for myself and a chai latte for Verity.
I found her still bent over a laptop in the stands.
“Hey, Little Alpha, brought you something.” I held up the cup.
“Dean. When did you get back?” Her face lit up as she closed her sticker-covered laptop. She looked around as if trying to find Grif.
Warmth trickled through me. She missed me!
“A little bit ago. They’re upstairs eating. I snuck off.” I handed her the cup.
Like nearly always when she was at the rink, she wore my Hurricane sweatshirt. I wished I had something of hers to wear, too. It might be too soon. Her scent had worn off the shirt Grif had on when he’d first reconnected with her. I’d fished it out of the laundry and tucked it into my nest.
“Thanks.” Verity looked like she wanted to hug me.
“You can hug me. I won’t say no to a kiss, especially with tongue,” I teased.
Her head ducked, but she moved her things and patted the bench next to her. I plopped down. Verity enveloped me with her arm, and my omega preened at the attention, the scent of driftwood surrounding me.
“You do like me, don’t you? If my teasing is a little much, I’m sorry, but that’s how I am. Your feelings aren’t hurt, are they?” I clutched my latte.
“No, not at all. I do like you. A lot.” She flashed one of those soft little smiles I loved.
“Good, I was afraid maybe you didn’t.” Today, she only wore a little makeup, but it included that shiny lip gloss. I wanted to lick it off.
