Chapter 20
CHAPTER
TWENTY
TWO WEEKS LATER
TROY
My pack is up in the stands tonight, sitting in the family section of the stadium. My skates dig deeper into the ice as I push my way across the rink, determined to play my best.
Two weeks makes a world of difference. I’m glad I suggested that Alisa wait to come to a game until then.
She’s able to walk for longer periods of time, and joined our cooldown after run club yesterday.
It was just around the block, but I could see the glow of achievement in her eyes once we finished.
Her muscles have betrayed her more than once while she’s been recuperating. This was a big win for her and we celebrated with ice cream sandwiches afterward.
I fully believe things should be celebrated in the moment, I simply haven’t had anyone I can do this with for a long time.
Let’s go, get the fuck out of my way!
Grunting, I shove Levon out of my way, smirking as he hits the boards.
“Love you too!” he yells as I keep skating toward the goal with the puck.
Knowing he’ll make me pay for that later, I take my shot high.
This goalie recently injured his rotator cuff and can’t quite block me.
The puck sails past and I growl in approval as the buzzer screams out my goal.
I’ve been watching some of the Scorpions’ past games, looking for their weaknesses.
Chase Zeynar, their goalie, is one of them.
Fisting the air, I move back into position. My grin is more of a baring of my teeth, the smell of ice is deep in my lungs, and I am all in tonight.
The puck slaps off Klepton’s blade as we begin again, and we follow it like well trained hockey players. Klepton is newer to the team, but he plays with a single-minded fury. I can respect this, because this is how I’ve played for years.
I trip a Scorpion with my stick as he skates after Klepton, shrugging as he falls on his ass. I smile all the way to the Sin Bin, my eyes scanning quickly for a glimpse of my pack. I see Alisa worriedly watching me and I blow her a kiss to show her I’m fine.
I don’t mind spending a little time cooling my heels if it means my team can gain an advantage. That’s what teammates are for.
ALISA
“Why is the coach taking the goalie off the ice?” I ask, frowning as the Scorpions’ goalie skates away from his crease. I’ve been trying to learn what I can about hockey, and I always thought this wasn’t supposed to happen.
We’re currently up by four points. The Scorpions aren’t doing so hot, and we’re nearing the end of the second period.
Easton leans toward me, his lips against my ear to help me hear him better and his arm possessively around my waist. I can’t help but blush at what he’s telling the world.
Mine.
“Coach Miles wants more of his players on the ice,” he murmurs. “The only way to do this is to pull his goalie.”
“It leaves them wide open,” I say, confused.
“It’s a tactical decision,” a girl with dark hair says, turning to face me. She is wearing Scorpion colors and has a baby strapped to her chest. “Sometimes it works, others…”
“It fails miserably,” the tanned man beside her chuckles, rubbing her back. “The idea is that the players on the ice will be able to defend the goalie stand even without him there. Miles usually knows what he’s doing.”
“Let’s see if Daddy can get some points on the board for us,” the girl grins, kissing the little girl in her arms’ head. “I’m Caelia by the way.”
“Alisa,” I reply with a small smile. God, it’s been so long since I’ve had to introduce myself, it feels really odd.
“Are you Troy’s girl?” she asks, eyes lighting up. “I finally got him on the phone the other day. He’s harder to talk to than the damn President.”
I grin, remembering how Troy mentioned they’ve been playing phone tag.
“I am. He’s mentioned you before. It’s really nice to meet you.”
“Oh my goodness. The pleasure is mine! He’s had it rough. He deserves goodness in his life.”
Lyle grins, leaning around Easton. “He talks about you a lot. Hi.”
I hear the alpha beside Caelia growl and my eyes widen as I press myself against Easton.
“Hush, play nice, Santo,” Caelia says. “You’re going to scare Alisa.”
The man’s eyes grow large and he leans around to find me almost in Easton’s lap.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” he sighs. “My mama would beat me for that. Lo siento mucho. I’m a jealous, possessive ass. It’s a running joke at this point.”
“It’s fine,” I breathe.
“I’d prefer you in my lap anyway,” Easton says, lifting me slightly to settle me there. “You’re okay, sweetheart.”
I nod, taking a deep breath before I shudder. The metal detectors wouldn’t let me bring any weapons inside. There are a lot of people here today and I’ve been trying really hard not to let it get to me. I want to be here, I do.
The real world is simply overwhelming in a stadium this size.
My alphas don’t offer any explanation for my jumpiness, which I appreciate. Instead, Lyle lays his hand on my thigh and Silas moves around to sit beside Caelia. The small amount of separation helps, even though I hate the fact I can’t be normal.
“I used to have panic attacks,” Caelia says as we watch.
The Furies’ goalie is on point, despite how dirty the Scorpions are playing.
He’s had ice kicked in his face a couple of times and it’s led to a brawl or two as they play.
“I still don’t love crowds, but I can finally watch a hockey game again without feeling as if I can’t breathe.
Troy’s always given me space, and never made me feel crazy.
“Whatever you’ve been through, Alisa. I promise it gets better.”
I smile tightly in appreciation, even though I don’t quite believe it myself. Glancing up at the rink, my jaw drops as I watch Teagan hit the puck hard out of his crease. It keeps going, all the way to the other end, sliding right into the empty goalie’s net.
“No way,” I breathe. Screams and groans erupt around me, and I lean back against Easton’s chest, stunned.
“That’s an example of it going very wrong,” Santo chuckles. He seems a little less scary now, but I simply nod, dazed as the buzzer screams in celebration.
“The Scorpions have been riding Teagan pretty hard,” Caelia says. “Goalies are unhinged. If you fuck with them too much, you get what you deserve.”
Seems like good life advice for anyone really.
“I need to use the restroom,” I murmur, twisting my head up to look at Easton.
“I’ll walk you,” he says, dropping a kiss on my lips. No one says a word about how I’m sitting on his lap or the fact that my alphas are all touching me in some way.
My brothers took my relationship so badly, it’s hard not to wonder if the rest of the world will react the same way.
“I need to change the baby,” Caelia says as well, standing. Santo is right on her heels as we all make our way to the restroom, and it makes me feel better to see I’m not the only one who needs an escort.
“I’ll be right out here,” Easton says, leaning against the wall as I go in.
“Same,” Santo grunts.
“There’s so many people, I don’t like to walk alone, especially with the baby,” Caelia murmurs as we wait in line. There’s someone using the changing table, and it’s nice not to have to wait alone.
“I’m not used to this,” I admit, leaning against the wall. “I’ve never been to a hockey game before. The guys have been teaching me all about it.”
“Really?” Caelia asks, brow raising as she sways. The baby raises her head and almost appears to be pouting, and her mom grins down at her. They’re so sweet together. “How did you guys meet? He didn’t say.”
“Umm. I met him through Easton,” I lie. I refuse to trauma dump in a bathroom to a stranger. I’ll have to warn him about my lie now. Ugh. “Do you travel with the team to a lot of their games?”
Caelia doesn’t call me out for the change of subject, and she mentions that she’ll travel occasionally. Troy is always the exception. When she knows the Scorpions are playing a game against Troy’s team, she’ll try to attend.
As the changing table opens up, she glances at me as she shifts her diaper bag on her shoulder.
“Whatever your story is, I’m really happy Troy met you. He sounded better than I’ve heard him in a long time.”
My smile is more genuine as she walks to the changing table and I move toward an open stall. My bladder screams at me as I do my business quickly and I exit to wash my hands. Caelia must have already left because I don’t see her, and a woman with blonde hair steps up next to me.
Her blue eyes glance over at me, and I respond tentatively when she smiles at me.
“This is my first time going to a hockey game alone,” she says, shrugging nervously. “I’ve decided it’s hard to feel alone when there’s so many people surrounding you.”
“I don’t think I could do that,” I confess, drying my hands and checking on my hair. I braided the sides back and left the rest loose. I’m wearing a jersey with Troy’s last name on it with leggings, and I don’t think he’s realized it yet.
I know he waved at me from the penalty box, but I’m seated too far away for him to see what I’m wearing.
I actually feel pretty today, and it’s something I don’t often get to enjoy.
I added a little makeup to hide the sleeplessness that still plagues me, but I managed to sleep through the night a few days ago.
It hasn’t happened since, but yay me.
“You shouldn’t limit yourself,” the blonde says, checking her sleek ponytail. She looks like someone who may work a corporate job and spends her days making people cry. There’s this quiet confidence in her. “I’m new in town and if I didn’t go out alone, I’d lose my mind.”
We begin walking toward the exit and she hands me a business card.
“I’m shooting my shot. You’re gorgeous and don’t look like you’re claimed. I can tell these things. If you ever want to go out, let me know.”
Did she just hit on me?
I can’t think of anything to say as she walks off and I glance down at the card.
I shake my head as I also see her phone number and immediately hand it off to Easton.
“I think I just got hit on,” I mutter.