Page 206 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“Um, I think you’re in the wrong room?” A MASO said, a baby in her arms. I’d seen her around. I think she was Vickers’ wife.
“I have a pass?” My voice was a squeak. Maybe I should have worn what I’d worn to class, not that jeans, a cute sweater, and ballet flats, compared to most of their outfits.
Everyone was dressed perfectly, even the ones wearing black and silver Knight’s jerseys with their players’ names and numbers on them.
“Hi, Ladybug. Running late?” Atty laughed, looking dapper, as always, in slacks and a blazer, shoes expensive and shiny.
“Coach held us for punishment drills. Puck hasn’t dropped yet, has it?” I looked for the cubbies. There they were.
“Not yet. The Maimers are about to go up,” Atty told me. His dark curly hair was impeccably done, his blazer and slacks perfect. He was a little shorter than me.
The cubbies were too small, so I half tossed it on top. I’d keep my backpack with me.
“That is quite the fashion statement,” Patrice smirked, sipping her wine, manicured nails tapping on the glass. “You’re not on duty, right? If you are, you’re cutting it close.”
She was Pauley and Nakey’s omega and that mom who could make a ratty T-shirt look glamorous. Tonight she wore a silver and black dress which showed off her mating bites. She was helping Atty with MASO stuff since Verity was too busy with her PhD program and work.
“Nope. Ty’s on duty. So I can drink. Why did I never know about these shoes? Clark isn’t getting these back.” I wasn’t feeling as nauseous now. Grabbing a water I chugged it, then I grabbed a beer from the small bar and chugged that.
“They’re so big, make him get you your own pair,” she laughed.
Eh. Between having older brothers and well, my alpha ex, and now my alpha boyfriend, I was used to wearing too-big stuff for funsies.
I put two bottles of fancy vitamin water and a lime soda in my bag, along with some snacks. They never had purple, my favorite color of water.
“Everyone, this is Gwen, otherwise known as Ladybug,” Atty replied. “She’s a student at NYIT and one of our EBUGs. Wonder Boy is her intrepid sidekick.”
“Oh, the one in that underwear commercial where he’s running across a roof? Nice. I think he lives in my building.” The MASO with the baby grinned.
“That’s the one,” I nodded. The plates were all ceramic, so I grabbed a plastic beer cup and filled it with chicken pasta. There wasn’t much left. Still, it was nice to have access, something I hadn’t had previously.
Some of the MASOs would grab me snacks when I was on duty.
“Gwen, you can get more food after puck drop. Your pass works the entire game and they will put out more stuff at intermission,” Atty told me.
I filled another with salad and covered both with napkins, grabbed two rolls and a fork, and put them in the cup holders on my backpack.
“Oh, yeah, I could, couldn’t I?” I got my beer refilled and looked at the TV, which was broadcasting the ongoings from the arena. “Gotta go.”
“We’ll see you up there.” Patrice waved. “Jackson, you need to eat your food.”
Jackson, her son, was much more interested in playing with Atty’s twins. Little Tori napped in her stroller.
“Wait.” Atty ran over to me with a little gift bag. “Here.”
He took a black and silver Knights cap with Clark’s fifty-five on it and put it over my gross hair, then shoved the bag at me, which I slid around my wrist.
“Your goody bag. Um, only Clark put you down, so it’s only his number.” Atty winked. “Maybe it will make Bucket jealous. See you up there. We’ll be there soon.”
“Um, thanks.” I darted to the elevator, trying not to spill my beer and crush my food.
Make Tenzin jealous? Ha! He’d barely noticed me all week. He hadn’t even come to family skate yesterday.
I made it to the family section and found my seat right as the Maimers came on and performed one of the dance battle routines. Oh, I was right by Verity and AJ. They were already seated.
Putting my beer in the cupholder, I waved to those I knew. The coaches’ packs and kids were all here. Cait gave me an enthusiastic wave and as did Coach Kirov’s kids. Coach Dodd was there with his wife too. Often he watched from the press box–he didn’t coach on the bench.
I got my cups of food and stuffed my face as I watched. Now that I was no longer nauseous, I wasstarving.
