Chapter Two #2
“Oh, right. You’re on that kids show my little sister likes.” He nodded.
“I’d see you perform live.” I gave him a kiss. I’m not sure a lot of people knew that Carlos Rodriguez, the hockey forward, was also on a bilingual, educational children’s show.
Hale turned to me. “Hey, there. I’m Hale. I hope that didn’t scare you?”
“Scare me? That was amazing. I’m Fiona.” I realized that he had blue eyes. Also, he was very pretty. Like not alpha-handsome, but pretty, with delicate features. His long, dark brown hair, and tan skin only added to that.
“Figured. Carlos talks about you a lot.” Hale smirked. He had a southern accent, too.
Hale. Yes. He was coming on the trip with us.
“All good, I hope.” I kissed Carlos hard. My job always made me horny.
Carlos stroked my hair. “Always.”
“Um, where are you?” Saoirse’s voice came over the earpiece.
Not sure I wanted Hale to know that Carlos diverted his street racing to pick me up from a hit. I texted her.
Me
With Carlos. He was part of the street race. Where should I meet you?
Saoirse
Of course he was. Have him drop you off at the train station.
Someone tapped on the window and Hale rolled it down.
“Nice job, Cowboy.” A woman removed the blinking monitor from the windshield. “Phone?”
Hale held up his phone. She tapped her tablet to it.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you,” he drawled.
“Now go, before the police get tetchy,” she told us. “They don’t like us hanging around.”
“Understood.” He rolled up the window and looked at us. “Where to?”
“My place?” Carlos kissed me.
“I need to meet Saoirse at the train station. But thanks for the ride. I appreciate it. I wasn't expecting the street race.” I kissed him again.
“Anytime. To the train station. We don’t need to make Saoirse cranky,” Carlos replied. “That’s a very important tip for our trip, Hale.”
“Noted. Hungry? We can bring her something?” Hale offered as he drove.
“I wish. But I’ll see you in a few hours. I can’t wait to get to know you, Hale–and meet Dusty. When will I get to meet your hockey friends?” Inwardly I groaned at how needy that sounded. The omega in me thought everything was moving far too slowly in our relationship.
After all, he’d met some of my friends.
“New Year’s.” Carlos nodded firmly. “We have an afternoon New Year’s Eve game.
Dusty’s singing the national anthem. If you want, I can get seats for you and Saoirse.
That night, my teammate Dimitri’s having a party and you can meet my hockey friends.
You and Saoirse can spend the night at my place.
The next morning, the Knights are playing the Brooklyn Box Munchers, in a charity game, at the outdoor rink at Roganfort Center.
The team is having a family brunch afterwards and you can join that, too. ”
The thought of all this warmed my heart. He wanted me to go to his games, a party, and a family brunch?
I really liked Carlos and wanted this to be as real and as good as what I had with Saoirse.
“Brooklyn Box Munchers? New farm team?” Hale snorted.
“They’re a recreational team. They’re really good players who happen to have other careers. Dusty’s on it,” Carlos explained.
“I love that. An outdoor charity game sounds like tons of fun. I’ll talk to Saoirse and see what her schedule is, but I’ll be there. I’m excited. Dimitri’s parties sound amazing.” My fathers’ New Year’s Eve party could wait.
“Can I go? Dimitri’s parties are great–especially if Dusty’s coming,” Hale asked.
“Of course. I can get tickets for you to everything, too, if your sister hasn’t already,” Carlos told him.
“Does your sister play hockey?” I asked. Carlos talked about a teammate named Gwen a lot. He said they were just friends, but the possessive omega in me wanted to check out the situation personally.
Hale laughed. “No. Verity’s just mated to three of his teammates. So, train station?”
“Yeah, we’ll drop you off at the rideshare stop,” Carlos told me.
I texted Saoirse that. Also, I waited for Hale’s questions, like, Why did we pick you up in a parking garage in the middle of the night? But he didn’t. Nice.
“You race a lot?” I asked Hale.
“It’s just a hobby. This race was sort of a fluke, and everything aligned–like my sister not being around so I could borrow her car,” he replied.
I smirked. “Well, this didn’t seem like your sort of ride. Is truck racing a thing?”
“A little. But again, it’s just for thrills and pocket change. I’m a student. Organic chemistry. Probably going to get my PhD and work for my sister’s mate’s company. You?” He stopped at a red light.
“I recently graduated in interior design. Mostly I’m doing work for friends of my fathers’ while I get my app going.” I wanted something that would give me financial independence, flexibility to take jobs with Saoirse, and the freedom to raise a family.
Because I wanted kids. So many kids.
Carlos nodded. “The MASOs, the team mates and significant others, are going to love you. They’d probably enjoy talking to you about interior decorating. Maybe even hire you or help test your app.”
My heart fluttered. “That sounds great. Wait, work for your sister’s mate? Aren’t they hockey players?”
“Other big sister. We call her rich big sister, because her pack is stupid rich, like they bought her an island and a really nice motorcycle that I’m not allowed to touch.” He shrugged.
“An island? Nice. Working for family isn’t a bad plan.” It worked for my brothers. “But what do you want to do? Race full time?” I asked, curious. Given how cute he was, especially with the whole cowboy thing, he could definitely be a draw.
Hale thought for a moment. “Get my PhD and work somewhere developing pharmaceuticals. I like chemistry, and I enjoy using it to solve problems.”
“Fair. Do you have a lot of sisters? I have zero sisters. But I do have four brothers, they’re all in Boston. Baby of the family,” I replied.
Carlos laughed. “He has all the siblings. One of ten. You’re what, number three?”
“Four. We’re all over the place geographically. But we’re close,” he replied.
I studied him. “But not close enough for Christmas?”
We didn’t do much for Christmas beyond food and presents since my mom had passed.
“More like they’re all going to rich big sister’s house again.
I love her, but her mates have so many rules.
Like, No throwing kids in the house, Hale.
Don’t touch that, Hale. Hale, please don’t race the chickens.
Where did you put the hedgehog, Hale? Ugh.
I spent the summer there interning at their company, and yeah, I think I’d rather be reckless in Europe for five days.
” He nodded. “Also, this semester was a lot and I need a break.”
“Good for you. I’m excited; the lineup for this festival is insane. It was really nice of your friend to arrange all this for us, Carlos. Also, I think Saoirse has a thing for BroKen but won’t admit it,” I added.
Winter-Fest was a three day, ski all day, rave all night festival on a mountain in Switzerland. Not sure how Carlos’ friend scored passes for everyone, but I was excited.
BroKen was the Christmas Eve headliner. He was a popular indie artist who mixed electronic music with vocals, and was known for his side-quests. BroKen popped up in all sorts of strange places, like cosplaying superheroes at comic-cons, and dressed as a shower at an award show.
“Does she?” Carlos smirked. “Maybe we’ll get to meet him.”
“Really? I think she’d love that,” I replied.
We pulled up to the train station. Saoirse stood there in her black suit, with a crisp white shirt–her usual uniform.
Her lips were red, skin pale, and her hair long and dark, making her look like a character out of a fairytale.
She leaned easily against the wall waiting, oozing confidence and don’t bother me.
“I’ll see you soon, Mi Reina.” Carlos kissed me.
“See you soon, Pumpkin. Bye, Hale. Thanks for the ride.” I waved and got out of the car, grabbing my backpack.
Saoirse’s blue eyes lit up as I approached her. She waved at Carlos. He waved back and they sped off.
“Hi, Mo Stóirín.” Leaning in, she gave me a kiss, her brandy scent surrounding me. “Carlos was street racing in a pink car? Do I want to know?”
I looped my arm through hers, she was much taller than me. “His friend was street racing in his sister’s car.”
“Noted.” She shook her head as I let her lead me to the subway.
“That’s Hale. He’s coming with us tomorrow. You should race him down one of the black-diamond ski trails, and wear those head cameras.” I’d race him, because that sounded fun, but I wasn’t as good at skiing as Saoirse.
She thought for a moment. “That’s a possibility. I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to ski that mountain.”
Saoirse was a delta. Deltas had a lot of alpha traits, but they didn’t have barks–which was the alpha compulsion that made people do things.
They didn’t have knots or locks. Deltas made great soldiers and security.
In addition to being a triggerwoman, she worked as personal security for a fancy private company, because it was a good cover.
“Carlos wants me to meet his friends. Finally.” I told her about his plans as we rode the subway, backtracking to get to our hotel.
“I told you that he’s not hiding you,” she assured. Of course, she’d thoroughly background-checked him.
“True.” I texted him my thanks for picking me up. “It’s just…”
“No.” She leaned in and kissed me. “If I had any indication that he was using you, he wouldn’t be walking. If I find out at any point he is, his hockey career is over.”
“Thank you.” I leaned my head on her shoulder. “Have you researched his friends we’re traveling with? Hale smells good and is really cute. He’s a chemist.”
Her dark, manicured eyebrows arched. “You told me not to.”
“Wow, really? Good for you. You deserve a treat.” I caught her mouth with mine.