My cheeks heat, and my nose scrunches. I definitely don’t want to be treated like anyone else’s daughter but his own. But I leave it for now and look around to my left where a man raises his hand to get my father’s attention. He always gets lost in the crowd, despite being handsome and lean with dark, shaggy hair, soft green eyes, and a five o’clock shadow.
I may or may not frequent the diner he works at on occasion to get a glimpse of him. He keeps to himself, and I wonder why he doesn’t put himself out there more. But there’s definitely something special about the attractive Beta. He makes me want to find out what’s going on under the mask.
“And that’s the mascot, Finnegan,” my father says.
“Ethan, sir,” the Beta replies.
“Right. Get suited up, and let’s get on the fucking ice,” my father says, dismissing Ethan completely.
He doesn’t look put out, just like he’s used to it. He lags behind as the team and staff pile out of the room. It was so full I didn’t even see Bram. I sigh out of frustration.
Ethan is grabbing a bottle of water and looking a little sad and left out, so I can’t help myself when I find myself approaching him. I’ve been wanting to get to know him better for awhile now, I just didn’t know if he was someone who would be more of a friend or potentially more. There are Betas who want nothing to do with pack life, which wouldn’t work for me. Pack life means everything to me.
“Sorry if my dad was an ass,” I say.
“I’m used to it,” he says, and then his cheeks heat adorably. “Not saying your dad’s an ass. Just saying no one really gives a shit about the mascot.”
“You know, I handle a lot of the team’s social media,” I say.
“Yeah, of course I know,” he says, a small little dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth; it’s precious. More than precious as he leans against the wall and crosses his arms. He isn’t big like the hockey players, but he has clear defined muscle and black and gray tattoos lacing up his arms.
He’s hot, and I’m not sure if he truly knows how gorgeous he is.
“Maybe I could help you get noticed more,” I say with a flirty smile.
“Why would you do that?” he asks.
I shrug and hold my clipboard close to my chest. “Everybody loves an underdog.”
I leave the meeting room with those words hanging, and something deep inside of me wants to see this Beta succeed.
And quite possibly, something even more.
CHAPTER 2
She didn’t look at me the entire meeting, and I might be pouting about it while I’m on the ice.
“What’s your problem, Nilsen?” Mikael Martel asks as he skates past me.
The two of us together are our strongest line of defense, and I know we’re going to need it this year with the subpar Connery taking over the goal. I understand why Alexi’s Omega can’t play professionally anymore, but did they really have to replace him with his dickhead brother?
“Fuck off,” I growl at Martel.
“God, I forgot what a ray of sunshine you are,” he says.
“Like you’re any better.”
The new offensive line coach, and our ex-captain, skates by. “He did get better once he bonded Charlotte and started popping babies out left and right,” Alexi says, pushing Martel on the ice.
“We really couldn’t get fucking rid of you? We’re not even on your line. Go bother someone else,” Martel complains, skating away.
“Cheer up, Nilsen. Now that I’m not on the team, you can be the most handsome,” Alexi says, and it nearly makes me crack a smile.
No man should be as charming as he is. The large Russian grins at me as he starts barking orders at his new offensive line. Eli Beckford is going to be the staple of the line and the team, and I just hope the rookies can keep up with our new captain.
I don’t see her beautiful, long, red hair or the stunning green dress she was wearing anywhere in the practice stands, and it makes my mood sour even more. I, of course, saw her over the various summer parties and team parties I forced myself to go to just to see her, but it’s been nearly two months.
Two months with no sunshine.
