Page 54 of Knot Your Rebel

I frown, trying to look repentant for my actions. “I’m sorry about that. It’s been a crap morning, and I just really wanted to make it home. I’m sure you know how that goes.”

She gives me a big grin as if she thinks I’m trying to relate to her. “I get it, believe me. And, hell, I should give you a ticket for being reckless, but I gotta be honest. My kids got a birthday coming up, and he’s your biggest fan. We don’t miss a game in our house. He’s even begged me to start letting him go to the ice rink with his friends.”

My mind starts to assess what I’ve got in my car that I could possibly sign and give to her, but I left most of my crap in the locker room, and what I did bring with me smells like sweaty balls.

“Well, you caught me on the one day I don’t have anything on me, but….”

“Wait, right here.” I watch as she jogs back to her cruiser and rouses around in the backseat. Please, don’t tell me she just drives around with random shit in her cruiser, waiting for us to get pulled over. Surely, not, right?

But as she pulls away from the backseat, I notice a jersey in her hand as she walks back up to my car. “How about this?” A faint pink flushes her face as she looks away in embarrassment.

I give her my best grin. “Absolutely. I’ll sign that and do you one better. Write down your address and name. I’ll give it to my PR girl and have her send you tickets to one of the games for his birthday?”

“Really?” Her eyes widen as she looks down at me through the window.

“Of course.” I rummage around in my console and find a paper and pen to get her information. I wonder if this is illegal, what she’s doing, but it’s getting me out of a ticket, so I’ll take it.

Ten minutes later, she’s back in her cruiser, and I’m on my way again. I pull up and park in front of the house. Walking into the house, I notice the difference. My home used to be a place of solace, but now it’s too quiet. There’s no life in it. I need my fierce little omega here, filling the house with her apple pie scent.

Well… time to get packed and go take my omega out for dinner, or maybe, I’ll make her dinner. Another reason I wish she was already fucking moved in. Soon enough.

Soon enough.

twenty one - rebel

. . .

My afternoon has been stressful, so what I’m looking forward to most when I get home tonight is taking a long ass soak in the jacuzzi tub. My muscles are sore and achy from practicing with the ice crew. It’s been a while since I’ve spent that much time on the ice, but it's cathartic. It brings back the poetically beautiful, yet sad, memories of spending all that time with Drake at the rink.

I still have a niggling feeling in the back of my mind about the name on the locker beside Tate’s the other day in the locker room. Why did the name seem so familiar? I wish I knew what he looked like now, but it pains me to say I don’t remember his last name.

It’s been so many years. My heart palpitates on overdrive every single moment the thought of him comes to mind. I’m mated now. I shouldn’t be thinking about it, but I can’t help it. What if he was my one? What if I’m stuck with Tate for forever? I doubt he’d let me go.

Sweat trickles down my back on my drive home. Nova’s been talking my face off since we left the rink, but I honestly have no idea what she’s saying.

As we pull up to Nova’s place, I notice the car in the driveway. It’s one I’m starting to know all too well. A matte silver Audi S7 sits as though it belongs there. Seeing the car brings a warmth to my chest despite the fact that I don’t want it to.

“Well, well, well…. Looks like he just makes himself right at home.” Her tone is sarcastic as she says it.

“I’m sorry, Nova.”

She looks over at me, a somber look on her face as she grabs my hand. “As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Maybe you should consider moving in with him since you’re both mated now.”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. Besides… what happens if I run into Drake again?” My eyes find hers, and she reads me all too well. She’s known about Drake since I first moved into Eberly’s house. She’s heard all the stories and knows how absolutely heartbroken I was when he moved out.

“You know it’s no longer uncommon to be mated to more than one alpha these days, right?”

I look at her and deadpan. “Do you really think Tate Geekies would ever share me with anyone?”

“Only one way to find out….” Her comment makes my eyebrows furrow. What the heck?

“What do you mean?” She chews on her bottom lip. A tell tale sign that she’s been hiding something from me. I narrow my eyes on her. “Speak. Now.”

“Well… I may have posted your photos on my website, and my views skyrocketed. I’ve never had that many views before either. Maybe you should open yourself up an OmegaFans account. Could bring in some extra money, and you’re hot…. Plus…. Tate may actually hate it. In case you, ya know, wanted to get him all hot and bothered.”

“Hmm…” It’s my only response, but the sad part is that I’m considering it. Tate needs to realize that he doesn’t own me despite the fact that his mark lives on my skin. Eventually, he’ll leave me. They always do.

I was let down by the people who were supposed to love me the most, and they left me. Drake was the second person I ever loved, and he walked away without another word. Tate will tire of me. He’ll get over this infatuation and move on. Will it wreck me in the process? Probably.

---