Page 109 of Finding the Forward: Part One
Still, I got wistful sometimes.
My family always dismissed hockey as some whim and were so happy I wasover it.To them, my career ending was a good thing. That now my life could actually begin. My parents were elated that we would file our pack paperwork soon.
My family had no issue with them being hockey players. Only me.
“Your games were great,” I told him, shutting off the TV, no longer needing it to fill the space.
“We missed you. I wish you would’ve come. I’m going to shower and change.” Grif waved and left for his room.
“I’m hungry and going to make myself something. Anyone want some?” Dean looked at Jonas and me as he kicked off his shoes and tossed his coat onto the shoe bench.
“If you’re not too tired, a homemade late-night snack would be amazing. I’ve been living on takeout. There are some steaks in the freezer I got from a client. Though whatever you were going to make is fine.” I told him. Not that I couldn’t cook.
Cooking for one was lonely.
Dean hustled off, but Jonas stood there, staring at me.
“Did you read everything I sent you on her?” Jonas asked as he put everyone’s shoes away and hung up their coats.
“Yeah. Also, Verity sent my sister a fucking pie.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Like she baked it herself and paid a student to drop it off. With a note. What should I do? I want him to be happy, but... I’m just not sure about her.”
“Read this. It’s from Verity’s phone.” Jonas handed me his phone.
I looked through a bunch of screenshots of what looked like a group chat, where Verity was getting cussed out for...
“She was telling the truth?” I breathed, continuing to read them. There was some crazy ass shit there. “Here, read this.” I handed him my phone, so he could see the apology note she’d written to my sister.
“I met some of Verity’s family in Glitter City. Here I thought my family was fucked up.” Jonas shook his head. “I understand her better now.”
That was quite the statement, considering what I knew about his family.
“How did you get this? Whywereyou with Verity in Glitter City?” I looked up from Jonas’ phone, frowning. I’d felt hurt thatshe’d been there while I’d been here working. Even if I’d turned down going.
“From her phone. She was there for the rookie skate smash thing.” Jonas shrugged.
“What? She doesn’t play skate smash. She was some fútbol protegee with asshole teammates.” I frowned as I continued reading. Some of this was harsh, but it backed everything up.
“Her seventeen-year-old sister is a rookie with the Maimers. That’s why she transferred to NYIT and moved to New York. She’s raising her sister because her asshole parents didn’t want Mercy to go pro,” he replied. “The team has a whole bunch of strict rules.”
“Oh. I somehow missed that.” I handed him back his phone. “Verity’s pretty broke. Her investments are small and suck. She could be using him for his money. After all, he took her to fucking Supressa for their date.”
It wasn’t a first date restaurant and set a precedent he shouldn’t.
“I don’t think she’s using him.” Jonas shook his head, then his eyes met mine.
True. Still...
“Yeah, this is moving fast. I know she’s a stranger. We have a duty to be wary. But she likes him. A lot. He likes her. I see the intense connection between them. If it’s what I think it is, then we need to help them make it work, not work against them,” Jonas confessed.
I froze. A what? This was the worst news ever.
“Like an alpha-omega connection? Is it though? I’d think they’d be more obsessed with each other.” I tried to keep my voice calm, though I really just wanted to punch something.
Not that them ‘just’ being in love would be any better news. Either meant she was here to stay.
“Both of them have sabotaged themselves with suppressants. I think that’s a huge part of it. Every day they feel it more. Not to mention Verity doesn’t know he’s not a beta. So, while she’s feeling things, it’s confusing the shit out of her.” Jonas shrugged, pocketing his phone as I gave it back.
“No. She doesn’t get to know his secret. Honestly, she could ruin everything. I don’t understand why he’s not more concerned–why you’re not worried.” My voice rose in volume and sharpness.
