Page 25 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“Was your major designation studies or mid-century literature?” I joked. It was ahumie,a humanities-based university, versus atechielike my school, which was science and technology-based.
“Film. With a double minor in marketing and graphic arts,” he laughed.
“You want to make movies?” That wasn’t something I expected. Language, law, or diplomacy maybe.
A couple of kids came over and bought glow ears. I made a mental note to make sure we ordered more. Ha! Here, Tony thought they wouldn’t sell.
“Nature documentaries,” he replied. “After I retire from hockey, I want to travel all over the world and hike, fish and document all of the beautiful places out there.”
“That soundsamazing.I’d love to travel one day.” I’d traveled some with my family when I was little, but that was a long time ago.
“What do you study?” he asked.
“I’m a forensic accounting major.” I straighten up the counter.
He blinked. “Accounting. NYIT is a science school, right?”
“Yep. No, they don’t have a business school. It’s part of the math department. A strange little subprogram that is forensic accountants, actuaries, and data scientists.” It was delightfully weird, and I loved it.
Last year, a theoretical mathematician came to talk to us about making a virtual supercollider.
“You keep the books for dead people?” His eyebrows rose.
“The kind of accounting that puts corrupt business people in jail, when they’re able to otherwise cover their crimes. One day, when I retire from hockey, I want to join the Bureau of Investigation.” Where I’d put away rich, untouchable alphaholes.
We were basically alone now, everyone out on the ice or in the snack bar, as the lights and lasers lit up the dark rink and music made my bones thump.
“Um, are you in New York for obvious reasons?” I whispered.
“My ex hates New York so she’ll never come visit me. She wants to be friends. I don’t.” He flinched, and I felt that.
“You don’t owe her that,” I assured.
We continued to talk, mostly about hockey and places we’d like to visit here in the city. Together, we compiled a list of restaurants, attractions, and activities.
“Have you been to the Natural History Museum?” he asked, as we divided the list into sections, adding in some suggestions from Cooter, that might be bars, and restaurants from another friend.
“When I was little. My grandparents lived upstate, and I stayed with them a lot, and even lived with them for a while. We’d occasionally come into the city.” Like to see a Knights game. “They passed away when I was in high school.”
Car accident. Or so the police told me.
Tenzin’s brows furrowed. “My parents died when I was thirteen. I moved across the world to live with my much oldersister. We had no idea what to do with each other. But we’re good friends now.”
“What does she think of your move here?” I asked.
“She suggested it. Well, not New York, but that I move and start over.”
Desiree came over to me, sweaty and panting from ice duty. She eyed Tenzin. “My turn. One of Austin’s friends?”
“One of mine.” I didn’t like Desiree. The omega was part of the UNYC figure skating team and semi-dating one of Austin’s friends.
Her eyes rode over him as she let herself behind the counter, her sugary scent cloying. “Do you even have friends that don’t play hockey, Wendel?”
“No.” I shook my head, trying not to roll my eyes.
“Why are you even working here tonight? Don’t you usually work at Tito’s with Austin on summer weekends?” She sniffed, taking off her figure skates.
I took my hockey skates out from under the counter, which needed to last until my university got me new ones. “I don’t work at Tito’s anymore.”
