Chapter Sixteen
Verity
I checked the humidity controls on both parts of my greenhouse. Perfect. Locking up, I crossed the outdoor area where the greenhouses were and went into the lab. Putting on my coat and grabbing my backpack from my locker, I set off across the cold campus.
At home, Mercy was standing in the kitchen eating cereal out of an enormous glass measuring cup with a serving spoon while wearing a sparkly silver pantsuit. Matching sparkly scrunchies were in her Dutch braids. Beaded bracelets that she’d made decorated her wrists.
“You’re late.” She gave me the side-eye as she took another bite, her spiced plum scent flaring with annoyance.
“Sorry. I was working on a delicate part of my research and got distracted.” I put my things on the bench by the door.
“Everything’s going okay?” Her brow creased with worry.
“For the most part. Now, to see if it worked.” My research operated in levels. Sometimes, as I tried to level up, it backfired spectacularly.
Mercy bit her lower lip. “Mom called from jail to wish me good luck.”
“She did? That’s great.” While Mercy didn’t condone Mom’s actions, she missed her and talked to her sometimes. I didn’t, unless Mercy handed me the phone.
I got changed. For games, they were all supposed to dress nicely. Like how the hockey players always wore suits, but with more panache. I pulled on my favorite baby blue suit and some nude flats and fixed my hair and makeup. Hanging my credentials and arena security pass around my neck, I sprayed myself with de-scenter, and ordered a car to take us to the arena.
Mercy handed me a bunch of beaded bracelets we’d made. “The fans like it when you pass them out from the bench.”
Bracelet trading was huge in skate smash. The Maimers often made their own to trade with fans before and after games. I may have amused myself during pre-season games by tossing them over the glass to fans.
“First home game, I’m so excited,” she told me, as I grabbed my crutch and we made our way outside to the waiting car.
“You should be. You worked hard.” This was everything she’d ever wanted. Sometimes it got a little hard for me. I could’ve had this if I’d been able to stand up to the parents.
But that was okay, and I’d been working through it with my therapist. I might not have gone pro, but my life was far from awful.
Everyone arrived at the arena where they played their games. The team ate and relaxed in their comfortable dining and lounge area. Ash and a few others played cards after. Others liked a bit of solitude, like Rusty, who had her headphones on and eyes closed.
Mercy sat with Jack, Kaiko, and the twins. Given the five of them kept looking at me, they were probably reading the highlighted bits from one of my e-books.
Finally, Rusty gathered everyone in. “Hey. Before we have our pre-game meeting, I just wanted to tell everyone how proud I am. We have a great lineup and we’re going to have an amazing season. I also wanted to give a special gift to the team member I never knew we needed. Team Mom.”
Everyone clapped as she motioned for me to join her.
Rusty held up a red and black jersey, which looked like the ones they wore during games. Only this one said Team Mom.
Tears misted my eyes. For me? “Thank you.”
Liv, the co-captain, joined her. “Um, also, while we love the snacks, we don’t have a snack roster. We were hazing you.”
Wow, they confessed already?
I smiled. “I know. It’s okay, I love making them. Also, I know how hazing goes.”
Like having to suck vodka out of tampons while blindfolded on the fútbol pitch.
They assembled for their team meeting. I went into another room to get some reading done for class.
Eventually, my phone beeped.
Mercy
Meeting’s over. Kaiko needs help with her makeup.
Me
Meet you in the locker room.
The locker room burst with energy as players finished getting ready, getting last moment knees or ankles taped, winging eyeliner, and adjusting their gear.
The players often preferred dramatic makeup, using bold colors, glitter, and a whole lot of liquid eyeliner. Some even wrote words or drew pictures on their faces.
Their locker room at the arena had wooden stalls with their names on them, as well as lockers. With all the red and black, it felt a bit like a fancy club, especially when they had music playing.
The players all had fitted red and black long-sleeved jerseys and tight black shorts. Many players wore fishnets or fun socks, often over cut-proof leggings. They also had knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guards, and helmets. In skate smash, their jerseys only had their nicknames on the back, no last names, no numbers, which only added to the chaos.
The swings and crushers had red helmets, and the four bullets had black helmets. Though the team’s four swings, which included Ash and Kaiko, had a star on their helmets.
Some players wore ‘rumble vests’ under their jerseys to protect their inner organs. It was a personal choice, except for Mercy. But high school leagues required them, so it wasn’t a big deal for her.
Mercy and Kaiko stood in front of the mirrors at the long vanity.
“Help. Please?” Kaiko handed me glitter eyelashes.
I helped her with her glitter eyelashes and fake freckles.
“You two look perfect, and I’m proud of you.” I hugged both high school rookies. Kaiko was eighteen and lived with her aunt, but it still hadn’t been easy for her.
I glanced over to Jack, the other rookie, who was applying a fake tattoo of a dinosaur on his face. “You too, Jack.”
“Thanks, Team Mom.” Jack was on his own. Often, I got texts asking for help with basic tasks, like unclogging the toilet or what to mop the floor with. Which was what led some of the Knights to think I was the rookie coordinator, which the Maimers encouraged.
Not that either team had one. Each team had someone who helped with logistics, but it was for everyone, not just the rookies.
I pulled my jersey over my shirt, leaving my jacket and coat with Mercy’s things. My heart bubbled with warmth. I had a jersey.
After on-ice warm-ups, Rusty gathered them all together. The room buzzed with energy as the coaches gave them one last talk.
Coach nodded toward the door. “Let’s smash this.”
I gave Mercy another hug. “You did it! Home opener. Creed, Hale, and Dare are here. So is Grace and some of her pack.”
“Exciting.” She beamed, then her expression saddened, her scent going salty with sadness. “I wish Dad was here.”
Me, too. That was why Grace and Creed made an effort to attend, even though Rockland wasn’t nearby.
“We’ll send a pic?” I snapped one and watched as Mercy left with the team before making my way to the bench.
The team DJ had the music thumping, getting everyone hyped for the game as lights flashed and videos played on the overhead screens. Sonny was there, talking to one of the trainers, ready to snap pictures for the team’s socials.
The mascot, Dizzy the Maimer, was a red fuzzy monster and made a big ordeal of hugging me. Sometimes I helped her by shooting T-shirts at fans from the bench.
In skate smash, there were three periods with an intermission between each one. The bullet tried to score by skating laps around the ice. Crushers from the other team tried to stop the bullet while also protecting their own. Swings acted as crushers but could get tagged in by the bullet to switch positions.
Ten two-minute successions comprised each period, with a thirty-second rest between each succession, which were used for line changes and ultra-quick ice-sweeps. There were also several dance battles, with the teams performing short, choreographed routines. It was a fun, upbeat event, with warehouse music, lasers, black lights, bubbles, T-shirt cannons, and mascots being silly.
I sent Dad the picture. It was late in London, so I didn’t expect a text back tonight.
While I’d blocked him, he’d gotten himself a burner and texted me every day. I hardly ever texted back. Dad, being an omega, was the only one who could ever talk sense into the alpha parents. Him siding with them instead of Mercy and me when she got drafted still stung.
But tonight wasn’t about me.
Dad
I found a place to watch the game. Sending you both my love.
A picture of him and Harry at a pub followed. Harry had joined the pack when I was a teenager and us older kids never gave him a dad name.
Huh. Dad was watching her game. My eyes misted. The lights blinked, telling the crowd it was about to start.
I sent Creed a picture of me on the bench with a promise to find him at intermission.
Someone tapped on the glass behind me. I turned to see a little girl with pigtails waving at me, Mercy’s number on her cheek.
Awww. Seeing her made me miss my younger siblings.
Grinning, I held up my wrist and pointed to my bracelets. She nodded. I tossed it over the glass to her. Her brother caught it and put it on her wrist. She made a heart with her hands and I made one back.
“Let’s meet tonight's opposing team, the Rockland Raiders,” the announcer told us.
Lasers flushed and music thumped as one by one they skated out, showing off on the ice, doing different jumps and tricks. The team assembled in the center of the ice and did a synchronized dance. They waved to the crowd as they skated to their bench as the announcer called out each of their names.
“Now here’s your home team, the Manhattan Maimers,” the announcer bellowed as the crowd roared. Their theme music blared, and fans stood and shouted and stomped.
I beamed as my sister skated out, doing a couple of jumps that Creed and I taught her long ago. The crowd cheered her name as she continued skating around the rink. She was the last player out, which was calculated—and cute. The Maimers did their dance. Then the announcer called their names as they skated around the rink, then took their place on the bench.
Mercy joined me on the bench as the national anthem played. She squeezed my hand and the starting five from each team took the ice–three crushers, one swing, and one bullet. Mercy would be up in the next succession.
“You did it. First home game,” I told her, my heart bursting with pride as the crowd in the packed arena cheered in the background.
My sister shook her head. “No, we did it. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”
“You two are cheesy,” Kaiko laughed, joining us. “But you’re right. What would us rookies do without you?”
“Eat burned food and live in stinky houses?” I laughed and pulled them close as the game got ready to start. “Hey, we’re here and we’re going to smash it.”