Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
RHODES
“I’ll never get over how fast shit moves when we’re traded,” I say, relaxing in my seat.
We’re currently thirty thousand feet in the air on a plane headed to our first team meeting as Cougars. After this, maybe we’ll be able to focus again. It’s not like us to be distracted during a game, but watching Koen help pickpocket the Angels of their beloved puck gave me several gray hairs.
I even made Sky look to see if any of my pubic hair has gone gray.
He was amused, but said that my well groomed hair is perfect as is.
Ugh, this may be dramatic, but I’m still distressed over that game.
I know Koen is the captain, but why does he have to be the one to fuck everyone else up as if he’s a fucking bruiser?
“Honestly, I’m glad no one is digging their heels in about trading us to the Cougars,” Skylar grumbles. “We both played like shit against them. My blood pressure was through the roof whenever Koen was hit on the ice, which was often.”
“Mine was too, but I’m going to play devil's advocate and say that he can handle himself,” I admit.
“I don’t watch all the game tape you do because I live in my little bubble on the other side of the rink.
However, Koen was very calculated in his fighting for the puck in enemy territory.
I was still losing my shit though when the Angels cornered Koen.
No one was with him, and I was very tempted to leave my position to fish him out. ”
“Bad little captain fishie,” Skylar says with a smirk as I chuckle. “I completely abandoned what I was doing to pull Koen out the first time, and by that point he was bleeding. My job was to help keep the puck out of your crease, but I couldn’t.”
“Nah, I would much rather you protect our psychotic Viking. I can handle myself,” I mutter. “This game didn’t mean as much to either of us because we already knew where our loyalties were going to lie. The Angels have been good to us, but our home is with our omega.”
Skylar is quiet while he tastes the sincerity in my words before nodding.
My scent gets sweeter when I’m being honest and sours when I lie.
I have a great poker face because my scent tells the truth every time.
I have to make sure I’m far enough away from people when I lie in case they know enough about me to catch my tell.
Not everyone is like this. It’s just one of my fun quirks.
For the most part, only Skylar and my parents know how to read me, which suits me just fine. I like appearing to be unreadable. It allows me the flexibility to get away with shit.
“Agreed,” Sky says. “I don’t think Koen knows what to make of us.
The Angels were happy to see us go. We weren’t at our best. If I’m on the team as enforcer and D-man, then I can protect Koen better.
I know it wasn’t the Cougars’ fault that he kept finding himself alone, but I’m still pissed it happened. ”
“It’ll be fun to have someone as unhinged as we are to play with,” I admit softly as the captain announces that we’re going to be arriving soon. I can feel the plane begin to descend and I swallow hard.
My least favorite parts of flying are when we go up and come down. Turbulence is fine because we’re already in the air. Skylar’s hand flips over so I can hold it, and I accept the invitation before shoving my nose into his throat.
His scent is strongest here, and I need something to hold onto. No one else is sitting near us since it’s not a full flight, so there’s no one to watch me quietly freak the fuck out. I hate being vulnerable around strangers.
I can be silly and a nutcase in a crowd, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s just another layer that keeps people out, and allows me to be who I want to be.
Corsets, women’s lingerie, singing opera in my head while I’m playing hockey are integral parts of myself. No one gives me any shit, and if I want to wear sexy size fifteen heels, it’ll just be a goalie thing I do.
I didn’t initially intend to be a goalie when I first started playing as a kid, but the position found me and it stuck. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. My focus was fucked by the target on Koen’s back last weekend. However, I’m usually in the zone and locked in.
The Angels’ coach wasn’t very happy with me, and screamed his head off at me. I’m happy I no longer have to deal with that shit. Everyone has an off day, even the beloved goalie. I couldn’t help it.
“We’re almost there,” Skylar coos softly. “You’re doing so good, baby. I can’t wait to see exactly how well Koen will fit into our pack. The fight will be half the fun. Just think about all the pissed off faces he’ll make at us.”
Koen thinks he hides his thoughts well. To the outside world if you’re not paying attention, he’d be right. Sky and I notice everything though.
The bounce of the plane’s tires makes me shut my eyes tighter, and I’m relieved when the captain welcomes us to Lakeview. It’s a moderate sized city outside of Minneapolis with a Midwest climate.
Shuddering, I look out the window to see that everything is covered in snow. I definitely need to go shopping for more warm clothing. While I have a small amount of it for traveling, it won’t be enough to get by as someone who now lives full time in Minnesota.
“Why the fuck is it still snowing in February?” I groan. “I’m not dressed for this.”
At least my sweatpants and hoodie are warm or I’d be fucked. I also had the forethought not to wear my slides.
Skylar and I packed up all of our belongings and shipped it to our new home. The team’s PR manager helped us find a storage unit to use until we are able to find more permanent housing. Until then, we’re going to be living out of a hotel room while we go house hunting.
Skylar was serious about this, and I’m finding that I agree. Koen will need a nest and space of his own. An apartment won’t be completely safe when he has his heat, and that makes me think of something.
“Oh fuck,” I breathe, sitting up. “What kind of bachelor pad does an omega have?”
“Well, that’s a good question,” Skylar says. “Hopefully, we get all of that information very soon. If he’s been fucking people on the side, that’ll need to end immediately.”
I want to ask Sky if we can kill them, but people on airplanes get funny about overhearing shit like that.
Swallowing back the question, I get up once it’s safe to and grab my carryon to get off the plane.
Neither Sky nor I checked any baggage, so we walk straight to the ride share area outside of the airport.
Our car was leased in Los Angeles since we didn’t need anything permanent before.
We returned the car yesterday, and we’ll be shopping for a new one as soon as possible.
Having to depend on ride shares isn’t really a great option.
Not only is it difficult for staying under the radar in public, it’s terrible for security as well.
The puck bunnies aren’t just women, men also flirt outrageously. I just don’t want to deal with it, and we hate being late to shit.
Our lives are going to be in limbo for a few weeks to a month at least, and that’s part of what we sign up for when we get traded. The chips will fall where they may, but I hate living out of a suitcase while I’m in my home city.
“I got a line on a good real estate agent that works with the players here,” Skylar continues once we’re walking through the doors of the hockey rink.
We don’t have much time to get our asses to this meeting, and traffic was a bear. Our long legs eat up the distance across the large lobby, and Edna Rogers meets us halfway across.
“You’re just in time,” the PR manager says.
She’s really the person who keeps the team’s shit together and chaos director. That’s what I prefer to call these types of people, and no one can convince me differently. They have a hard job when shit hits the fan, and on some teams, that happens often.
“I’ll get you all set up with badges and key cards to grant you access after the meeting.
However, the coach really wanted to make sure you were here for this team meeting.
Thank you for fitting this into your schedule.
In turn, if you need anything while you’re getting comfortable in Lakeview, please let me know. ”
“Thank you, Miss Rogers,” I say politely. Skylar and I met her on a video call right after the decision was made and we were told the trade was a go. Our contracts were signed virtually, with just the right amount of haste that comes with these types of deals. “Please, lead the way.”
Bobbing her head, she turns and hurries down the hall in her high heels. I allow myself to admire her shoes for a moment before forcing myself to focus as we follow her. Koen is going to get a shock today.
I want to know if whatever he uses to keep himself from being able to smell alpha pheromones is used around the clock or just during games and events. I have a lot of unfettered questions about our omega, and very few answers.
Edna swipes her key card several times as she moves through the huge building, and I’m glad I’ll be attached to Skylar’s hip. Otherwise, I’ll definitely be lost eighty percent of the time.
My head spins as Edna opens the door to a conference room, and she pops her head inside. Oh shit, I’m going to finally see Koen again. I’ve been so wrapped up in getting here, it’s hitting me that he’s just past this door.
“Sir, I have two more people to join you,” she says, opening the door wider to allow us inside. Under her breath, she adds, “Good luck.”
As people glare in our direction, I imagine that we’re gonna need it.
“Hello, everyone,” I say as we step inside. “Our apologies for being late. We just stepped off a plane.”