Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ashton
Julius swept the puck away from one of the Panthers and shot it at their goal. The goalie went full butterfly, but not before the puck sailed in.
The crowd went wild as the announcer yelled, “Goal. Goal for the Scented Scorpions."
On the scoreboard, it changed from 2-2 to 3-2.
Holy shit. We’d been tied most of the game. Which had been fine. If we stayed tied we went into overtime.
But now, we were in the lead. There was only a minute or so left on the clock. If we could keep them from scoring, we’d win.
Music played over the speakers. The crowd was alive tonight, but I could understand that. We were the underdogs in our home arena, playing in the first game of the finals.
Winning tonight wouldn’t secure us the championship, but it would tell everyone that we really did belong here in the finals. That it wasn’t a fluke.
Also, given the championship went to the first team to win two games, it would be a lot easier if we won tonight.
The Puck Panthers had been giving it their all. They weren’t playing overly rough or dirty, but they were all business. They were here to win.
But so were we.
It helped to have Kai in the audience. Though there were a few times it looked like they were sad. At the same time, they were leaving. I was sad Kai was leaving, too.
Right now, Kai seemed fine, talking occasionally with Billie and Carys, looking cute in a Scented Scorpions shirt and jeans.
Coach sent me and Rhett in. We guarded our goal and goalie as the Puck Panthers tried to score on us before the time went out, so we’d at least go into overtime.
One of the Panthers shot at our goal. Before it could reach, I backhanded it, passing it to Rhett to get it away from our net.
The Panthers came back at us as the crowd started to count down. I chased the Panthers forward behind the goal as Rhett came around the other way.
The buzzer echoed through Pinnacle Arena.
“And the Scorpions win, 3-2 over the Puck Panthers. Look at that,” the announcer bellowed.
The crowd erupted in cheers. I turned and saw Kai jumping up and down. I waved and they waved back.
We’d done it. We’d won our first game of finals.
The whole team celebrated on the ice. We returned to the locker room full of excitement.
“Good job out there,” Coach Miles said. “But we still have to face them on Monday, in Portland. Stay focused. See you in the morning for practice. Have fun tonight, but not too much–Marilyn’s got enough on her plate.”
“Carys texted me that Kai was crying a couple of times,” Rhett said as we got changed.
“Yeah, I saw that she looked sad. Her plane leaves in the morning. Spring break is over, back to class,” I sighed. “I think we’re taking her out after this.”
Rhett frowned at his phone. “I also got a weird text from Jackson.”
“Oh?”
“You know, he asked me about you and Steven earlier in the week. Monday morning maybe?” Rhett texted someone.
I paused. “He was? Why?”
“He wanted to know if you were nice guys. I told him yes.” His look went puzzled.
Huh.
“Jackson wants to see you now before you talk to Kai,” Rhett added.
“Okay.” My heart dropped. What happened? Oh, maybe they had a fight with Claire? Somehow those two had sort of become friends. Claire had said she’d be here tonight.
After I finished getting dressed, my hair still wet from my shower, I grabbed Steven. A group of people were heading to Slapshots, but we had other plans.
We left the locker room to find Kai and the Aunties. Jackson found us first. He was alone.
“Can we talk?” His look went pensive as he approached us.
“Did Claire and Kai have a fight? Is that why they were sad?” I still was unsure why he wanted to talk to us before we saw Kai.
“Kai was sad?” Steven’s look grew worried. “I just thought she was tired.”
Jackson sighed.
Something clicked. “Does this have anything to do with you asking Rhett if we were nice people?”
Steven looked at me in surprise. “He did?”
“Yes.” Jackson shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know how to say this. Kai was a lot more upset than we thought. Claire never meant to hurt them. I didn’t think it was the greatest idea, but I knew you were good guys.”
“What are you talking about?” Steven demanded.
“I asked about you, because Claire was the one that was supposed to meet you in the bar, not Kai. Claire’s aunt knows Marilyn and wouldn’t listen to Claire about not wanting to be set up.
The original plan was that I was going to go with her and we’d talk to you.
We figured we’d all have a drink, and it would be fine,” he explained.
“We weren’t supposed to meet Kai?” I froze.
“But Marilyn picked Kai specifically for us. We were activity partners, because Kai had a messy breakup,” Steven added, shifting uncomfortably beside me.
“Marilyn picked Claire. But Claire picked Kai. Somehow when Claire and Kai were talking in the bar, she got this idea that Kai could use some fun. Claire gave her dragonfly clip to Kai, and then we left when we saw you two were there. Well, we did stay and watch for a bit, to make sure it went okay. The last thing I wanted was to put an omega in danger,” Jackson added, looking regretful and a little uncomfortable.
Kai wasn’t meant for us, Claire was? What?
Claire engineered Kai meeting us instead of her. I was absolutely horrified that Claire would do that.
“She did what? And you let her? Sure, we were safe, but what? Why not stick to the plan?” Steven’s eyes flashed with anger.
“Claire felt bad for Kai and just wanted them to have a good time on spring break. Clearly, they did. But today at the game Kai figured it out and got really upset about it. Something Claire and I weren’t expecting.
We apologized, but I also wanted to apologize to you both, because you were also the unwilling part of this switch.
I’m not sure Claire realizes that this affects you, too,” Jackson added.
“It does,” I replied, my voice low. My mind was reeling. We weren’t supposed to meet Kai.
“I didn’t say anything and I should have. I want to be with Claire, but we could have gone about this better,” he admitted.
“That’s why Kai was sad. She found out that she wasn’t the person we were supposed to meet. She must need a hug so badly. We’ll reassure her that everything’s fine.” Steven squeezed my hand.
I squeezed it back, my mind completely blown. Shit. We’d found the perfect omega. Except that wasn’t the omega we were supposed to meet.
“Oh, shit, I hope we don’t get in trouble with Marilyn.” Steven’s look went terrified. “I mean, Kai matched the details…”
“That was the point. Part of what convinced Claire that this would work was that Kai already had sunglasses and dragonflies… and meddling aunts. I’m sure Marilyn will understand,” Jackson assured.
“If we have to redo the bet we’re making you do it.” Steven glared.
I wasn’t sure how that would work, but I didn’t want to have to go on another one of these because of Claire.
“Thanks for telling us,” I replied. Taking Steven’s hand, we left to find Kai. They’d texted that they were in the team shop with the aunties.
“Shit. I can’t believe what just happened,” Steven breathed. “Kai wasn’t the person we were supposed to meet? But we had such a good time. I guess that we can have a good time with the wrong omega, right?” Steven asked me.
“They’re not the wrong omega. It was mistaken identity, but not a mistake. Wrong person, right time, but then they became the right person.” That would be why Kai was upset.
“Well, yeah, Kai became the right person, because she’s the right person. So, it was just supposed to be,” Steven agreed. “But we need to make sure Kai isn’t sad. I don’t want her to go home upset.”
I squeezed Steven’s hand. “Me neither.”
There weren’t very many people left at the team shop, but there were four, small Asian women, all about older middle age. Two were holding up different shirts that were specific for the finals as if trying to gauge sizes. The other two were trying on hats.
“Too small?” the one with a bun tied with a scarf, and glasses asked.
“Yes,” replied one that looked a lot like her, but had a headband with her bun and no glasses.
“Hi.” Kai’s voice was small and they hung back.
I opened my arms. “Starshine.”
She sniffed and ran into my arms. I hugged them tightly. “I’ve got you.”
“We won!” Steven bounced over and hugged the both of us.
“You did. I’m so happy for you. That means all you need to do is win one more game and then you’ve won the championship.” Kai's voice was slightly muffled with them squished between us.
“Yeah, we won! Incredible. I’m so happy you came,” Steven said.
“It made me really happy to see you in the stands.” It settled something inside me.
“The aunties had a great time. The seats you got for us were amazing and I met some nice people. I think they belong to your defense partner. We need to talk though. I found something out.” Kai sniffed.
“We know, Jackson came and found us. He told us everything and apologized for Claire making you cry,” Steven said.
“I can’t believe I’m the wrong omega.” Kai’s voice broke.
I kiss the top of their head. “You’re not the wrong omega. I promise it doesn’t matter. You’re still amazing and we had a great time,” I reassured Kai, who looked like they didn’t quite believe me.
“We can absolutely talk about it. But in the middle of the team shop is probably not the place. Why don’t we go out? We don’t have to go to Slapshots.” Steven looked at his phone. “There’s some places we can just walk to.”
“Oh, I think we can let you take us out.” A woman appeared holding a bag, she looked us up and down like she was judging us. Another woman was with her–she had long hair and big glasses.
“I can see why you enjoy spending time with them,” the second one added.
Kai laughed. “Auntie Cookie, Auntie Tiff, this is Ashton and Steven.”
“Thank you for inviting us. It was very generous,” Auntie Tiff said.
“I especially enjoyed watching the warm-ups,” Auntie Cookie added.