Eli was smart in having Lori tell Charlotte and that old dude she’s with that we’re inviting them to the locker room. Mikael, of course, automatically assumed that Charlotte was on a date, but I know Charlotte. She didn’t look comfortable with that man at all. He’s pretty big, but I don’t think he’s an Alpha. One thing I know about Charlotte is if she was going to date again, which I don’t think she is, it would be with an Alpha.
We’re in the locker room, Coach Persson giving us feedback and kudos for the game. It was a shutout, and I feel pride swell in my chest that this is the game Charlotte got to see. Most of my gear is off, including my jersey, chest pads, and skates. My chest is bare, and my legs are still covered as I sit on the bench. My heart is racing from the adrenaline of the game and the thought that I’m going to be near Charlotte again.
Mikael and Eli are whisper-arguing next to me.
“You fucking invited her to the locker room with that old fucker. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that our scent match is here, and we need to talk to her and figure out what’s going on with her. Why did she leave us, and how can we fix it?”
“Fuck that. She’s clearly moved on. She left us, Eli. It’s time to move on.”
I scoff at Mikael’s words. Why is he so fucking stubborn?
“Don’t be a fucking idiot, Mikael. You and I know she wouldn’t leave without a reason.”
“She didn’t even do it to our face. Give us a chance to talk? She just vanished. What makes you think she wants to talk to you?” Mikael sneers.
“She sat through the game, didn’t she?” Mikael glares at me, and Eli smiles, clearly liking my train of thought.
“You two stay here. I’ll go see if Lori has brought them down.” I glance around the locker room. “Everyone put your dick away. We’re about to have company.” A bunch of my teammates scoff, but they do as I say, protecting their modesty. Lori passes through the locker room and points her thumb toward the hallway.
“They’re right outside. Seems like she’s trying to get out of the situation.”
I grunt and nod my head at Lori as I softly open the door and hear their conversation. Charlotte’s back is against the brick wall as the older man has an arm against the wall, looking down at her.
“Come on, Charlotte. I’m looking for a team player for this position. Don’t you want to prove to me how good you can be as an employee?”
“I’m sorry, John. I appreciate the opportunity, but I just can’t go in there.”
“Aw, come on, Charlotte. I thought Omegas were supposed to be obedient.” His fingers touch a lock of her hair, and I lose it. I march up to the man and push him so hard he falls on his ass.
“Don’t touch her,” I say, pointing down at the man.
His hands are up in surrender as he sputters, “Sorry. I must have had too many beers. All I wanted was for her to come into the locker room with me.” Yeah, sure, that’s all this fucker wanted.
“Then go into the locker room by yourself. Leave Charlotte the fuck alone.”
He nods, getting to his feet and skittering to the locker room. I turn to Charlotte and instinctively go to touch her face. She shrinks away and shakes her head.
“It’s okay,Kulta. I’m here now.”
She shakes her head, and her fists are balled against her sides.
“You’re here now?” She laughs sarcastically, definitely not in a funny way as she puts more space between us. “You’re here now?”
“He was hitting on you and trying to make you do something you didn’t want to do.”
“He was going to be my boss!”
I furrow my brows and shake my head at her, wondering how she is supposed to manage finishing up school and holding a job. “Well then, I did you a favor. That asshole is a scumbag.”
“I needed that job, A—” She stops herself from saying my name.
“What do you need, Charlotte? I’ll give you whatever you need. Please, can we just talk?”
“What do I need?” she says with a venom I’ve never heard from her before. She scoffs and walks away from me. I grab her by the arm and spin her. “What do I need!” she shouts as she spins around, her blonde hair whipping me in the face.
“What I needed were my Alphas by my side when I was grieving over my dead mother. But they were out partying with their new agent. I saw all the pictures on your agent’s Instagram story. While I watched my mom die next to me, you three were surrounded by women and celebrating a future without me. What I needed was this fucking job, because I’m broke and didn’t go back to school and Piper pays for everything. What I need is for you three to leave me the fuck alone, because it will never work.”
