Page 31 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“I’m an inch taller. But Molly’s the exception, not the rule. Goalies our size aren’t common anymore. You have to be very special.” Which was why I needed to rediscover that secret saucethat once made me stand out.
Make them look. Make them reconsider. Make them regret.
Like Maria Barilla did when they told her that professional hockey was too rough for betas. Oh, the teams that turned her down regretted that. The Knights built a legacy based on the chance they gave her.
“Challenge accepted.” He finished his last muffin. “People were wary of me because of my size. I’mlargeand they worried I wouldn’t be able to maneuver as well. So, I made videos of my best moves to catchy music. That was my first video project.”
The server came back over and took our empty trays, refilled our drinks, and brought us a tiered tray of tiny desserts.
I took a picture and sent it to Clark, since he was always sending me pictures of his mom’s pies.
“This is beautiful. Thank you. Thank you for doing something so kind for me. For offering to help me. Practice with me. You barely know me and you’re being so nice.” Tears pricked my eyes.
“He wasn’t kind to you, was he? Your ex.” Tenzin frowned.
“Oh, he was. One thing I loved was that he made me think I was worthy even though I’m just a beta. A few hours before webroke up, he baked mebrowniesand got my favorite takeout. I… I don’t understand how he could do this.” I sobbed into my mug.
“Gwen, hey, it’s okay. Do you want to talk about it?” he offered.
“Could I?” I wiped my eyes with the napkin and sniffed. I told Tenzin everything as we demolished the dessert tower–from meeting Austin in junior hockey back in high school, to going to get my stuff and finding him gone. Though I left out a few things, like him taking back the tuition money and me living in the closet.
“That was the worst part, I think.” I grabbed the last cookie on our almost empty tower. “Him destroying the photo of my mom. What did I miss? What did I do wrong? I was going to marry him. Form a pack. Play hockey.” A sob ripped from my throat.
“He’s not worth your tears. Do you think he’s crying over you right now?” Tenzin’s voice turned growly.
“No. He’s probably banging the omega he was promised to, while learning the ropes at his daddy’s company.” I sniffed. I still hoped it was something where he had to get his hands dirty.
“Don’t give him your tears–or your time,” he told me. “Don’t let him live rent free in your head. You’re a smart, sweet person who knows her way around a goal. You did nothing wrong. He held you back for too long. You might have thought you were flying together, but you were being dragged, going where he wanted on his timing. Now you’re free.”
I sucked in a breath as I wiped my tears with my napkin.
“Freedom can be a little scary at first, but just wait until you soar. You’re going to accomplish so much,” he told me.
“I could?” I drained the last of my latte.
The best revenge is to thrive.
“You will. You’ll see. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to take time to heal, to figure things out. We’ll work hard this summer. We’ll see the city and get your socials set up. When the season starts,you’ll hit the ice ready. You’re up for that, right?” He finished his tea.
Was I? What else did I have to do this summer? Might as well work on hockeyandmyself.
“Put me in, Coach.” I might be a sad girl, but this sad girl was ready to soar.
Chapter Nine
Tenzin
“This place is amazing,” I told Gwen, as she dragged me through the massive food hall at Hardwicks. It was a bit like a luxury indoor food market, with everyone having a permanent stall.
They had so many things, from fresh baked bread, to imported chocolates, to fancy cheese. There were also sandwiches, hot foods, salads, and so many other things.
We passed a bunch of roast chickens and I turned to her. “Do you have dinner covered?”
“I’ll get dinner at the rink.” There was something about her expression, the wistful way she gazed at things…
“Do you want a treat for later?” I worried about her not eating enough, given the calories she expended playing hockey with thechildren all day. The dinner options at the rink were pizza, hot dogs, fries, and nachos.
Her head ducked. Yes, she wanted something.
