Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(25)
“That's great,” my voice was pitched slightly higher than normal. “I remember the twins mentioning you were captain of a Kohl team, but I honestly have no idea what that is or how it’s played,” I admitted hoping he wouldn’t detect my irritation at the date comment. Dante proceeded to launch into an in-depth, albeit very confusing, explanation of the supernatural game Kohl. There’s a person who is essentially a goalie defending a flag, a group of enforcers who try and knock out the other team, and then the attacking group who are tasked with capturing the flag by any means necessary. Well, not including mortal wounds or permanent damage obviously.
“It’s a game you have to see to really understand. I mean, I’m the captain and I still have a hard time explaining it to those who’ve never seen a match,” he chuckled at my confused expression.
“No, I think I’m following. What role do you play in the game?”
“I’m what’s called a Rover. I can jump in for any position needed at any time,” he explained. The more he spoke on the topic, the more his eyes lit up. He must really enjoy this game, I hadn’t seen him this animated over anything else. “For example,” he started, grabbing a stapler and some other office supplies to create a makeshift field on the desk in front of us. “If the goalie was being hounded by Raiders, I could jump in and be an assisting Guardian. Or if the Enforcers are struggling, I can back them up as well.” I nodded and kept my face blank, hoping he didn’t see how lost I was. “You didn’t understand any of that did you,” he said with a teasing smile.
“No,” I said with a smile of my own, continuing to nod. He shook his head at me and continued.
“Raiders are the ones responsible for retrieving the flag, a Guardian is the official name for the goalie, as for the Enforcers,” he trailed off trying to come up with a comparison, “think beater in Quidditch.” I stared at him in awe.
“Like Harry Potter?! Oh, I have got to see this game,” my excitement was blatant in my words.
“Well, good, we have a game on the 21st, you can see it all play out then. The captains are the only Rovers and everyone has the go-ahead to defend themselves, but Enforcers are the only ones who can actively ‘attack’,” he finger quoted.
“Sounds both intriguing, yet utterly terrifying. I have no idea how I would even fair in a Kohl game. I can barely use my powers,” I coughed out a laugh at the crazy idea of me on the field.
“Don’t worry, we’ll all be alright and if not, there’s the hospital wing in the administration building for a reason,” Dante finished up the last of the Indian dessert he brought for us after I motioned of being way too full, even for dessert. “You’re going to come watch the games right?”
“Of course, I’ll come. I want to support my guys and, you know, understand what the hell people are talking about when they bring up Kohl,” my voice rang with amusement.
“Your guys, huh?” Dante’s face broke into a smirk with an eyebrow raised. It just occurred to me what I said and immediately felt heat rush to my cheeks.
“You know what I mean, not my guys, but more my group of friends that I want to show my support to,” I quickly rattled off gesturing wildly before I could dig a bigger hole for myself in this deep grave I’d already started. I laid my head on the desk with a thump, groaning. Bury me now please, my headstone shall read ‘Death by Social Awkwardness’.
“What’s the difference between the guys and my guys,” the latter part of the statement was laced heavily with innuendo.
“Uh…” I struggled to figure out what I was going to say without sounding perverted or overly possessive. Thankfully, Dante took mercy on me.
“I’m just teasing, firecracker, don’t worry. I know the twins will be happy knowing you’re out in the stands rooting for us,” he stood up to throw the trash away.
“The twins are on the team too? Wait, just the twins? You won’t be happy I’ll be there?” I couldn’t help the hint of flirtiness that slid into my voice. Dante didn’t disappoint in his response.
“You know damn well I’ll be happy you’re there, firecracker,” he had leaned over me with his chest brushing my right arm, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered. The deep melodic sound of his voice rumbled in my chest causing a small shiver to run down my back and my breathing to pick up speed. He glanced over his shoulder at the clock hanging on the wall, “damn, I have to get going. Thank you for having dinner with me, Lucie. I’ll text you.” He straightened up and walked back around the counter. With a wave and a smile, he pushed out the front doors stepping outside into the fading sun.
8
September 2nd
Sunday Morning
Lucienne
I pushed open the door to the library, stuffed from a breakfast with Sadie that consisted of delicious cinnamon rolls and fruit cups. Got to toss some kind of healthy food in there. I wasn’t working today, but I figured getting a day to work on upcoming reading and assignments would be the smart thing to do. Walking towards the back of the main study area, I found a small two-person table right under one of the windows. I placed my book bag on the floor against the table leg and pulled out my notebook, a pen, and my textbook; An Introduction to Supernatural Society: The History of Supernatural Integration into Human Society. I decided to just jump right into reading before looking over the syllabus, not really caring about the upcoming assignments at the moment.