Page 179 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“I have a lot going on, Firecracker.” I finished my set, not ready to burden them.
“Okay. We’re here if you need us.” She started on the leg press.
“I know. I’m so very grateful,” I assured her.
“Yeah, I've got to get myself sorted for training camp, too. Have to show Coach I’m not just a wonder rookie, that I can be an asset,” Clark added.
I hated telling them that I needed more time. Really, I’d much rather be with them, than meeting with a lawyer and therapist. But I had to figure out my feelings before he was born. I didn’t want him to suffer because I had a complicated relationship with his mother.
Which meant this had to be my focus right now, even if I didn’t want to. Not that I was completely neglecting them. I’d been researching how to best take care of Gwen. There wasn’tmuch information on dead-matches. Hopefully, someone would get back to me.
My timer went off. “I have to get ready for my meeting. I’ll see you later? Oh, I found little lunchbox-sized packets of the cookies you like when I was at the market, Gwen. You might want them for your backpack.”
Gwen’s face brightened. “Thanks, Tens. I hope you get this new sponsor.”
“Me, too.” I grabbed my stuff and headed down to the parking garage.
These sponsors would want me, right? It felt weird to be negotiating things like this, without much help from my agent–she was still on maternity leave. They were a big athletic shoe company. It could be a great thing. Making sure I was financially stable, that I had money for the future, was more important than ever.
Not only for my son. But the life I’d build with them.
As soon as I got my shit together.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Clark
Sweat dripped down my back, as Coach Atkins called us in. I skated over to him with the rest of our group. The next group, ready to take our place on the ice, joined us. Training camp had been grueling, with the coaches working us to the brink over the past three days.
This wasn’t to get us in shape. We were expected to come ready. This was about showing the coaches what we could do for the team this year. I wasn’t sure how people who went on vacations right before camp, like JP and Tenzin, did it.
During the upcoming pre-season games, the coaches would pay close attention not only to how well we played, but how well we played with each other, and whittle it down to this year’sroster–not everyone here at training camp would be on the team.
Realistically, there were only a couple of open spots and several rookies, free agents, and Bantams fighting for them. For most of us, the Knights had the right to trade our asses at any time if they found someone better. So we had to keep that edge.
Mr. Longfellow’s heart attack had been bad, so Constantine was acting GM, and he’d been watching us, mostly with a blonde woman I’d seen around before, and a couple other suits, one of which might be the owners. The assistant GM before our previous one had come out of retirement to help out, too.
Castle skated over to me. Last year we’d gone to developmental and rookie camp together, played the tournaments together, and had even gone to training camp together. I’d stayed. She’d gone down to the Bantams, but she’d played some games with us last year. I grinned back. She had everything to prove and was giving it her all.
“As we come to the end of training camp, it’s time to name this year’s team captains. The skates Elias and Winston Royce left to fill are huge,” Coach Atkins announced. “This year’s captains are Nia Watkins and Jonas Seong.”
Everyone applauded, but it was a surprise to none of us. Especially since the other obvious choices, Pauley and Nakey, didn’t want it.
Nia gave a rousing speech about how we were going to win the championship again.
My group left for off-ice training, conditioning–and snacks. Tenzin and his group took our places on the ice.
“Clark.” Gwen stood there, in a pleated skirt, knee socks, slip on tennies, andmy fucking sweater,which hung close to the hem of her skirt.
I had told her she could wear my clothes. I just didn’t expect her to look so delicious in public while wearing them.
“Gwen. Off to class?” It was Thursday. She had her fraud class today.
“Yeah. Don’t tell the Maimers but I just hid one hundred tiny ducks in their locker room. Anyway, I need to head to campus early today for a study group for data systems.” She gave the rink a wistful look. “Coach Kirov says we can join you tomorrow. Oh, for one of the scrimmages this weekend, they’re putting me and Ty in as goalies. Something about testing defense. Have you gotten your pre-season game assignments yet? I hope you play the one I’m on duty for.”
“I think we’re getting them after lunch,” I told her as everyone disappeared into the Knights' locker room, to change out of our gear and skates before heading upstairs. “You look great in my sweater.”
If only I had time to take it off her. I ran my hands up under her skirt, cupping her ass.
