Chapter Thirty #3
“Even though we both have a lot of complicated feelings right now, we have to make sure that she doesn’t think it’s her,” Carlos told me.
“I get it. Your life is the one that’s going to be interrupted by this the most. Fiona does have some good ideas–and you only have one semester left.
Do you even have classes? Or is it mostly research?
You might be able to use a lab at a university here. ”
“My senior seminar takes up a bunch of units and that is independent research. Grace’s pack might be able to help me find a lab for that. But I don’t know what the professor mentoring me and my university would think about that,” I replied.
It wouldn’t come to that, though. I’d un-bond her, and at the end of winter break this would just be a regretful memory for me, and they’d be throwing a big party for the four of them.
“Now you can join the MASOs with your sister and go to their parties.” Carlos grinned at me.
The MASOs, the mates and significant others, of the New York Knights, had a social group where they did activities together. Verity made it sound fun. AJ, her mate who was in finance, made it sound painful. Though no one had to join.
“Not sure I have time for that. But would I look cute in your jersey? Will you thump on the glass and make me wear it like Grif and Dean did to my sister?” I teased, recalling both of those things happening last season.
“You know Fiona will be a good girl and wear your jersey so there’s no need to growl at her from the ice. ”
Carlos laughed. “We should do it anyway, because it would be funny. Oooh, better yet, Dusty should do it to you during our charity game, just to confuse the shit out of people.”
I chuckled. “I do enjoy confusing the shit out of people. But I think he should do it to Saoirse.”
“That might end in bodily harm for Dusty,” Carlos replied. “I’m surprised the whole on-stage wedding thing didn’t end with him, well, ended.”
“True. That was wild. Fuck, man. My parents are going to shit three pumpkins, possibly four. I mean, they’ve never quite forgiven Verity for mating hockey players. Anyone who isn’t studying a science is lesser in their view,” I replied.
“I have a two-year degree in nursing, so I should be fine. While her degree is in decorating, Fiona designs apps, which is computer science,” Carlos said.
“You’re a nurse?” Yet something else I didn’t know, which just proved I had no business mating with them.
He nodded. “What did you think I studied in college? Chaos theory?”
“That would be a science.” I shrugged. “Nursing?”
“My mom’s a nurse. She was an ER nurse when I was a kid.
Now she has a cushy job as a nurse at a fancy medi-spa.
She loves it. I studied nursing because I admire her and the work nurses do.
Also, it’s practical. I actually have my license and work at her clinic during the off-season.
Also, when I’m done playing hockey I can be a nurse full-time, or go back to school for another nursing degree,” he explained.
“Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Nurses are always in demand,” I agreed. Huh. Who would have thought? “Why hockey? I would have thought coming from a mostly beta family you would have played fútbol.”
“I did play fútbol a little. When I was in kindergarten, my mom got tickets from her hospital for medical professional night. We went and I was enthralled. There was just a thrilling element to it that fútbol doesn’t have,” he replied.
I nodded. “The knives for feet? Also, the speed?”
“Exactly. Then the Squire program came to my elementary school and did an outreach assembly with the team mascot about their youth hockey programs. They handed out flyers and mini sticks. I asked to go to one of the free try hockey days. Even though I didn’t know how to skate, my dad took me… and I was in love,” he replied.
“Oh wow, and you went from there?” I asked.
Carlos nodded. “Exactly. I kept at it and eventually got on higher-level teams. Even though it got expensive sometimes, my parents made it work because it brought me joy and I put in the work.”
“That is amazing, man. I tried some sports but never really found one I loved the way my sisters did,” I replied. “What was Saoirse’s major?”
“You know, I have no idea if Saoirse studied anything other than the art of the assassin. Dusty has a degree in music. We can’t really do anything about that. It’s so weird they think that way,” Carlos added.
I chuckled. “Yeah, music is definitely not on their list.”
The door opened and Fiona came in, her lower lip quivering slightly. She came straight to us and squished in the middle.
“Why are you both so sad? Don’t you want to be with me?” Her voice shook.
I flooded the bond with the affection I felt for her.
“More like we’re afraid of your fathers,” I told her truthfully. “They’re not going to let us be together.”
“That’s not for them to say.” She pouted.
“Good.” Carlos gave her a kiss. “Just think, now you can decorate our new place for everybody.”
She beamed. “I can’t wait.”
Yeah, those four could create a happy pack and a good life without me. They’d be much better off that way.