Page 159 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
We’d gone over rules and expectations. Marcel from HR took the time to teach us how to read a contract and go over ours. Sure, we worked for free, but this protected both us and the team.
The Knights needed to make sure we didn’t dip part way through the season when we got busy. It was also nice to know they couldn’t fire us because someone wanted to give their nephew the job.
Maryellen, who ran the community and educational programs, came in holding duffle bags. Technically, this was an educational program, not a prospect program.
“Here’s a little token of appreciation from us.” Maryellen gave us each a black and silver bag with Nat the Knight on it. We’d already gotten our EBUG shirts we had to wear sometimes.
“Ooh, Gwen, what did you pick for us?” Ty pulled out a heavy-duty black Knights’ hoodie with silver embroidery and a big pocket on the front. “This is nice. Though I still like that jacket you have from your first year.”
“Hoodies and PJ pants, are we twelve?” Arden pulled out the loose, black and silver plaid flannel Knights’ PJ pants I’d also chosen. They saidNew York Knightsalong one leg and had the logo on the thigh of the other.
Tyler gave me a look. “Oh, those aren’t for us. Thanks, Gwen. You know this will be Damien’s new favorite to wear to class every fucking day. They’re even his size, not mine, aren’t they?”
“I aim to please. Damien’s going to rock them.” I grinned. His boyfriend was with the New York City Ballet. I could seeDamien wearingboththe pants and the sweatshirt over his gear to company class every morning.
I’d chosen thingsIliked. As head EBUG,Igot to pick.
Okay, maybe the pants would fit his boyfriend.
“Did you hear, Damien got promoted to soloist.” Tyler beamed. Those two were adorable together.
“He did? Amazing. I salute him.” Standing, I grabbed my ankle and pulled my leg over my head.
Ty laughed and took a picture.
Coach Kirov sighed at our antics, her hair up in her usual bun braid. “Get down on the ice. I want to see how hard everyone’s worked over the off-season.”
“Why did you give me the home opener?” Ty said softly, as we got our stuff. “Don’t you want it?”
“I’m going to the game, and I’m going to drink beer and have a great time,” I replied. Yeah, I was going to seize that rare luxury.
EBUGs could get called in to play foreitherteam. As much as I wanted to play in a pro game, something about the Gears always made my skin crawl.
“Thanks. I got to play in a prospect tournament with the Boaters, and there was this player for the Motor City Gears that bothered me. Like I’m sure I’ve played with him before,” he told me.
“Oh? Maybe someone you played against as a kid?” I’d had that happen to me many times. We filed into the small upstairs locker room the EBUGs used.
“Maybe?” Tyler put on his shoulder pads. “I don’t know what his name is. We didn’t have names on our jerseys, just numbers, and his teammates called himtoilette.They were assholes when I tried to talk to him. Sure, it’s the Gears, but really? He also wore a gaiter with a skull face on it the entire fucking time, like he was in one of the dark romances Damien reads.” He rolled hiseyes. “I have no idea what he looks like, other than he has short blond hair and blue eyes. Oh, and is an alpha forward.”
I’d played a lot of blond alpha forwards with blue eyes and attitudes over the years.
“Castle was telling me about him being a dick–and the skull gaiter.” And not that good, apparently. “She was wondering if he was yet another Deloitte nepo baby. You know,toilette,Deloitte.”
I laced up my goalie skates. The skates from my university were all nice and broken in. I was trying to use those for practice and save the ones from Tenzin for games. This morning he’d sent me a picture of a big fish.
Tyler frowned as he put on his own skates. “But I don’t know any Deloittes. I’ll send you the couple of videos I took. Maybe you’ll know? Like I think it’s someone UNYC played regularly or something.”
“Um, sure?” I replied, not sure how I could help.
“Also,” his look grew pained as he put his pads on. “What happened with you and Austin? The entire team has been talking about how you cheated on him with Clark, then dumped Austin when he didn’t get signed. And that you’re the reason he hasn’t talked toanyoneall summer, not even Windy, disconnected his phone, and deleted his socials.”
Here we go.I sighed.
His frown deepened. “I know Clark has a crush on you, but he doesn’t seem the type that would move on another alpha’s girl. I know how much you loved Austin. It was clear in all those lunches you made him for away games and how you pinned notes to his lucky socks.”
“Look, I didn’t cheat on him. I haven’t heard from him since the night he didn’t get signed. All I know is that his dad was making him come home, be part of his family’s business, and mate an omega chosen for him. We had a big fight, because Iknew nothing of this, and I hoped we could still make everything work, maybe convince his dad to give us more time.” I rubbed my scar absently and tried to keep the irritation out of my voice. “Things got… heated. I dumped him and left the apartment. When I came back, he’d moved his stuff.”
Ty blinked. “I thought his dad was dead?”
