Chapter 10 Parker
PARKER
Ican’t knock him. Living with Linc does have its advantages. For example, when he came back from practice yesterday with five new Vipers polo shirts and a zip-up for me so I could turn up this morning actually looking like I belonged.
And it’s that little logo sitting above my left breast that I find myself staring at in disbelief just over thirty minutes before I need to be at the arena to start my first day.
I’ve had four weeks to get used to the idea of having my dream become reality. But now it’s here, I don’t feel like it’s settled in at all.
Puffing out my cheeks, I let out a long, slow breath.
This is it. It’s really happening.
“You’ve got this,” I say to myself before pulling on my zip-up and hooking my purse over my shoulder.
Casey finished work early yesterday and swung by to pick me up so we could go shopping and collect my car, which was still sitting in the parking lot of my building.
Thankfully, I had a key in my purse; otherwise, it would have been sitting there until I’m able to get into my apartment to see if it was useable or not.
At least I can be a little bit independent now and not rely on everyone else for every little thing.
Linc has been fantastic. Better than I could have ever hoped for. But it’s time for me to stand on my own two feet.
He has a job to focus on. Hell, so do I.
With butterflies rioting in my stomach, I make my way to the kitchen to grab a cereal bar I bought yesterday when I did some grocery shopping, and when I open the fridge for a bottle of water, I stop dead in my tracks.
There on the middle shelf is a travel cup with a Post-it note stuck to it.
Good luck today.
Pulling it free, I twist the top and find an iced coffee inside.
Shaking my head, I lift it to my lips and take a sip, too desperate for my morning hit now that it’s in my hand.
“Goddamn you, Lincoln Storm,” I complain after I swallow.
I slept like shit last night. Not only did I have the stress of rebuilding my life like a boulder in my stomach, but I also had the nerves for today.
Of course, it helps that I know almost every member of the team.
I’ve hung out with them after most home games this season.
And I trust what Linc said the other night—he’ll make sure that not a single one of them steps out of line.
He doesn’t have the same kind of control over the other staff, though.
It’ll be fine.
No one is going to care you’re a woman.
They’ll all see you like a professional who is just as capable of doing her job as every man in the league.
With that little pep talk out of the way and my coffee in hand, I head toward the elevator to make this happen.
The drive to the arena passes in a heartbeat. As I pull into the lot I’ve been instructed to park in, I realize that I don’t remember a single second of the journey. Killing the engine, I rest my head back and close my eyes, trying to commit the moment to memory.
You did it, Parker.
You fucking did it.
Pulling my cell from the charger, I find a stream of notifications waiting for me.
Mom: Good luck today. Go smash it and call me later x
My stomach knots even tighter. I still haven’t called them.
Casey: Go and be the baddest bitch in the NHL. Make them all cry like little babies. Even Kodie. Just don’t tell him I said that.
I burst out laughing.
Rett: Good luck today. But don’t do too good a job. The cup is ours this year.
I roll my eyes. My brother is so predictable.
He might play for Seattle right now, but his heart belongs to the Vipers.
It always has and always will. He’ll be stoked if the guys make it all the way.
He might not have said anything, but when his contract with the Bandits ends in a few years, I don’t doubt that he’ll instruct his agent to try to do whatever it takes to get him on the Vipers’ roster.
As I’m sitting there, another message comes through.
Storm: You got this, Little P. See you later
I blow out another breath before putting my cell on do not disturb and slipping it into my purse.
As I approach the arena’s main entrance, my entire body trembles with nerves.
But the second I step inside and the familiar scent floods through my nose, I relax.
I’ve spent almost as much time here as I have in my own home.
From as early as I can remember, I’d be in the stands with Mom and Rett, and it hasn’t stopped since. All my life, I’ve either been supporting the Vipers or playing my own games with Casey by my side.
Fuck, I used to love playing together.
The highs from the wins used to be so incredible. And losing wasn’t so bad either because I had my best friend to commiserate with.
“Parker,” a friendly female voice calls, and when I look over, I find Esme Clifton, the Vipers’ senior HR manager, waiting for me with a smile playing on her lips.
“Hey,” I say, making my way over.
“It’s so good to finally have you here,” she says, sounding genuinely excited.
“It's good to be here.”
“I hope you’re ready; we’ve got a full day planned for you.”
“Bring it on.” I need a distraction right now more than I ever have.
“We’re going to head up to my office to finalize paperwork.
I’ll get you set up with your passes and equipment before handing you off to Jarad Lennon, so he can give you a tour of the facilities and get you settled.
Brooke Owens has then requested that you join her to make some content so that she can announce your arrival on socials.
If you’re still with us at that point, Jarad wants you to join him and Dillion at the team’s afternoon practice session before meeting the guys. ”
“Okay,” I breathe, already feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. Especially the social media element.
Sure, I post on my socials, and I’m as addicted as the next person, but I don’t have any kind of following. Something tells me that is about to change if the Vipers’ social media team is going to get their hands on me.
Am I really ready for this?
The role itself, yes. I’ve been training for it for years. But everything else that goes with it? I’m not so sure.
“Ready?” she asks.
Forcing a wide smile onto my lips, I nod. “Lead the way.”
She chats away about the holidays as we ride the elevator to the fourth floor, where her office is located. I answer questions where necessary, but she mostly talks about returning to New York to see her family for a few days.
As we get closer to her office, I know my time holding things back is coming to an end. I’m going to have to update her about my temporary address change; it probably also needs to go on record that I’m living with one of the players.
“Come in and take a seat,” Esme says, holding the door open for me.
“Oh, wow,” I breathe as I take in the view across town from her large windows on the other side of the room.
“Stunning, isn’t it?” she says as I move closer and just stare out.
“Oh, um…” I startle, taking a step back, embarrassment heating my cheeks.
“It’s okay, I might have been here a few years now, but every now and then, I still stand there like that, wondering how I ended up here. Take a moment,” she says understandingly as she takes a seat behind her desk and wakes up her computer.
I allow myself ten seconds before I sink into the seat across from her.
“I’ve moved in with Lincoln Storm,” I blurt, needing to get the words out.
Esme pauses, moving her mouse before ripping her eyes from her screen and focusing on me.
“Don’t worry, he’s already let me know. I’ve updated your contact details already.”
“Oh,” I say, deflating a little. “It’s only temporary, and I don’t actually want to be there. I don’t like him very much and—” I cut myself off when an amused smile spreads across her lips. “Sorry, you don’t need to know any of that.”
“It’s okay.” She laughs. “I’m sorry to hear about your apartment. If you need our support with anything, please just ask. We might be a sports franchise, but we’re also a family, and you’re a part of that now. We look after our own before anything else.”
“That’s…” Emotion burns up my throat and tickles my nose. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. Hailee, our PR Director, is the one who knows everything around here. She’s the best one to ask if you need to know anything.”
“Funny, you’re not the first person to say that.”
Esme chuckles. “She’ll be glad to know she’s got a reputation as a busybody.”
“All a part of the job, I guess.”
“Okay, so,” Esme starts as she scrolls through whatever is on her screen.
“Personal details, emergency contact, ID…all good. Okay, next thing is passes.” She pulls her drawer out and retrieves an ID card, sliding it over to me.
“This will give you access to everywhere you need in the building. Keep it on you at all times, and if you lose it, you must report it immediately.”
“Okay,” I say, taking it and studying the awful mug shot gracing the front.
After passing me a holder and lanyard, she moves on to my new laptop and iPad.
After ensuring I can log onto both and am successfully into my email, almost an hour has passed.
A firm knock sounds on the door, and after Esme calls out, another familiar face pokes his head inside.
Jarad Lennon is the Vipers Head Athletic Trainer.
He’s probably in his fifties, with salt and pepper hair and beard, and glasses that make his eyes look a little larger than I’m sure they are.
Along with the General Manager and the team’s Head Physician, he was in all my interviews.
From the very first moment, I felt like he was on my side.
Without knowing, he helped put me at ease right from the very beginning, and it’s no different now.
“Are you finished with my new trainer, Es?” Jarad asks.
“Parker, are you happy with everything? Do you have any questions before I set you free?”
I shake my head, thinking for a moment. “No, I think I’m good.”
“Okay then. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, and if you do think of anything, you know where to find me.”
“Thank you,” I say, standing and clutching my new IT equipment to my chest.
I walk silently beside Jarad as we move toward the elevator that will take us down to where the medical staff offices and training rooms are.
“So we haven’t scared you off yet then?” he teases.
“It’ll take more than a few hockey players to do that,” I shoot back.
“Glad to hear it, Donnelly.”
He walks me through everything. I may have been back here numerous times before, but it’s good to see it all with fresh eyes.
He introduces me to everyone we pass—some of whom I already know, but many I don’t.
He shows me where my desk is, and my locker for my things.
We’re about to hit the training room where Dillion is working with some of the guys when an excitable blonde comes racing toward us.
“Parker Donnelly,” she announces. “By the end of the day, everyone is going to know your name.”
I groan, making Jarad chuckle.
“Good luck with this one,” he says. “She tried to convince me to do some viral dance last week. Do I look like a man who dances?”
“Parker, I’m Brooke,” she says, holding her hand out that’s not clutching a cell. “Content creator. Are you ready to let the world know about your new position?”
“Absolutely not. But something tells me I don’t have a choice.”
Brooke studies me for a beat, and I worry I may have said the wrong thing.
“Oh, I think I’m going to like you. Although not as much as the guys, of course.”