The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

ARIA

The next morning, silence falls upon Uncle Barty and me.

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It’s a tense and sullen kind of silence. In the car last night, he didn’t tell me anything about the match, but I’m not holding it against him. I understand that our loss really cost our pack a lot and as the coach, I think he feels partly responsible for it. even though he shouldn’t.

If Ryder hadn’t broken his stick, the Moonveils would never have scored.

I wish I knew how to cheer him up but I’m not in the mood for it either. I’m still thinking about the whole chaotic incident that occurred before the match and I can’t help but wonder if it influenced the results of the match in some way.

The team captain and one of the players had fought before such a challenging game. Surely there have to be consequences to such a thing.

But I don’t want to think about it anymore. It makes me too sick.

I find Uncle Barty seated at the kitchen table, and he’s prepared breakfast for me, too. It’s nine, and that means that if he’s still here, he won’t be heading to the university to train anyone.

I want to ask him what he’ll do for the rest of the day, but I decide against it.

We eat in silence for a few seconds, but then we’re interrupted by our phone ringing. Uncle Barty and I exchange a look, and I rise. “I’ll get it.”

I take a few steps toward the wall and grab the phone from the receiver. “Yes?”

“Aria? It’s Mrs. Ortega!”

I smile. My uncle gives me a questioning look. “Oh, hi Mrs. Ortega.”

“Hi,” she says cheerfully. “It’s so good to hear your voice! I’m sorry I missed the game yesterday. Can you tell your uncle that? We just had so much to do. But Luca went in our place. Did you see him?”

“I did ”

“We were sorry to hear of the loss. I’m sure your uncle is taking the result badly.”

“He’ll live,” I half-joke. I don’t understand the purpose of her call at all.

Mrs. Ortega laughs like I’ve just said the funniest thing in the world. “Oh, I’m sure he will. But listen… I called because I wanted to invite you to a show tonight. Have you heard about it? A local band will be playing a few instruments and it’s supposed to be fun. What do you think?”

I heard about the show. There were fliers all over campus, but I hardly paid attention to them because I never go to such events anyway. Who would I go with? Plus, I was preoccupied with the game.

And we know how that turned out

I want to say no Give an excuse and tell her that I’m way too busy with something else. But I glance at my uncle and see that he looks curious but also hopeful. And that alone makes me agree to her plan. “Alright. Thank you for the invitation. I’d love to join you.”

We set up the meeting place and the time, and then I hang up. Uncle Barty flashes me a smile. “I take it you’re determined to have some fun today?”

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17 21 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 33

“Do you mind?”

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“Are you kidding? Go have some fun. I’m sick and tired of you sing around the house and not doing anything. It’s the only reason why I introduced you to them anyway.”

I still have the whole day to myself, but I’ve always been someone who can’t relax when they have an appointment later in the day. I could be studying, reading, or even taking a nap to rest from the stressful moment that was last night, but I’m wide awake just watching the clock tick. Doing nothing but waiting.

When the time comes, I finally get ready, opting to wear flare jeans and a baby blue sweater that I love along with white shoes. I find my uncle in the kitchen and, to my surprise, he’s all dressed up.

“Unc?”

He turns his head to give me a look. He’s smiling and everything “How do I look?”

“You’re coming with me?”

“Nope. I’ve got a date.”

My eyes widen. “A date?”

He turns to face me fully. “What do you think? Think she’ll like ”

“I know she will,” I say, hyping him up. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look this good, Unc. Who’s the lucky lady?”

His grin is broad. “Mind your business, will you? And don’t keep Mrs. Ortega waiting. Hurry along now. The theater isn’t that far from here.”

I leave and walk toward the theater. It’s literally a twenty-minute walk away. I get there in no time. I’m anxious to find out. how many people will be present, but I push it all aside when I see Luca standing near the entrance where his mother told me she’d be, wearing a bright orange jacket.

When our eyes meet, he smiles and closes the distance between us. “Aria. Hi.”

I look around and I don’t see her at all. What’s going on here? “Where’s your Mom?”

“Oh, something unexpected came up and she wouldn’t have been able to come, so she asked me to come in her place. I hope that’s okay?”

“Sure. Yeah, of course. I just thought I’d ask.”

I think she set me up on a possible date with her son. I don’t believe she got busy at all.

And I don’t know how to feel about that.

“I’m glad you came,” he claims. “Should we get some snacks first before we head into the theater?”

I agree and we head to where the snacks are being sold. Because anyone could enter the theater, we don’t have to pay an entrance fee, but we do have to buy the snacks and I’m glad I brought some money with me.

Luca and I queue up, and he’s right behind me. “What will you have?”

“Probably just a soda and some popcorn. You?”

“Yeah, the same.”

This place is pretty crowded and it makes me wonder if there will even be space inside the theater for us to sit. Suddenly, a

loud group walks through the doors, and I turn to look at them the way everyone does.

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17:21 Sat. Feb 21

Chapter 33

Ryder and the other hockey players. His friends. I don’t spot Tyler.

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They’re being followed by a group of girls I’ve seen around campus but don’t have any classes with. I must admit that the sight of him makes my heart beat faster and my blood thickens in my veins, especially because I’m here with Luca. I start to look away, determined not to look at him, but then he snaps his bead in my direction and we make eye contact.

Oh my.

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