It’s a good fucking night. The Angels are heading back to their side of the world, while I get to enjoy mine. It also means I won’t have to see Rhodes or Skylar for a long fucking time.
CHAPTER FOUR
RHODES
“I’ll never get over how fast shit moves when we’re traded,” I say, relaxing in my seat.
We’re currently thirty thousand feet in the air on a plane headed to our first team meeting as Cougars. After this, maybe we’ll be able to focus again. It’s not like us to be distracted during a game, but watching Koen help pickpocket the Angels of their beloved puck gave me several gray hairs.
I even made Sky look to see if any of my pubic hair has gone gray. He was amused, but said that my well groomed hair is perfect as is. Ugh, this may be dramatic, but I’m still distressed over that game. I know Koen is the captain, but why does he have to be the one to fuck everyone else up as if he’s a fucking bruiser?
“Honestly, I’m glad no one is digging their heels in about trading us to the Cougars,” Skylar grumbles. “We both played like shit against them. My blood pressure was through the roof whenever Koen was hit on the ice, which was often.”
“Mine was too, but I’m going to play devil's advocate and say that he can handle himself,” I admit. “I don’t watch all the gametape you do because I live in my little bubble on the other side of the rink. However, Koen was very calculated in his fighting for the puck in enemy territory. I was still losing my shit though when the Angels cornered Koen. No one was with him, and I was very tempted to leave my position to fish him out.”
“Bad little captain fishie,” Skylar says with a smirk as I chuckle. “I completely abandoned what I was doing to pull Koen out the first time, and by that point he was bleeding. My job was to help keep the puck out of your crease, but I couldn’t.”
“Nah, I would much rather you protect our psychotic Viking. I can handle myself,” I mutter. “This game didn’t mean as much to either of us because we already knew where our loyalties were going to lie. The Angels have been good to us, but our home is with our omega.”
Skylar is quiet while he tastes the sincerity in my words before nodding. My scent gets sweeter when I’m being honest and sours when I lie. I have a great poker face because my scent tells the truth every time. I have to make sure I’m far enough away from people when I lie in case they know enough about me to catch my tell.
Not everyone is like this. It’s just one of my fun quirks.
For the most part, only Skylar and my parents know how to read me, which suits me just fine. I like appearing to be unreadable. It allows me the flexibility to get away with shit.
“Agreed,” Sky says. “I don’t think Koen knows what to make of us. The Angels were happy to see us go. We weren’t at our best. If I’m on the team as enforcer and D-man, then I can protect Koen better. I know it wasn’t the Cougars’ fault that he kept finding himself alone, but I’m still pissed it happened.”
“It’ll be fun to have someone as unhinged as we are to play with,” I admit softly as the captain announces that we’re going to be arriving soon. I can feel the plane begin to descend and I swallow hard.
My least favorite parts of flying are when we go up and come down. Turbulence is fine because we’re already in the air. Skylar’s hand flips over so I can hold it, and I accept the invitation before shoving my nose into his throat.
His scent is strongest here, and I need something to hold onto. No one else is sitting near us since it’s not a full flight, so there’s no one to watch me quietly freak the fuck out. I hate being vulnerable around strangers.
I can be silly and a nutcase in a crowd, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s just another layer that keeps people out, and allows me to be who I want to be.
Corsets, women’s lingerie, singing opera in my head while I’m playing hockey are integral parts of myself. No one gives me any shit, and if I want to wear sexy size fifteen heels, it’ll just be a goalie thing I do.
I didn’t initially intend to be a goalie when I first started playing as a kid, but the position found me and it stuck. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. My focus was fucked by the target on Koen’s back last weekend. However, I’m usually in the zone and locked in.
The Angels’ coach wasn’t very happy with me, and screamed his head off at me. I’m happy I no longer have to deal with that shit. Everyone has an off day, even the beloved goalie. I couldn’t help it.
“We’re almost there,” Skylar coos softly. “You’re doing so good, baby. I can’t wait to see exactly how well Koen will fit into our pack. The fight will be half the fun. Just think about all the pissed off faces he’ll make at us.”
Koen thinks he hides his thoughts well. To the outside world if you’re not paying attention, he’d be right. Sky and I notice everything though.
The bounce of the plane’s tires makes me shut my eyes tighter, and I’m relieved when the captain welcomes us toLakeview. It’s a moderate sized city outside of Minneapolis with a Midwest climate.
Shuddering, I look out the window to see that everything is covered in snow. I definitely need to go shopping for more warm clothing. While I have a small amount of it for traveling, it won’t be enough to get by as someone who now lives full time in Minnesota.
“Why the fuck is it still snowing in February?” I groan. “I’m not dressed for this.”
At least my sweatpants and hoodie are warm or I’d be fucked. I also had the forethought not to wear my slides.
Skylar and I packed up all of our belongings and shipped it to our new home. The team’s PR manager helped us find a storage unit to use until we are able to find more permanent housing. Until then, we’re going to be living out of a hotel room while we go house hunting.
Skylar was serious about this, and I’m finding that I agree. Koen will need a nest and space of his own. An apartment won’t be completely safe when he has his heat, and that makes me think of something.
“Oh fuck,” I breathe, sitting up. “What kind of bachelor pad does an omega have?”
