Page 34 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“I had the most interesting conversation with the owner of the Rockland Daredevils.” A smile twitched on Spencer’s lips. Today, the Greek billionaire wore Mercy’s jersey with his wool slacks and expensive shoes.
While Grace had other alphas, most were antisocial, including her scent match, so Spencer was the one who tended to travel with her.
Sometime, I should introduce Spencer and AJ. Certainly, they’d get along.
“Making fake logos and putting them on the internet wasn’t my idea.” I put my hands up in surrender.
“Naw, it was mine, and they’re fire.” Riley grinned as she bit the head off of a dinosaur-shaped pizza nugget. Heaps of beaded bracelets lined her wrists.
“I assured him that I wasn’t looking to buy his team. Yet.” Spencer grinned back. “For some reason, powerful people fear me buying a hockey team, and I have no idea why. It makes me want to do it. Maybe buy more than one.”
“Spence. We don’t buy things just to piss people off.” Grace fake slugged her alpha, who wasmuchlarger than she was.
“Apparently, people are afraid you’ll build a dream team and circumvent the salary budget by also hiring their spouses. Apparently, a lot of MASOs have degrees you’d find useful,” I told him, repeating what someone had told me.
“Hmmm. To change the subject, I signed the papers for your funding, but…” Spencer leaned in, and I could detect the notes of concern in his leather scent. “Is this what you want? If you’re worried about replacing everything, please don’t. We’ll help you regardless of whether or not you work for me.”
“It’s mostly to give me credibility, if that makes sense. You being interested in my flowers means something to people. I talked to Grif about it. He highly suggests you buy the team in Boston. And a place for me to work.” I popped another cheesy fry in my mouth.
“Boston? Is that where you all want to settle down after you finish your degree?” Evan asked, taking a sip of his lime whirl. Grace’s omega was part of the giant-omega club, and bigger than Dean, but not as big as Grif. Like Riley, he had light brown skin and dark hair.
“I think so.” I nodded. “Thanks for catching the person who wrecked my greenhouse. She’ll be facing the disciplinary committee,” I told Riley.
All I could think of was that it was a drunken dare. Because online passion for hockey aside, Samantha was an excellent student, who other people described as being kind and compassionate.
“Let me at those assholes who talk shit about you online, like those exes of yours that are dating each other.” Riley took another slurp of lime soda. Tonight, she wore a Maimers shirt, which had been cropped, shredded, and studded, worn over a fishnet bodysuit, with a studded mini and tall boots.
I grimaced, imagining the trash they were talking about me. “Never dated Derva. We just worked together sometimes. She wasn’t the most… conscientious co-worker.”
Back when I was in undergrad, I sometimes saw her in Research Circle, which was weird. She must have known people there, though her sister lived here in New York. Derva was always likeit’s none of your business.
“Is everything okay with you and Grif?” Grace asked quietly, her peach and ice cream scent taking on notes of concern.
I took another fry. “We made up, but we still have a lot to talk about when I get back.”
“Is there anything you want to talk about with me? Given you’re not flying out tonight, we can go to the pizza arcade after the game, and the girls can play games while we have a beer in the corner.” Grace offered, as her small hand smoothed back her short blonde hair.
“I’d like nothing better than to get advice from you and Evan on this, but I can’t yet.” I sighed in defeat. Sure, I’d done a lot of research online. The Omega Center had some great information in its online public archives. Still, Evan worked for the Omega Center as an advocate and Grace wasa gamma, they'd be a great resource—but it wasn't my secret to tell.
“Why not?” My brother Creed appeared, wearing a Maimers jersey. He and Grace looked a lot alike. However, my alpha brother towered over her.
“Is this about trying to balance GrifandDean, or is something amiss with the other alphas? I can send you a video. Dean should involve the Center’s integration team if this is going where I think it is. They can help,” Evan offered, stealing one of Riley’s pizza nuggets.
“Maybe?” I stood, leaning on my crutch as I hugged Creed, inhaling his nectarine scent. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought you’d need a hug, so I tagged along. Also, I miss you.” His arms stayed tight around me. We were about the same height and build, though he’d bulked up a bit since moving to Rockland to work for Spencer.
“I miss you, too. I’m sorry if I’ve been quiet.” While we texted daily, we didn’t talk as much, as I turned more to my guys than to him.
Creed shook his head. “I know you’re slammed between Mercy, your PhD, your boys, and modeling. Why were you in a bathtub of fish?”
“It was such a beautiful photo. I love that website,” Grace told me.
Ooh, they’d love her. I should introduce them.
“Because they paid me?” I shrugged.
“Am I planning a wedding?” Grace looked smug. My phone buzzed, and I saw she sent me a link to a pin board titledVerity Wedding Inspo.
