Beast Behaving Badly
Page 10
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Who said I didnt like him?
You said you screamed at him that he sucked.
Because Im his toughest fan. Phil lifted his hands up as if what he was telling her was somehow obvious to the entire universe. Which is way better than being just his most loyal or whatever. Right, Mitch?
Absolutely.
Disgusted, Blayne said, The man is a total asshole. He fights with his own teammates. During a game! Who does that?
I dont care if he beats his entire team to death, Mitch said, disgusting Blayne even more, which she didnt think was possible. As long as he keeps winning for teams I support.
This isnt about Dallas again, is it?
He should have never joined that team. It was the ultimate betrayal.
Blayne looked down the table at Jess, crossing her eyes, because, yes, shed lived through this ridiculous Philly Shifter argument before.
Hey, Mitch leaned in. Since you know the guy, maybe you can hook me up with a signed jersey.
I dont know the guy and Im not getting you shit.
Its like you dont love me at all.
I dont.
Fine. Be that way. But you can still get me a jersey.
Two, Phil added. Two signed jerseys.
Im not getting either of you anything.
Why the hell not?
Because Bo Novikov represents everything thats wrong in shifter sports. She began to count off on her fingers, No sportsmanship. No team spirit. No mentoring rookie or young players.
Youre so nave! Mitch cried out in his usual dramatic fashion. High morals dont make you a champion. And, he added, its because of this attitude that Gwenies probably going to make you second string for the championship bout against the Texas Longfangs, so she can bring in Pussies Galore from the Jamaica Me Howlers.
Her hands dropping into her lap, Blayne asked, What?
Mitch, most likely realizing how quiet everyone had suddenly become, looked around the table before focusing on Blayne. Gwen, uh, did mention that to you, didnt she?
Phil relaxed back in his chair. Im guessing not.
Blayne shoved her chair back and stood, Mitch grabbing her arm. Wait! Im probably wrong. Im sure
It isnt that she would make that decision, Blayne snarled, yanking her arm out of Mitchs grip, its that she would talk to you about it before me. She swiped up her backpack and spun to leave, pulling the straps of her bag over her shoulder at the same time. And, yeah, she kind of knew she hit Mitch in the process, sending him flying into the middle of the dining table. Too bad she couldnt bring herself to care!
Ignoring the wild dogs calling her back to the table, she went to the front door and yanked it open. The grizzly on the other side jerked back.
Oh. Hey, Blayne. Lock MacRyrie smiled down at her. I brought Sabina her damn chest of drawers so I dont have to hear her asking me for it anymore.
Gwen with you?
Locks smile faded and he motioned behind him. Yeah. Shes
Blayne pushed past the bear and went down the front stairs to the still running pickup Lock used to deliver his handmade furniture. She knocked on the window and Gwen, grinning, rolled down the window.
Hey, girl! I didnt know you were going to be here today.
Wild dog brunch.
You and your breakfast food obsession. Gwen rested her arm on the window. So whats up?
So . . . Pussies Galore as your blocker, huh?
Gwens gold eyes grew wide, her expression stunned. Blayne, wait. Its just
No. No. No need to explain. She rocks. Ive seen her play.
Blayne
And the Longfangs are really tough. Tougher than me, apparently. So I understand.
Blayne, were not replacing you, but this is the championships, hon. We need a little bit of an edge.
An edge I dont have.
Youre too damn nice, Gwen stated bluntly. Youre constantly apologizing to the other team, and you hold yourself back because you dont want to hurt anybody. So yeah, she said, getting pissed, I guess you dont have that edge we need.
Blayne stepped back from the truck. She knew she couldnt say anything at the moment because shed start what her dad called, All that goddamn blubbering.
Blayne, wait.
Gwen unlocked the door and pushed it open, but Blayne rushed off. She needed to figure out what she was going to do next. She may be nicesomething she refused to see as a cursebut that didnt mean she was weak. And she would never give up something shed worked so hard to get.
No. There had to be a way to prove them all wrong. To prove that she wasnt just the Babes resident cheerleader. A title shed loved until this very moment.
Yeah. Shed prove them all wrong.
CHAPTER 4
Bo glanced at his watch. Eight a.m. Time to hit the treadmill.
He left the ice, waving at a couple of the maintenance guys who knew him by name and went to the locker room. He changed out of his hockey gear and into sweats and sneakers. Locking up everything, he checked his watch again and jogged out of the locker room and down several floors. Bo pushed the door open, waved at a couple of other maintenance men who knew him by name, and headed to the massive gym that every team player, no matter the sport or whether they were on a minor or major league team, had access to. He wasnt rushing his run since this was a warm-up but was about to pick up the speed before charging into the gym and jumping on a treadmill, when a frustrated groan and a sniffle caught his attention. So did the scent.
You said you screamed at him that he sucked.
Because Im his toughest fan. Phil lifted his hands up as if what he was telling her was somehow obvious to the entire universe. Which is way better than being just his most loyal or whatever. Right, Mitch?
Absolutely.
Disgusted, Blayne said, The man is a total asshole. He fights with his own teammates. During a game! Who does that?
I dont care if he beats his entire team to death, Mitch said, disgusting Blayne even more, which she didnt think was possible. As long as he keeps winning for teams I support.
This isnt about Dallas again, is it?
He should have never joined that team. It was the ultimate betrayal.
Blayne looked down the table at Jess, crossing her eyes, because, yes, shed lived through this ridiculous Philly Shifter argument before.
Hey, Mitch leaned in. Since you know the guy, maybe you can hook me up with a signed jersey.
I dont know the guy and Im not getting you shit.
Its like you dont love me at all.
I dont.
Fine. Be that way. But you can still get me a jersey.
Two, Phil added. Two signed jerseys.
Im not getting either of you anything.
Why the hell not?
Because Bo Novikov represents everything thats wrong in shifter sports. She began to count off on her fingers, No sportsmanship. No team spirit. No mentoring rookie or young players.
Youre so nave! Mitch cried out in his usual dramatic fashion. High morals dont make you a champion. And, he added, its because of this attitude that Gwenies probably going to make you second string for the championship bout against the Texas Longfangs, so she can bring in Pussies Galore from the Jamaica Me Howlers.
Her hands dropping into her lap, Blayne asked, What?
Mitch, most likely realizing how quiet everyone had suddenly become, looked around the table before focusing on Blayne. Gwen, uh, did mention that to you, didnt she?
Phil relaxed back in his chair. Im guessing not.
Blayne shoved her chair back and stood, Mitch grabbing her arm. Wait! Im probably wrong. Im sure
It isnt that she would make that decision, Blayne snarled, yanking her arm out of Mitchs grip, its that she would talk to you about it before me. She swiped up her backpack and spun to leave, pulling the straps of her bag over her shoulder at the same time. And, yeah, she kind of knew she hit Mitch in the process, sending him flying into the middle of the dining table. Too bad she couldnt bring herself to care!
Ignoring the wild dogs calling her back to the table, she went to the front door and yanked it open. The grizzly on the other side jerked back.
Oh. Hey, Blayne. Lock MacRyrie smiled down at her. I brought Sabina her damn chest of drawers so I dont have to hear her asking me for it anymore.
Gwen with you?
Locks smile faded and he motioned behind him. Yeah. Shes
Blayne pushed past the bear and went down the front stairs to the still running pickup Lock used to deliver his handmade furniture. She knocked on the window and Gwen, grinning, rolled down the window.
Hey, girl! I didnt know you were going to be here today.
Wild dog brunch.
You and your breakfast food obsession. Gwen rested her arm on the window. So whats up?
So . . . Pussies Galore as your blocker, huh?
Gwens gold eyes grew wide, her expression stunned. Blayne, wait. Its just
No. No. No need to explain. She rocks. Ive seen her play.
Blayne
And the Longfangs are really tough. Tougher than me, apparently. So I understand.
Blayne, were not replacing you, but this is the championships, hon. We need a little bit of an edge.
An edge I dont have.
Youre too damn nice, Gwen stated bluntly. Youre constantly apologizing to the other team, and you hold yourself back because you dont want to hurt anybody. So yeah, she said, getting pissed, I guess you dont have that edge we need.
Blayne stepped back from the truck. She knew she couldnt say anything at the moment because shed start what her dad called, All that goddamn blubbering.
Blayne, wait.
Gwen unlocked the door and pushed it open, but Blayne rushed off. She needed to figure out what she was going to do next. She may be nicesomething she refused to see as a cursebut that didnt mean she was weak. And she would never give up something shed worked so hard to get.
No. There had to be a way to prove them all wrong. To prove that she wasnt just the Babes resident cheerleader. A title shed loved until this very moment.
Yeah. Shed prove them all wrong.
CHAPTER 4
Bo glanced at his watch. Eight a.m. Time to hit the treadmill.
He left the ice, waving at a couple of the maintenance guys who knew him by name and went to the locker room. He changed out of his hockey gear and into sweats and sneakers. Locking up everything, he checked his watch again and jogged out of the locker room and down several floors. Bo pushed the door open, waved at a couple of other maintenance men who knew him by name, and headed to the massive gym that every team player, no matter the sport or whether they were on a minor or major league team, had access to. He wasnt rushing his run since this was a warm-up but was about to pick up the speed before charging into the gym and jumping on a treadmill, when a frustrated groan and a sniffle caught his attention. So did the scent.
