Page 71 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs
“I am incrediblyproudof each of you,” he says. “That was a rough game, and not because of this team. You persevered through a metric assload of bullshit from the other team. You could have stooped to their level and you didn’t.” He pauses, looking around. “It’s rare that I’m proud of a loss, but I’m proud of that one. I don’t wanna win if that’s what we have to do to secure it.”
Murmurs of assent rise from the group.
He nods. “Most of you aren’t full-timers, either, and it meansa lot to me that you gave it your all today regardless of your skyball dreams. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” He looks at Ohken and dips his head respectfully.
A beat of silence becomes two, then three.
The players stare raptly at Manorin.
He smiles, removing his hands from his pockets and lifting them. “Another huge thanks to my academy friends for coming to support. I don’t know what’ll happen tomorrow or the next day, but this opportunity to be part of the Ever Misfits has been an absolute highlight for me. Thank you, Evertons, for being so welcoming. Hope you keep me around.” He winks, and shouting and whooping rises from the crowd.
The happy noises echo off the ceiling as the players stand and one by one greet Manorin with hugs and handshakes. They begin to dissipate after that, and I stand by the door, watching as he does the post-game wrap-up.
It irks me for the other team that Gil didn’t seem to do anything like this. I don’t use a lot of curse words, but that male is an absolute dickhead.
As the players filter out, Manorin comes to me and pulls me into his arms, resting his forehead against mine. “What a shitshow,” he murmurs, his nose ring jiggling against my chin.
He slides his hand up the front of my throat and grips it lightly, a deep sigh leaving him. “Missed you the entire time.”
I brush my fingertips along his tapered ears. “Well, the good news is that if anybody herewantedto hire Gil, I’m pretty sure he ruined any chance of being Ever’s pick.”
I mean the comment in a lighthearted tone, but Manorin grumbles anyhow. “The day I miss out on a job opportunity to a jackass like that is the day I’ve truly lost my mojo.”
I can’t think of anything to say to that. I want to mention that I saw Rip Shorthorn, but I don’t know?—
“Shorthorn’s here,” Manorin says softly, parting from me but pulling me toward one of the benches. He straddles it and sitsme across from him, pulling my thighs over his and holding me steady against him. “Offered me the Punishers job. He’s officially retiring soon.”
Dread fills me so fast, I choke on it, sputtering as I attempt to drum up an answer that sounds supportive. I knew when I saw him, but to hear Nor say it…
“I know,” Manorin says with a heavy sigh. “I think part of me was pretty sure he was kidding when he mentioned retiring.” Crimson eyes come to mine.
“Do you have an offer?” It’s all I can manage.
“Forthcoming,” he says with a grumble.
I roll my shoulders, trying to center myself as I consider what this means. Can I ask him to stay for me? Should I? Could I forgive myself if I asked him to do that, knowing he wants to be in Pine Gulch?
He strokes my hair over my shoulder. “I’m not taking that job, Sunshine. I can’t lose you. I won’t. Not this time.”
Hope fills me right along with the dread and upset. “This is your dream job, Nor.”
“It’s not the job, really,” he says. “That program’s rock solid and built. What originally interested me about Ever was building from the ground up. The main thing attracting me to PG at this point is just that it’s home.” His eyes go soft at the edges. “But it won’t feel like home to me without you. I love you to the ends of this world, Catherine. I’m staying right here with you.”
I press myself against him, brushing his snout with my nose as I stare up into those dark eyes. “I love you too, harder and faster and deeper than I could ever have imagined loving someone.”
He beams at me. “Good. ‘Cause you’re stuck with me, Sunshine. And you better give me the Ever job because I’m not ready to be retired.”
I laugh. We both know he’s got that job locked and loaded.
But as he dips me backward and kisses down the front of my neck, discomfort niggles its way through my mind.
He’s giving something up to be with me, something he’s wanted for his entire life.
I just can’t have that, not at all.
I have to find a way to fix this for him.
I want his dreams to come true. I know I’m one of them, but it’s not enough. Not for me. I will fix this…somehow.
