19. Sabs
NINETEEN
Sabs
“Is it always so…?” I watch, a mix of awed and mesmerized as Adler zips around on his skates. He rams into another player, the collision echoing around the rink with a thud. “Aggressive?”
“Yep.” Luca grins. “Not like volleyball, huh?”
I rub my arms, glad I put on a jacket. “I prefer to play on the beach where it’s warm.”
“Sand and ice. Opposites attract, huh?” He laughs to himself. “How long have you been playing volleyball?”
“From as soon as I could walk, pretty much,” I say. “I used to spend days on the beach close to our house when my brothers went surfing.” While my eyes follow the puck, I can practically hear the waves crashing on the beach over the sound of Coach Tanner’s voice.
“It sounds like a great way to grow up.”
“It was.” I sigh wistfully, my chest tightening when I think about my family and the nearing inevitability of telling them that I bonded. Thankfully, Adler provides a distraction as the puck flies into the back of the net. “Hell yeah!”
Adler looks up at me, putting a hand to his helmeted face as he blows me a kiss.
“We’ll make a hockey fan of you yet,” Luca insists.
“Do you miss playing?” I ask him.
“Yes.” His smile grows taut. “But it’s easier now that I’ve accepted my limitations.”
“What happened?” I blurt, then instantly recall Delilah telling me that I should try to be more mindful before saying the first thing that springs to my mind. “I mean, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay.” He looks across the rink. “While Adler and I were waiting to come to SVU, we played for a good local team. That’s how we got noticed to come here. We were playing against the Florida Flamingos.”
I can’t help but snort, imagining a group of guys dressed in pink with wings, skating around.
“They’re tougher than their name sounds.
” Luca must read my mind. “I collided with another player and slammed into the boards. I got a concussion—which isn’t career ending—but the way I hit it caused AC-joint separation along with labral tears.
Most cases are treated quickly, but the damage was so severe that I still have a bump and ongoing pain.
Full rehabilitation took months, and by that time, I’d already lost my scholarship, so I decided to pursue something else. ”
“Luca…” I take his hand. “I… I’m so sorry.”
“I was in a dark place for a while.” His gaze drops to where our hands are entwined.
“But Adler and Orin got me through it. Then I started studying here and loved it. Knowing exactly how people feel going through physical therapy, especially the mental side, is something I bring to my work. Plus, with more time on my hands, I found a new passion outside of the rink.”
“Oh?”
“The outdoors.” His eyes seem to sparkle more.
I only glance at him for a few seconds before he points at the ice.
After abandoning my school work, we moved down closer to watch the action.
He told me that rule number one of watching hockey is to always follow the puck, even though we’re still so high in the stands that I’m sure it wouldn’t hit us.
“There are so many amazing trails around here. So many students don’t even know what’s out there. ”
“Guilty as charged,” I confess. “I only leave campus to go to Forestville, and that’s only to visit my friend Delilah’s bakery or to go to The Pleasure Pages.”
“The Pleasure Pages?”
“A romance bookstore that also sells sex toys,” I say, making him splutter in surprise. “You should check it out sometime. It’s a lot of fun.”
“I’ll consider it.” He nods, pink tongue darting out to moisten his lips. “If you come hiking with me sometime.”
“I usually only do my workouts at the gym, but I’m open to the great outdoors. As long as we have bug spray.” I shudder, remembering the camping trip I went on with my family years before. “Mosquitoes love to devour me.”
“I don’t blame them. You smell pretty delicious.”
My stomach does backflips, knowing he likes my scent. “Luca, are you flirting with me?”
“Just trying to ask you on a date.” He raises a shoulder. “And failing.”
“I’d love to go on a date with you.”
“I’ll plan something for as soon as you and Adler are able to be farther apart.” He squeezes my hand, his cheeks turning a sexy shade of pink that I highly doubt is caused by the cold.
“Plenty of time for you to stock up on bug spray, then,” I tease, clutching my stomach as it rumbles loudly. I just scarfed down a bagel, so how am I already hungry again?
As if on cue, Luca pulls his backpack onto his lap to pull out a thermos.
“Tropical Mocha from the Tea House?” He also pulls out a Tupperware box full of slightly squashed, delicious-looking, golden cinnamon buns.
“Or one of their famous cinnamon buns? You have to keep yourself fueled. People say that the post-bonding period uses as much energy daily as running a marathon.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re amazing. Yes to both!
” I groan at the caramelized, brown sugar scent as he cracks open the box, greedily snatching one up before tearing into it with my teeth.
“These are so good!” I wipe sugar from my top lip as Luca passes me the thermos.
The coconut and espresso liquid warms my throat as I swallow, leaving a slight hint of mango syrup on my tongue.
“Tae—my bestie Delilah’s packmate—works at the Tea House, and he always makes the best drinks. ”
We settle in to watch the rest of practice, shouting words of encouragement in Adler’s direction. Luca knows all the players and gives me a blow-by-blow account of their histories, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. Being in his company is effortless.
“And what can Adler improve on?”
Luca rubs his chin. “He can probably work on his flexibility.”
“Well, that I can help him with,” I declare.
“I’m sure you could.” His tone is laced with mischief.
“I wasn’t talking about some crazy Kama Sutra.” I swat his arm, although I love that I’m seeing his playful side. “I was talking about yoga. You should come with me sometime too. As soon as the bond settles, I’m arranging for all of the pack to come to my next hot yoga class.”
Luca snorts. “I’m not sure I can see Orin agreeing to hot yoga.”
I lick sugar from my fingertips. “I can be very persuasive.”
When Coach Tanner’s whistle signals the end of practice, we move down to wait for Adler to change. We’re not the only ones waiting; the moody-ass cheering squad is hanging around like a bad smell, like they don’t have anything better to do.
“So?” Not long later, having showered and changed in record speed, a panting Adler joins us. “What did you think?”
“I’m excited to see a real game,” I reply. “Luca’s been teaching me the rules.”
Luca nods. “She’s a quick learner.”
From behind us, raised voices grow closer.
“You can’t come through here!” An exasperated facility manager is trying—and failing—to block a group of guys from coming through the players’ entrance.
“I’m here for my sister,” a familiar voice booms.
Oh, shit…
“Sabs?” Adler’s firm hands grip my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
Luca swivels in the direction of the commotion.
A red-headed alpha I know all too well is storming toward us, arms pumping at his sides.
Laz doesn’t look very intimidating in his Pac Man graphic tee, but I’ve never seen him so angry.
And worse still? He’s not alone. Damon is busy trying to placate the facility manager by flashing his SVU security badge while Cole is marching behind Laz, wearing a stern expression that spells trouble.
I brace myself. “Things are about to get ugly.”
Adler’s entire body tenses. “Is that your…?”
Before I get a chance to answer, Laz’s furious gaze locks on Adler, and he jabs a finger in his direction. “You! What did you do to my sister?”
“Look, man…” Adler’s gone very pale. “It’s not what you—”
“You bit her!” Laz points at my neck. “I can see your mark right there!”
“Laz! That’s enough!” I stand in front of Adler. Although Laz is deceptively strong, he’d probably break his hand if he tried to punch Adler. “You need to calm down and take a beat.”
“Maybe we should take this outside?” Luca glances around at the crowd growing around us, but Laz completely ignores him.
“What are you even doing here?” I hiss at Laz. “I’m supposed to be seeing you later.”
“What am I doing here?” He throws his arms up in the air, raving like he’s lost his mind. “The real question is what are you doing here? With him!”
“We could all sit down and explain...” Luca steps in.
Damon lets out a warning growl that halts Luca’s sentence.
“I was going to speak to you all at lunch.” I plant my hands on my hips. “Did Faye tell you?”
“Faye didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to.” Laz’s nostrils flare as he thrusts his phone into my face. He presses play on a social media post—a video of Adler declaring that we bonded outside the rink this morning. “Everyone knows!”
On the other side of the room, the skaters titter. Those bitches. I’m guessing the recording is their doing. Obviously, I knew that coming to practice would set the SVU rumor mill in motion, but I thought I’d at least have time to speak to Laz first. Apparently not.
“We’re not doing this here.” I look at Cole for support. Damon’s eyes are narrowed into venomous slits, and Laz has clearly lost all of his rational reasoning ability. “Couldn’t you have locked him in the house to save him from causing a scene, Cole?”
“We needed to see that you were okay,” Cole replies.
“No one wanted you to find out this way.” Luca tries once again to defuse the situation. “I’m Luca, and this is Ad—”
“We know who he is. Did you bond with her too?” Laz quickly rebuffs Luca’s kindness, looking like he wants to add him to his hitlist too. “How many more of you are there?”
I let out a puff of air. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I? How many more alphas are you going to bond with without telling anyone?” He’s seething. “Next thing I know, you’ll be bonded with the entire hockey team!”
Adler’s annoyance surges through our bond. He steps forward, wrapping his arm around my shoulder protectively. “That’s enough.”
I stroke Adler’s arm to calm him down, hoping that he can keep his cool. My alpha and brother brawling is the last thing I need, especially when cell phones are now recording every minute of this conversation.
“I know you can be reckless sometimes, but this?” Laz’s breath comes out in ragged bursts as his gaze homes in on Adler’s hand holding onto me tightly. He shakes his head, fury morphing into disappointment as his shoulders sag. “You’ve taken it too far this time, Sabs.”
“I promise you that we’re taking good care of her.” Luca keeps his tone level, taking advantage of Laz’s momentary lapse of rage. “Please. Let’s go somewhere else to talk this through.”
“Luca is right,” Cole agrees. “Faye and Ren are back at the house.” His shrewd gaze sweeps over Luca and Adler. “Gather the rest of your pack, then meet us at our place.”
“Fine!” I throw my hands up. “But take a fucking chill pill on your drive home because you’re all making a huge deal out of—”
“I promised Mom and our dads that I’d take care of you,” Laz cuts me off. “Sabs, you’re driving with us.”
Adler tightens his hold on me.
“I’m not going anywhere without Luca or Adler.” I stand my ground, raising my chin in defiance, which only makes Laz’s cheeks flush a brighter pink. “We’ll meet you there soon.”
“If you’re not at the house in one hour, I’m calling Mom,” he threatens.
I narrow my eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“One hour.” He gives me a long look. “Or I won’t just call Mom, I’ll call Beckett too.”
I gasp in horror as he charges off with Cole and Damon on his heels. Handling my parents is bad enough, but my oldest brother would probably sue Adler if he found out what happened.
“Well…” Luca runs his hand through his wavy hair. “At least he knows now, right?”
Knowing and accepting are two totally different things.