Page 46 of Finding the Forward: Part One
She laughed. “No. But I’m teaching a little while I’m getting my PhD. One day, maybe.”
“My little sister’s a teacher. History,” I replied. She taught at a fancy boarding school upstate. I’d tried to convince her to teach at one here in the city, but she loved it there.
“Mercy wouldloveher. That’s my sister’s plan for after retirement: teach high school history and coach skate smash.” Verity glanced over at her sister and her friends again.
“Not a bad plan. I think I’d like to coach hockey, maybe even my old university team. Or do something with stats. Dean’s thinking of going the trainer or physical therapist route. He’s taken some classes in the off-season,” I told her. “I’m not sure what Grif’s plan is now. I hope you enjoyed the game. You made Grif so happy tonight.”
“I did?” Relief washed over her face. “Part of me worried that the sign and cake pops were too much. I wanted to show I cared, but I tend to go overboard. I don’t want to make it weird. This is all new to me.”
Alphas did go overboard. It was our nature.
“It wasperfect.Overstepping would be if you werein his stall in the locker room wearing nothing but the sign–and only because it would get the both of you in trouble,” I smirked. The team had rules about locker room shenanigans.
The Knights had three packs on pack contracts. There was nothing like catching Nakey and Pauley going at it in the showers.
She laughed. “That would be a sight. Not sure I can fit in there.”
“As long as you’re not after him for the wrong reasons, please make him happy. Whatareyour intentions? Did you just want to date him and see what happens? Do you intend to court him? Not sure?” I asked. “I’m curious.”
Courting was traditionally between alphas and omegas–a way for alphas to prove they could care for an omega with an intent to mate with them. Nowadays, some alphas wooed their betas thesame way. Just like more alphas and omegas were dating first. Seeing if they worked, finishing their education, and getting their careers going,beforemating.
Verity thought for a moment. “The first for now. I’d like to take it slow, and the season will be busy.”
“Jonas, do you want anything?” Gwen appeared in the cutoffs and Hawaiian shirts the servers here wore. Her pink hair was in some sort of trendy, lopsided cut, with a little braid in it.
“Dean was supposed to get me something,” I told her. Gwen was a NYIT student and part of the Knight’s goalie development program, where students worked with our coaches and acted as emergency backup goalies for the team.
“Okay. Oh, Carlos gave me a cake-pop, and it was amazing.” Gwen bounced off to another table.
“Verity, I'd like to invite you over so we can all get to know each other better,” I told her.
“I’d love that. Thank you.” Verity visibly relaxed. “I haven’t met AJ yet. Maybe I should make an appointment at his work since that’s where he spends all his time?”
“We’ll figure something out. AJ’s a good guy. You played fútbol, didn’t you? He loves to watch it.” We compared calendars and found a day that would work.
Verity’s head turned and her hand moved out slightly. In a moment, Grif was at her side, her arm around him.
“Hey, Gorgeous, your cake pops weredelicious.Did you enjoy the game?” He gave her a kiss on the temple as he set down his drink.
“You played so well, Tiger.” She beamed, and Grif ate up the attention.
This was amusing. I wasn’t used to him being like this. Dean, but not him.
“Would you know a bad game?” I asked, curious if she knew anything about hockey.
“No,” she laughed. Her entire face lit up. It was almost magical.
Dean joined us and handed me a beer, half-perching on my lap. He waved. “What do you drink, Verity?”
“Tonight, soda. When I’m not a chaperone, vodka pineapple or white wine,” she replied. “My big sister’s into bourbon and has been teaching me about it.”
Grif nodded. “That peach bourbon was nice.”
We sat and talked. Well, Dean and Grif attempted to teach her about hockey by using her sparkly highlighter to draw pictures on napkins. It was nice. Natural. While I knew we might need another alpha eventually, I hadn’t expected it to happen like this.
I’d need to build her up a little. Encourage her more. Alphas were born, butgoodalphas weremade.
Considering the game Grif had just played, we’d take whatever we could to keep the pack together. Including a little alpha who liked plants and romance novels.
