“I know you’re disappointed. No one wins them all. Put on your big boy pants and lock in for the next game,” Coach Miles told us.
“That was a tough loss. We have another chance though. We'll hit it hard,” Coach Ares added.
Very true. But we really wanted to win it. But, he was right. All we could do was focus. At least the next game was at home.
Too bad Kai wouldn’t be there in the stands.
“Ooof, that was rough.” Steven put his arm around me. He reeked. But so did I.
“Kai never replied to us.” I’d sent her a photo of us before the game.
“She did. Look.” Steven grabbed my phone.
Kai
Sorry! I had lab. At the watch party now.
Kai had added a photo of them with a bunch of students, including one with green hair, sitting on a couch, in what was probably a dorm lounge. A foosball table sat in the background.
They were even wearing the team shirt I’d got them. Seeing the text made me feel relieved. I’d been afraid that Kai was upset with us. Their tears and sadness on Saturday night haunted me.
I hearted it. I’d reply later. My family was waiting and I didn’t have a lot of time before the bus left for the airport. I wanted to at least give my parents hugs.
Steven joined me as I set off to find them. They all loved him.
“You boys played so hard. I’m so proud of you.” My mom opened her arms. She wore a jersey with my number on it. My omega mom was short, but not as short as Kai. I had her dark hair and eyes.
“Thanks, Mom.” I hugged her tight.
“You did well, too, Steven.” My mom gave him a too tight hug. She knew what his family was like.
“Thank you,” Steven whispered.
My grandma held out a plastic container. “I brought my hardworking boys cookies.”
Awww. Chocolate chip, I was sure. I’d learned to make them from her.
“Thanks, Grandma.” Steven took them, beaming.
“Good job, Sport.” My dad, who also wore my jersey, hugged me. It was his family who started the logging business.
My father wore Steven’s jersey. He also came from a logging family. His arms wrapped around Steven. “Proud of you.”
“That was a good game.” Pops was a beta lawyer. He wore a sweatshirt with the team logo on it.
We got all the hugs from my parents.
“Uncle Ash.” My nephew hugged my leg.
While I couldn’t get tickets for everyone, because there was a limited number we could buy, I was able to get enough for my parents, my older sister, my nephew and niece, and my grandma.
“Hey, sport.” I pulled a puck out of my pocket and gave it to him.
“That was a good game. It’s incredible you’re even here. I remember how much you wanted this when we were kids.” My sister hugged me tight.
My teenage niece looked up from her phone. “So… who’s Kai?”
Grandma perked. “I told you the blankets would work.”
