Page 72 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
Tenzin
You should see the one that got away.
This is Cooter. Mine is bigger.
Putting away my phone with a snort, I took to the ice and got warmed up. Clark, Carlos, and Dimitri would be here shortly.
While I hadn’t played tennis today, I’d gone to Athlete World with Mercy and Home Things with Carlos, then taught my goalie lessons. Now I had a bit of a break, until I did the evening shift at the rink.
“Get off the ice, Wendel. We’re using it.” Windy came onto the ice, wearing a Knights’ T-shirt–as were the handful of people with him.
Prospect development camp started officially tomorrow. It was where a team gathered all their draft picks, those from their farm team, and those they might be watching, especially internationally, for a week of on and off-ice training. Austin had been to the Ace’s camp many times.
Everyone got in this morning, and they were doing health assessments and tours. Coach Kirov had invited me to the barbecue they were having tonight, but I had work.
“Fuck off, Windy.” I rolled my eyes. Windy was in his last year at UNYC, one of Austin’s besties, and a Knights’ draft pick. The alpha was about the same height and build as Austin, but had dark hair and eyes.
He was also a colossal knotwaffle.
“No, you fuck off, Wendel. You’re only allowed to use this rink when your betters let you, and I say that you need to leave.” Windy tried to swat my legs with his stick. I caught his stick with mine and twisted, knocking it out of his hands.
“Your name is Wendel?” a guy drawled. He had a baby face and was probably one of this year’s draft picks.
“It’s Gwen. Is Marlin here?” I asked, looking for someone I knew.
Everyone wore matching black and silver shirts and shorts. They all had their sticks and skates, and minimal gear.
I was wearing leggings, with a sports bra, and a crop-top I’d gotten today at Athlete's World that saidPuck Off.I’d gotten a bunch of cute tanks and crop-tops.
“Marlin got traded to the Tsunamis,” someone I didn’t know replied. The Tsunamis were Hawai’i’s team.
“Oh, I wanted my cards read, but good for him,” I replied. Marlin had been an EBUG with the Knights my first year here. When he’d met Austin, he’d thrown the entire contents of a salt shaker on him. I’d brushed it off as general goalie weirdness, but maybe he was on to something.
“Leave, Wendel.” Windy got in my face, and pushed me hard. I tumbled backward.
“Is there a problem here?” Dimitri growled, coming onto the ice with Clark, Carlos, and Anders.
“Gwen. Are you okay? Fuck off, Windy.” Clark helped me up off the ice, concern on his face and in his hay and sunshine scent.
Right, they knew each other from last year’s developmental camp and prospect tournaments. Windy didn’t like that Clark not only was signed, but got a spot on the Knights’ roster–while he’d been sent back to UNYC with no contract.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Clark snapped as Dimitri shoved Windy.
“Well, if she’d leave when she was told, I wouldn’t have to make her.” Windy made a face, moving to shove Dimitri back, then thinking better of it.
“Who says you get to tell Ladybug when to leave?” Jonas stood there with Grif and Dean, who was eating a snow cone.
Windy took a step back. “Tony only lets her use the rink when the professionals aren’t.”
“If I ever hear you talk toanyonethe way you talked to Gwen, I’ll have you tossed out of here so fast your balls will spin. And,” Jonas gave Windy a shove. “You hit anyone again, you’ll answer to me. We don’t tolerate abusive alphaholes here on the Knights. That goes for all of you. Want to be a douche? Go play for Motor City.”
“Also, EBUGs are still goalies. You touch the goalie, you will get your ass beat,” Dean replied, taking another lick of his snow cone.
“Sorry?” the one with the drawl said.
“Hey, Coach said we we're on Rink B.” Shauna Castle joined us. She waved at me, Grif, Dean, and Jonas. “Oh, hey guys. Now I want a fucking snow cone, Double D.”
“They’re delicious, you should get one.” Dean toasted her with the cone.
