Page 16 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“Did you know he was going to do that?” I asked Mercy and Rusty, cradling my teddy bear with my free hand.
I still wanted an explanation, but his gesture meant a lot, especially given he’d missed his date night with Dean to be there.
And pulled strings. The song and getting on the screens–all of this had been planned.
“Nope. I told him to grovel. Theyallshould grovel. Well, I think AJ’s exempt since he showed up.” Mercy held the door to the locker room open, where everyone was making last-minute preparations.
“True. But Jonas and Dean brought me food and helped clean up,” I pointed out. And fucked me well.
Mercy scowled as she went to her stall to grab her red helmet. “After I yelled at Jonas. Fucking alphas.”
“Still make Grif grovel.” Rusty bent down to adjust her knee-high socks, which had nails on them.
“Absolutely. A public display is nice, but it doesn’t fix everything,” Liv added, fixing her makeup.
Ash adjusted his helmet. “He needs to work for it.”
“Are you wearing pants, Ash?” My eyebrows rose.
“If you want to see my ass, just ask.” Lifting his jersey, Ash turned and waggled his ass, which was covered in black bootie shorts instead of bike shorts or cut-proof tights.
I sat down and took off my skates, wiggling my toes. Mercy had yelled at Jonas? Then again, she didn’t have the same issues standing up for herself as I did.
“Team Mom, you did so good out there,” Kaiko told me as she fixed her fake freckles, her dark hair with pink streaks in their usual puffs.
I checked my phone and snorted as I saw Mama’s text and showed it to Mercy.
Mama
What did he do?
Mercy laughed. “It would serve him right if she smacked him with her cooking spoon.”
The image made me giggle.
“I’d pay money to see that,” Rusty guffawed as she tightened the strap on her helmet.
Me
We had a fight, but everything’s fine now.
Well, maybe? I wasn't sure. I hoped so. But I wasn't going to tell Mama all that.
“What happened anyway?” Mercy added as she fixed her makeup in the mirror.
“Not sure, other than I triggered something, and it was no one’s fault.” I put my shoes on and put the skates in my bag.
“Love Grif Graf, but he’s got abandonment issues from being away from everyone for so long. He’s got the shittiest agent ever.” Rusty grimaced as she fixed the laces on her skates.
Skate smash skates differed from both hockey skates and figure skates. The blades gave them speed as they raced around the rink, the capacity to handle curves at high speeds, and the agility to do the team dance-offs that the public enjoyed so much.
Ash thought for a moment. “Does this mean we need to call off the pranks we planned for while we’re gone?”
“You were going to prank them for me?” My hand went to my heart. Awww.
“We already did. No one messes with one of ours.” Rusty gave me a hug. “We should call off all but one. Just to keep them on their toes.”
“You’ll be okay? I’m going to go visit Grif,” I told Mercy during the first intermission. They were down after the first period, but not by much. “Can I put my bear with your things for safekeeping?” It even smelled like him.
