Page 189 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“Have you not read any of my romance novels?” My eyebrows arched.
“Oh, my fuck, I don’t need to know that.” Mercy gave me a little push. “Have fun at your greenhouse. Don’t be late. I want to take a nap before the game, and we have to be early. It’s blanket toss night.”
“Of course.” I waved and left the locker room.
I was excited about blanket toss night since I got to help. We’d been practicing for days. When warmup ended, fans would toss new blankets onto the ice, which were then donated to the Omega Center to be used by their crisis response team, aptly called the ‘blanket brigade’. Also, the Brooklyn Blankets, the local all-omega semi-pro team, were coming to help.
Taking the elevator upstairs to the workout room, I did my morning workout and exercises so I wouldn’t be too sore for tonight. As I finished, hockey players streamed in.
“Looking good, Professor Mami.” Carlos stood there with a big grin.
“Hey, Team Mom, how’s that ass?” Nia grinned and hopped on a bike.
“Done with her workout, thank you.” I eased myself up and grabbed my crutch and backpack.
“Hey, Little Alpha.” Jonas snagged my waist and gave me a kiss.
I inhaled the scent of sweaty moss as I took the hug I’d been needing all morning. “Morning, Jonas.”
“Dean and Grif are going on a date tonight. So, if you want someone to hang out at Tito’s after the Maimers’ game you can call me.” Jonas gave me a squeeze.
“Or I can read this new bull rider romance my big sister told me about.” I smirked.
He’d hang out with me at Tito’s? How sweet.
“Thank you, but we’re leaving for our West Coast adventure tonight after the game. See you later.” I kissed him on his cheek.
I changed, got my chai latte, and took my usual spot on the bleachers to watch a little of Maimers’ practice. While I had plenty of work to do in the lab, I liked this moment to get my day together.
My lips tugged into a frown as I checked my plant app. Offline? Huh. I’d go in soon and get it sorted.
Mama’s text kept echoing in my brain. Grif and I had been focused on the near future. On getting through everything one step at a time–them being a pack, getting their pack contract, Mercy turning eighteen. We hadn’t really talked about what happened after that, except that I’d court Grif, then mate him, possibly Dean, too.
Whatwouldhappen if they got traded? It wasn’t as if I could change PhD programs again.
“That’s quite the pensive look for this time of the morning.” Grif sat down next to me.
I pulled him close, taking a moment to collect the thoughts bouncing around my head.
“We’re it, right? I’m having trouble imagining life without you. House, kids, dog, I want it all. With you.” My voice was soft as I stared at the Maimers doing speed drills on the ice.
“Yeah, we’re it.” He ran his hand through my hair. “As many or as few kids as you want. We can wait until you’re ready. Dean and I talked about two or three.”
“That sounds perfect. I really don’t want as big of a family as I grew up in. I could see having babies with you two after I finish my PhD and get settled.” Maybe even the others. We’d see.
“Is something wrong? Jonas mentioned you’re still getting weird messages. Or is it the queen twatwaffle?” he asked, brow furrowing in concern.
I’d still been getting mean messages. But I didn’t want to worry Grif with it. I just blocked them, screenshotted them, and sent them to Jonas.
“I still have a couple of years at NYIT. What if you get traded? I know you three will be together, but what about AJ… and me?” The awkwardness made me squirm. But I needed to know how I fit in long-term.
He gave me a squeeze. “If we get traded within the division, we can commute. Jersey, Philly, and Boston are all a quick hop on the ultra-bullet.”
“Commuting on the ultra-bullet every day will get expensive.” Though do-able given how fast the trains were.
“We have money. It’s easy enough to get everyone passes and even keep two places if needed. We could make most of the eastern conference work. Parts of the southern conference too. If we got sent west or north, well, that would get harder,” he told me.
“True.” At least he wasn’t an omega. While it could be a little hard for him to be separated from his bonded alphas for long periods of time, it wouldn’t be anything like if he was an omega.
