Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kai
The three of us sat on the couch, eating Thai food and snuggling together, while covered in crocheted blankets. We’d talked about making food but ultimately decided that we’d rather spend these last precious minutes curled up together.
An action movie played on the TV, but we weren’t really watching it. We were just soaking up each other’s touch.
Ashton fucking Steven, while he fucked me, had been a life-altering experience. As had all the cuddles and a shower right after.
Currently, I wore one of their T-shirts as they washed my clothes, so I didn’t have to put them on dirty, now that I was all clean.
Part of me had wanted to stay coated in the scent of their lovemaking though.
“It’s getting late. Are my clothes dry? I should probably call a car. You two need to rest up for your big game tomorrow.” I looked at the clock as the movie ended.
“Stay?” Steven pulled me to him.
For a moment I luxuriated in the comfort of his arms. “But what about your game tomorrow?”
“You can stay if you’d like,” Ashton said softly. “If you’d rather go back to the hotel, I’ll drive you. It’s not a problem, Kai.”
“We don’t have to stay up late. I’ll live without a cheese plate. I… I just want you here a little longer.” Steven squished me tighter.
“Cheese plate?” Looking up at him, I cupped his face with my hand. I tried to memorize his face, his scent, so I could keep it with me when I returned to Hilo.
“We had the dessert, entrée, and appetizer. So that leaves what? The cheese plate? Maybe those small bites?” Steven nibbled my shoulder.
I laughed. “What about the fish course?”
“I vote for small bites.” He continued nibbling on me.
“I’d like a try.” Ashton leaned over and nibbled me.
“No fair.” I leaned over to bite Ashton’s shoulder.
“Hey now,” he teased.
Steven grinned. “You can bite me.”
Turning to face him, I bit his shoulder. “Tasty.”
“Kai thinks I’m tasty,” Steven announced.
“We can just have the sleeping course. One more night? Please?” Ashton asked.
Why not? It was the last night I’d get to spend with them. To me, it didn’t matter what we did, I just wanted to touch them a little longer. I’d text the aunties, so they didn’t worry.
I kissed Ashton, his beard brushing my face. “I think I’d like that very much.”
Saturday
“Good luck. I’ll see you later,” I told Steven and Ashton as Ashton’s big truck pulled up to the hotel.
This morning, I’d woken up in their bed, only this time it was in a big puppy pile. And I didn’t regret it one bit.
“That was amazing. I had the best night, and no, we’re not too tired. Every moment with you was worth it.” Steven got out and came around to let me out of the truck, like he always did.
It was all the silly little courtesies they showed me that made my heart flutter.
Steven hugged me, tight. “Small bites.” He nibbled on my shoulder.
“I can’t wait to see you play. I’ll be there. The aunties are very excited.” Maybe I’d find out which auntie arranged this. After all, the game seemed like the perfect time. She’d probably want to see Marilyn.
“We’ll see you after the game.” Ashton came out and gave me a big hug.
“Thank you for such an amazing time.” I hugged him tighter than I probably needed to.
“Same, Starshine. Don’t worry, we’ll take you out after the game and we’ll see you soon.
You can text us anytime, we can do video calls, whatever you need.
After finals, we’ll be in the off-season, so if you need us to fly out there and beat up your ex, I promise we’ll find a way so that it’s not assault,” Steven added.
Coming from these two, I knew that they truly meant it and I was so grateful.
“Thank you.” I hugged them again and grabbed my flowers. I didn’t want to forget them. I wouldn’t be able to take the whole bouquet back, but I could probably press a few in something and then use them in an art project.
I waved as they drove off. They were on their way to morning skate. I think I disrupted their routine and I hoped it wasn’t a detriment to their game.
In the room, Auntie Kiki was getting things together since we had a big day today. I should probably pack too.
Auntie Kiki looked over at me and smirked. “Back so soon?”
“Good morning to you, too, Auntie.” I rolled my eyes at the sarcasm and set my flowers on the table, then went into my room. While I should pack, I got distracted, catching up on the group chat, socials, and email.
Logan’s advisor had emailed me back his questions and he asked a few more things.
I answered him and then I responded to the email from his doctoral program.
While I didn’t want to ruin Logan’s life, I didn’t want to shield him from consequences either, so I answered every question from both of them.
I could understand how both his advisor and this new program might be concerned about an alpha who stole money and did things like that to his partner.
I also texted a little bit with my lab partner, Leigh, who was on her way back to Hilo.
Leigh
Don’t worry, we have your back. Everyone’s on your side.
Me
His advisor and his new program contacted me.
Leigh
Do tell?
Me
They asked me questions. I answered truthfully and provided receipts. I don’t want to blow up his life, but I’m not going to shield him.
Leigh
Good and you didn’t blow up his life, he blew up his own life. Also, the gossip is that some of them got some kind of really gross stomach bug, like so gross. One of them got kicked off the airplane before it took off because they were projectile vomiting everywhere.
I didn’t feel sorry for them. Another thing everyone rolled their eyes at was anything regarding food and water safety.
Auntie came to the door. “Let’s meet the others for breakfast.”
Whoops. I’d done zero packing. But it wouldn’t take me that long. I might as well have one more nice hotel breakfast and morning swim with a little day drinking before leaving Nashville behind.
I scanned our tickets as we entered Pinnacle Arena. I wore the shirt that Ashton had given me along with jeans and sneakers. My hair was back in a ponytail, and I had on a battered, zippered hoodie, since I figured it would be a little cold. I was feeling a little trash panda today.
The aunties wore matching dresses. At least they’d be easy to find in the crowd.
Per the guys’ instructions, we got there in time for warm-ups. Looking around, taking in the crowd, the aunties immediately gravitated to the bar. I ordered a beer and they got cocktails. Buying a bunch of snacks, we then went to our seats.
Our really nice seats.
“Why is it surrounded in glass? It’s like they’re in a fish tank,” Auntie Mimi said as we sat down.
“They do call it the boy aquarium,” I told Auntie as I took a sip of beer.
There were a lot of people here. Some of my cousins and one person in my lab group, who actually followed hockey, were very jealous.
“We need to get a picture,” I said, since the whole revenge selfie thing was kind of what started everything. Not only was it cathartic, but I’d gotten a lot of great responses. It was nice to see how supportive a lot of people were, and I just tried to ignore the haters.
Other people had come forward with similar stories, and it was good to know that I wasn’t alone. That I wasn’t broken. I wasn’t a mistake. I wasn’t a bad omega.
I wasn’t wrong for him just because I wasn’t rich.
He was wrong for me because he was a dick.
We turned around and I tried to get a selfie of the five of us, with the arena in the background.
“Would you like me to take it for you?” a small blonde asked. She wore a cute skirt and blouse. With her was a taller woman with black hair. They had matching jackets on. Actually, a number of people wore them. Everyone was dressed all cute in this section.
“That would be great, thank you.” I handed her my phone, and she took a picture of the five of us, then gave it back to me.
“I’m Carys, this is Billie. You’re Kai, right?” the blonde, Carys, asked.
“I am.” How did they know who I was?
“So pretty,” Auntie Cookie said.
“Don’t mind my aunties.” I rolled my eyes. “They brought me here to Nashville with the intention of me meeting a doctor.”
“Rhett told us about the bet,” Carys laughed.
“I’m not sure how Steven thought he’d win that one,” Billie added.
Oh, they were with Ashton’s buddy, Rhett.
The hockey players came out onto the ice. There were two teams, each going to a different side of the rink.
“Are these warm ups? Which team is ours?” I asked.
“They’re in orange,” Billie said.
“Oh, okay.” That made sense because my shirt was orange. But which ones were mine?
“Ashton is number 13, Steven is 27,” she told me.
“Oh, thanks.” I eyed the players who were smacking pucks and stretching.
“Rhett is 16,” Carys added.
The two of them pointed out different people on the ice. All I remembered was that 13 and 27 were Ashton and Steven.
People in slightly different outfits were doing some stretches that looked very interesting. The Aunties started making their usual auntie comments.
“Goalie stretches,” Billie explained.
“I’m still learning all about hockey,” I admitted.
“We’re here if you need us, especially if people ask too many questions. I don’t want you to be overwhelmed,” Carys said.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“Did you like the flowers?” Carys asked. “I’ve never known Ashton to get anyone flowers before.”
For a moment I just looked at her. “How do you know about that?”
She laughed. “They’re from my shop.”
“You own a flower shop? I love that. They’re perfect. I’m going to take some of them back to Hawai’i and make them into something. Probably with resin. What do you think would be fun? Maybe a little bedside resin lamp? Or a tray?” Something I’d use.
“A lamp sounds cute,” Carys replied.