Page 43 of Traded

Boone pockets his phone before I can stop him. He’s not smiling. “This is called a peace offering, Ragdoll. Don’t yell at me.”

My day’s already ruined. And now my coffee, too?

This is too fucking much.

“I can pay for my own damn coffee,” I snarl, swiping the cup.

Even Gio’s easy smile wavers. Embarrassment sweeps over me as the three alphas tense. Boone’s eyebrows flick up, amusement tugging up his cheeks to show off a perfectly placed dimple. “I’m happy to explain what a peace offering is if you want an explanation.”

Ass.

“What I want is for you to leave me alone,” I snap. My face is on fire, and I avoid looking at Mackenzie or Yukov, both of whom suddenly find a strong interest in the wall. “Seriously, Boone. Shouldn’t be a problem, should it? We both know you’re good at it.”

He doesn’t move, but I catch the flicker of darkness across his features. The tension that sweeps over him, any amusement fading away. “Whatever you say.”

He stalks off down toward their own locker room before I can say anything else. I watch him go, Mackenzie raising a hand and Yukov giving me a grunted goodbye before they follow.

They pass a nervous-looking Lauren, and I mentally smack my forehead with my hand. Several times.

She approaches me with the same caution I’d probably give a cornered rhino. “Hey.”

I grip my coffee like a lifeline. “Hey.”

She hoists her stupid bag higher on her shoulder. “Look, I’ve got a few meetings booked in until three.”

Which gives me five hours to adjust to the very real reality that she’s moving into my home. Tonight.

The invasion continues.

But it sounds like an offer, and I grab it with both hands. “I’ve got… meetings too. I’ll meet you by the doors at three.”

I’m gone before she can do more than nod, stumbling on my merry way to my non-existent meetings. I don’t even know where I’m going.

Or maybe I do.

He’s not in Martin’s office. Or the empty locker rooms, the rest of the team still out on the ice. I stop by Leo’s workshop long enough to mutter a mumbled apology for the glass and my ‘accidental’ clumsiness, getting anI’m annoyed but I’ll fix itgrunt in return.

Elena’s rooms are dark and empty.

He’s sitting on the exam table in Mina’s office. I barely knock before sticking my head around the door.

Carter takes in the expression on my face. “Mina, can we borrow the room for a minute?”

“Sure. Have a chat. I need to speak to Gabe anyway.” She picks up an x-ray scan and gives me a smile before slipping out. I awkwardly shuffle in, suddenly uncertain as Carter pushes the door closed.

“Tell me,” he says gently.

That's all it takes. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out except a broken little sound that I don't recognize as mine.

His offered arms feel like a lifeline. I burrow into him as tightly as I can get, my hands probably stretching his practice jersey with the tightness of my grip as I blurt out what happened. “Ihatethis.”

“I know.” He runs a hand down my back. “Jonas will be kicking himself.”

“Will he?” I mutter. “Because I don’t see him here.”

Carter taps lightly on my back. “You know Coach won’t let him off the ice until practice is done.”

Theoretically, I know that. But I also know that if he really wanted to, he’d find a way.