Page 22 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“That’s the last thing I want to do to her, I assure you of that,” I assured her.
“Good. While she’s not part of the official roster, she’s still one of us. Mess with her, and we’ll do a lot more than tape your sticks in our team colors,” Rusty warned, giving me a menacing look.
Yeah, I didn’t want to mess with Rusty.
“Understood. Come on, Lucky.” I picked up my imaginary cat. “Thanks.”
I’d found Verity. I’d fucking found her. She was even in the same city.
Now, if that wasn’t luck, I didn’t know what was.
Chapter Seven
Verity
“Are you afraid you can’t do it, Prof?” Angel taunted from his seat in the small lecture hall at NYIT.
“I don’t like the terms. How about if I win, the test goes on as planned? If I don’t, I’ll move it like you asked and add some extra credit questions. Take it or leave it.” Leaning on my crutch, I looked over my students. My botany fundamentals class was trying to get me to participate in the ice bath challenge the Maimers had set up in the student center.
Ice baths had been part of my therapy back in Rockland. I didn’t have an issue with it. But I wanted to see my class sweat. They’d been asking me to move the test because of a party.
I glanced at the clock. “There’s only fifteen minutes of class left. We’ll finish our test review, and I’ll go willingly.”
When class finished, I let the students lead the way out of the biology building and across the quad. I texted one of my PhD classmates who had made the move from Briar with me, in case she wanted a laugh.
NYIT was so different from Briar. The biggest difference wasn’t in how well-funded or prestigious NYIT was. Or that it was a ‘techie’, a top university that focused on science and technology.
It was how laid back it was. Never would I have expected a place like this to truly embrace work-life balance.
More so than Briar–and Marquess, where I went to undergrad. The universities were literally next door. I’d had a parent teaching at each and practically grew up on those campuses.
When we reached the student center, we found the Maimers’ big setup in the common area. The student center also had places to meet, study, and eat.
A few of the team looked wet. There were tons of signs, as well as ice, a big, galvanized bathtub, tables, heat lamps, boxes of sweatshirts, and a couple of staff members. Being a newer team, the Maimers did a lot of PR events like this.
Mercy waved at us and I gave her a look.
“Wasn’t my idea,” Mercy chuckled. Like the rest of them, she wore a red and black Maimers shirt.
“We’ve got a live one. Extra prizes for everyone in Team Mom’s class who takes the challenge. Everyone can grab a bracelet, regardless.” Rusty rang a bell.
A few of the team members got the tub ready. Sonny, their social media person, had me sign a waiver on a tablet.
Several of my students watched, including Angel, who I suspect the Maimers bribed to get me here. A couple looked like they might volunteer. Free tickets, a food voucher for the game, and a sweatshirt would have lured me when I was an undergrad.
“Today’s snacks were delicious.” Kaiko came over to me. Her dark hair had hot pink streaks and was done up in puffs.
She was barely eighteen, and like Mercy, hadn’t finished high school, and had been the other accidental draft pick on the team. Both had to do online classes and log their hours. Sometimes, I tutored her or proofread her papers.
“Who do you want to go in with you? Take your pick,” Rusty gestured to the wet and dry Maimers.
It was part of the appeal of the challenge, picking which player accompanied you into the ice. But I didn’t need a coach.
“We also have hockey meat. Carlos, where did he go?” A frown tugged at Rusty’s lips as she looked around.
Hockey meat? Then again, the asses on those players. I mean, skate smashers were built. But hockey ass?Hoo boy.
“He’s in the restroom. But you don’t need him. I’ll keep you warm, Mami. I’m Carlos.” A young man in his very early twenties ran a tawny-brown hand through his dark, wayward locks. He wore a Knights shirt with a seventeen on it. I knew his type well and didn’t date them.
