Chapter 7 Lincoln
LINCOLN
Itake a step back as Parker jumps to her feet, Casey racing around the corner as fast as her legs will carry her. The two collide, instantly wrapping their arms around each other.
A small smile plays on my lips as I watch them embrace. The sight also solidifies that I did the right thing by calling Casey, even if it is weird as fuck to have not just one but two women in my space.
I first picked up my cell long before Parker woke up. I was in desperate need of help, and thankfully, after a barrage of questions I mostly refused to answer, Casey gave me the information I needed to ensure Parker had something to wear when she got out of her shower.
So, while Parker might be confident in my abilities to look at a pair of tits and immediately know what size they are, it’s not actually true.
Did I need to buy her lingerie from La Perla? Absolutely not. I could have gotten panties from the same store I got the leggings from. But I couldn’t stop myself. The thought of treating her, of giving her a little bit of luxury while her world is falling apart, was too much to ignore.
As was the thought of knowing exactly what she’s wearing beneath those sexy leggings.
Jesus.
I drag my hand down my face as the two of them drop onto the couch.
The sound of Parker’s sobs fills the room, and it tugs at my chest. The urge to rush over there and be the one to comfort her is all-consuming. But I can’t.
I’m pretty sure I’ve already massively overstepped in my role of annoying-big-brother’s best friend. But I can’t stop myself. I want to help. I want to make things better for her. And damn it, if I’m being honest with myself, I want to be the one to make her smile on her worst day.
“You want coffee, Watson?” I ask, ripping my attention from them and stalking into the kitchen. Pain shoots through my groin, but I ignore it like I have for weeks now.
It’s weird as fuck, having women here.
“That would be great. Kodie and Sutton are waiting downstairs. They want to know if you fancy a spin around the rink.”
I glance back, and both women are looking at me with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes.
Christ, I don’t just have women in my apartment. I have crying women in my apartment.
Yeah, I need to get the fuck out of here.
Grabbing my cell from my pocket, I fire off a message to Kodie, letting him know that I’m gonna make his girl a coffee, then I’ll be down.
I set the machine going, then head to my bedroom to pull on some clothes.
I’m out the door as soon as I’ve delivered Casey her coffee. However, I make sure to tell them to call me if they need anything.
I find Kodie with his engine running, waiting just outside the entrance to my building.
“Storm!” a little voice shouts excitedly from the back as I drop inside.
“Hey, little Riv. How’s it going?”
“We’re going to skate; things are fantastic.”
I can’t help but chuckle at our little hockey addict.
“What are you drawing?” I ask, looking at her upside-down piece of art.
She lifts it from the makeshift desk of her lap and shows me a drawing of two women and a girl, all kitted up and standing in the middle of an ice rink.
“It’s for Parker. I did one before, and she had it on her fridge, but it’s gone now.” Hearing the sadness in her voice for one of the most important people in her life makes my chest tighten.
“Aw, she’ll love that. If you get it finished, maybe you can take it up to her after our session.”
“You mean, after I’ve beaten you,” she counters with a fierce look in her eye.
“Yeah, Lil Riv. After you’ve beaten us.”
Kodie puts the car into drive, forcing me to turn back around and pull my seat belt on as a heavy sigh spills from my lips.
“That bad?” Kodie asks, looking over at me with concern written all over his face. It’s not something I’m used to seeing from him.
Sure, Kodie and I struck up a friendship when he was first traded to the Vipers last season, but it’s only been in the last few months that he’s really allowed me into his life. Casey unlocked something in him, and it’s only making him a better person and player.
“It’s…not great,” I say after a moment of hesitation. I’m achingly aware that Sutton is sitting right behind me and probably listening to every word I’m saying. “It doesn’t sound like anything is going to be salvageable.”
“That sucks. At least insurance will cover it. That could take ages to come through, though.”
I bite down on my bottom lip, not wanting to spill what Parker told me earlier. Something tells me that she isn’t going to want everyone knowing about her little oversight. She’s already beating herself up about it as it is; the last thing she needs is judgment from the rest of us.
She’s left herself in a pretty shitty position, but we’ll figure it out.
“Casey is pissed at her dad,” Kodie suddenly says, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Uh…why?”
“He’s already promised her old apartment to a new social media intern. Parker could have moved in there if this happened two days ago.”
“That sucks. It’s not Coach’s fault, though. It’s not like he could have seen this coming. I tried bringing her to you last night,” I explain. “She refused point-blank. Wanted me to take her to a hotel.”
“The fuck?”
“Daddy,” Sutton warns, making him roll his eyes.
“Why didn’t she want to come to us?”
“Because it’s your family home. Because Casey just moved in. She didn’t want to intrude.”
“She’d have been more than welcome. She always is.”
I smile at my friend and teammate. He never would have offered his home out to anyone a few months ago. Hell, it took me long enough even to get his address, let alone to come for a visit.
“She’s thinking of you guys,” I reason.
“Parker is a good person.”
She’s the fucking best, I think, but keep the musing to myself.
“How did you end up involved in all this, anyway? Last we saw, she was scowling at you from across the party, and you were heading out with the guys.”
“Yeah, my plans changed. I ended up giving Parker a lift home, and…”
“You changed your mind about going out?” Kodie asks as if it’s the most absurd thing he’s ever heard.
“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling it. I was sticky from her Jack and Coke and tired from our week, so…”
Kodie glances over at me, but he’s not buying a single word of it.
“What?” I snap.
“Nothing,” he mutters before focusing back on the road as the arena comes into view in the distance.
“You like her,” Sutton pipes up, making Kodie snort a laugh.
“Of course—she’s my best friend’s little sister.”
Kodie makes a weird noise.
“She’s awesome, and she needs a boyfriend,” Sutton continues. “Maybe you can be her boyfriend.”
“Can’t risk it, Lil Riv. Rett would end me, and then what would the Vipers do?”
She thinks for a moment. “Good point.”
“Hey,” Kodie says. “We could manage without Storm.”
“Possibly, but you must admit that he does bring a lot to the team. I can think of maybe a couple of others who could take his spot. I think Andrey Petrov would probably be my top choice?”
“The fu-dge?” I correct quickly, remembering who I’m talking to.
Kodie’s grip on the wheel tightens at the mention of the Bandits winger. A little earlier in the season, Petrov was pictured dancing with Casey on a night out after a game. The next time we have a match-up, I’m pretty sure Kodie is going to make him pay for that little stunt.
“What? I’m just saying,” Sutton mutters as if she hasn’t just dismissed my presence on the team.
Kodie just laughs.
“You can shut the hell up,” I sulk as he pulls into the parking garage and finds his space alongside a few other familiar cars.
“I see this wasn’t a special invite, then,” I tease as we get out.
“Aw, aren’t you feeling like my number one, Storm?” Kodie taunts. “I love all my teammates equally.”
Punching him in the arm, I take off, leaving the annoying father and daughter behind me.
I love them dearly, but what is this, National Chirp on Lincoln Storm Day?
The guys’ voices hit my ears long before I see them.
Today is a day off, but I’m hardly surprised they all jumped at the chance to get on the ice.
We’re having a great season so far, and none of us wants to risk losing the momentum we’ve gained.
We’re going into the new year at the top of the division and second in the Western Conference. It’s better than we’ve achieved for years, and a really good sign about where this season could take us.
Playoffs, here we come.
Images of lifting the Stanley Cup alongside my brothers fill my head.
Fuck, I want it so fucking badly.
It’s what we’ve all worked for since we were little boys with a dream. And we’re the closest we’ve ever come.
Barely five minutes later, we have our skates on, Sutton in full pads and helmet, and we’re stepping onto the ice with our captain, Fletcher Ferguson, our goalie Cole Hansley, aka Handsy, our first line defensive pair Calvin Kellar, aka Killer, and Milo Makenna, aka Brit, and our second line defensive rookie, Hayden Monroe, aka Marilyn.
“Happy New Year,” Marilyn shouts like the overexcited puppy that he is. “We’re gonna win the cup this year.”
“Kid, you’re not even gonna be able to lift it,” Killer teases as he skates past him.
“Screw you, old man. I’m stronger than all of you and you know it.”
“Enough, children,” Fletch snaps once we’ve all had a chance to warm up a little. “Let’s set this up. Lil Rivers, you ready to face off?”
“You ready to lose?” Sutton taunts as if she’s not talking to a six-foot-three brute of a man.
I fucking love watching her hold her own with these guys. It’s funny as hell.
Fletch holds the puck between them, their eyes locked, their chests heaving.
“Come on, Lil Riv, you’ve got this,” I call.
She nods, accepting my encouragement, but other than that, she’s solely focused on the task at hand: winning.
Fletch drops the puck and Sutton steals it, shooting off to successfully score our first goal of the morning.
Ignoring the fact that he just failed to save a goal shot by a seven-year-old, Handsy grabs her and lifts her high in the air in celebration. She squeals as he does a victory lap with her before placing her back on center ice to start over again.
We play for thirty minutes before we all hit the bench, sweaty and out of breath, but with smiles on our faces.
“Fuck, I love you guys,” Marilyn says, earning himself a slap on the head from Kodie for swearing around Sutton.
“We love you too, Monroe, even if you’re like our annoying little kid,” Fletch states.
After a bit more banter, talk turns toward our upcoming games—both the Vipers and the Polar Bears, the girls’ team Sutton plays for.
She has no idea, but we’re all going to watch one of her games soon. We’ve had it planned for ages, and I’m eager to see her reaction.
She does it for us, so why shouldn’t we do the same for her?
Eventually, we say goodbye to the guys.
“Ready to head home?”
“To the crying women on my couch? No, not really.” I laugh, although it’s a lie. I’m more than ready to check on Parker.
But before that can happen, I need a favor.
“Can we head to a store on the way back?” I ask.
“Sure, which one?”’
“Sephora?” I ask hesitantly.
“Sephora?” Kodie echoes. “You need some more blush, Storm?”
“Something like that,” I mutter, shaking my head as I contemplate what I’m about to do.