Page 120 of Finding the Forward: Part One
I pulled up a picture of me at Grace’s wedding that had her, me, and Spencer in it. “This is on the non-asshole side. My big sister and one of her mates. She and my brother work for him. Over the summer when I lived with them I got to hear more about the special projects division than I’d ever wanted.”
“Wow. That man is one of my heroes.” AJ whistled.
“Hang around me long enough and you might get to meet him,” I teased. “He’s after my research, you know.”
AJ rubbed his chin. “Right, because you’re genetically engineering super plants that will change the word.”
“Something like that,” I laughed.
The period ended. The players went in, and the mascot, Nat the Knight, came on the ice to shoot some T-shirts at the fans with the help of the ice crew.
“Work’s done. Let’s move down.” AJ grabbed his laptop case.
“Okay.” I threw away my trash and got my backpack. AJ waved to his boss and led me out of the area with the boxes toward a lower section.
“Alex? Is that what the A in AJ is short for?” I asked, recalling what Myra had called him.
“Not quite, but it’s what they call me in the office. It’s nice to have different names for different situations.” He showed his phone to someone, who let us into the section.
AJ waved to other people, some wearing black and silver jerseys, others dressed impeccably.
What got me were the children in tiny Knights jerseys.Be still my ovaries.Being around a male omega so much was making them feisty. My last period had been horrendous, my body punishing me for having the audacity to not let Dean put a baby in me.
“Where are we?” I asked AJ, leaning close enough to get his vetiver scent.
“Family section. I have seats here. I just usually end up in the company box. Thought you might like to see the game up close,” he told me, hand at the small of my back as we walked down the metal stairs.
The Maimers did the same. Though the only time I’d sat there was when everyone came out for Mercy’s game against Rockland.
While the MASOs, themates and significant others,for the Maimers, were nice to me, they were a tiny group. Most of the Maimers were on the younger side. I was curious what the Knights’ mates and spouses would be like.
We took our seats. The ice was just a couple of rows away.
“Hi, AJ. They will be so happy you’re sitting down here tonight.” A sweet omega, flanked by her packmates, sat in front of us, three small children with them. Everyone wore the numbers two and ten and hadRoyceon the back.
Ah, the team captains’ pack.
“Hi Janessa. That’s Verity, she’s Grif’s.” Again, AJ shrugged it off casually.
Janessa wore a silver and black headscarf and looked glamorous, even in an oversized jersey. Her beautifully made-up brown eyes focused on me. “Hi there, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Janessa, Elias and Winston Royce’s omega, and these are my packmates and children.”
“Hi.” I waved.
As the ice resurfacer smoothed everything down, Janessa pointed out several other people, including Carlos’ mom, who was knitting.
I waved to Gwen, the pink-haired university student from NYIT that worked at Tito’s and the training center. She also did something for the Knights, but I wasn’t sure what. Sometimes she worked out with the Maimers. We’d talked many times, mostly about happenings on campus, cheap food, and what the daily offerings were at the campus needs pantry.
“Team Mom!” Gwen waved and bounded down the stairs toward us. She was wearing a dressy blouse and nice pants. “I got your class for next semester!”
“Amazing, which one?” I asked. Gwen was a math major. One of these days I should introduce her to my big sister.
“The plant mythology one. I’m excited,” she told me, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I’m looking forward to teaching that class,” I replied. Dr. Winters had approved my lesson plans, so everything was set.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be on good behavior. Hi Janessa!” She waved. Janessa tossed her a pack of something. With athanks,she scampered back to her seat.
Janessa chuckled, then turned to me. “Gwen doesn’t get family room privileges, so we usually grab snacks for her. She’salwayshungry.”
