Chapter 21 Parker
PARKER
“Drink and put it all behind you,” Brooke says, pushing two shots of tequila toward me.
I nod, wishing it was all that easy.
My mom called as I got back to my hotel room after the game. I’ve been avoiding talking to her for days. But my time hiding from her, from both of them, was over.
I fell back in my bed, swiped the screen, and set about confessing all my sins.
They were obviously concerned as I explained about the fire and losing my home and possessions, but as much as they tried to cover it, I could hear the disappointment in their tone, see it on their faces through the screen.
Disappointing them always hurts. They’ve always given us everything we could ever wish for, and yet I’m still fucking things up.
They offered to help me out financially, like I knew they would, but I told them I have it all under control. I hate taking money from them. I am an adult with a good job. I shouldn’t need bailing out, even if I know they have more than enough.
I also may have failed to mention that I’ve temporarily moved in with Linc.
I didn’t lie, not really, when I explained that I was living with a colleague while I get things sorted.
When Brooke knocked on my door, I wasn’t ready, and she took one look into my eyes and knew something was wrong.
I had little choice but to open up and tell her what was going on with my life right now.
We sat on the edge of my bed, and she silently listened to everything. She didn’t judge or tell me that I was stupid for not renewing my renters’ insurance; instead, she just gave me a hug. It reminded of Linc the night we discovered the fire. He knew what I needed and gave it to me.
That’s exactly how I feel as I take the shot from the bar, tap it against Brooke’s, and swallow it down in one.
“Oh my god,” I gasp as the liquid burns down my throat.
“So good,” Brooke says before reaching for the second glass. “Leah is on her way,” she says after checking her watch. “But she says she’s not drinking.”
I laugh, wondering how long that will last, before drinking my second shot.
The alcohol warms all the way down to my stomach, and I realize Brook is right. It is helping me forget.
We made the right decision to stay down here while the guys went up to the VIP section. I’ve had enough death stares from Linc today to last a lifetime.
I’m not stupid. I’m aware that letting him play tonight might have changed the result. But it was never going to happen.
He’s making progress, and I’m hoping with another two days of rest, I’ll be able to clear him for our next home game.
I keep telling myself that he’ll thank me in the long run, but I’m believing myself less and less.
It’s bearable while we’re on the road. I don’t have to see him all that much. But tomorrow, we’re going home. Back to his penthouse. Then what?
“How’s your foot holding up?”
I glance down at my sneakers. My foot has been throbbing all day, but I figure it’s got to be easier to deal with than some of the hits the guys took tonight, so I swallow the pain and keep moving forward.
“It’s fine.”
“You’re such a little liar.”
“Fine. It hurts. But it isn’t going to stop me from dancing.”
“Cheers to that,” Brooke says, holding up her glass of Jack and Coke.
“Cheers,” I say, tapping my glass to hers.
“And if we’re really lucky, we might just find some guys to dance with.”
I try to think back to the last time I hooked up with a guy in a club. It’s been a while.
I’ve been dabbling with online dating, but I’m yet to find anyone who doesn’t have some serious issues. I’m starting to think that all the decent men have already been taken. Which is sad, considering I’m only twenty-three.
“Last hookup?” Brooke asks, and I grimace.
“Guy from Tinder. He seemed okay. We had dinner, then he invited me back to his place. I agreed, and we were standing on the sidewalk waiting for an Uber when he kissed me.”
“Okay, so far so good.”
“Oh no, there was nothing good about it. He had so much tongue. I swear, a dead fish could have done a better job.” Brooke giggles. “I turned away, desperate to get away from the assault, and do you know what he did?”
Brooke stares at me, biting the insides of her lips as she shakes her head.
“He stuck his tongue in my ear. IN MY EAR,” I shout, pointing at my violated body part in case she isn’t aware where an ear is situated.
“Oh my god. What did you do?”
I can’t help but laugh.
“His Uber came, and being the gentleman that he was not, he climbed in first, so I closed the door behind him, rapped my knuckles on the roof for the driver to go, and watched him and his wild tongue sail away. I blocked him and then called my own car. Okay, your turn.”
“Well, my guy was a great kisser. In fact, I thought he had it all. Until I did go back to his place, and no sooner had I walked through the front door than I was introduced to his mom and little sister.”
“W-what?” I blurt.
“Turns out, he was religious and there would have been no sex before marriage.”
“And I’m assuming that there will be no marriage?”
“Hell no. I fully respect those who want to wait. Fair play to them. But it’s not for me; I need to test out the goods before I commit.”
“Amen to that, girl,” I say, lifting my glass again. “When we get back, we need to arrange a night out with Casey and our friend Freya.”
“Just tell me when and I’m there.”
Leah joins us a few minutes later, looking like a knockout in a leopard print jumpsuit, and true to her word, she orders a soda. I can’t say the same for me and Brooke. I was good last night, knowing that I had work in the morning. Tonight is a different story.
“That guy down there hasn’t taken his eyes off you for about five minutes,” Leah tells me, jerking her chin toward the other end of the bar.
I take a sip of my drink before slowly looking around.
My breath catches when I find a cute blond guy staring right at me.
He’s about as far away from a hockey player as you can get. And that’s exactly what I need in my life.
He probably works in finance or law. Something stable and reliable.
“He’s cute,” Brooke says. “I’m pretty sure I’d eat him alive, but he’d be great for you.”
“I reckon he could handle more than you think,” Leah says. “It’s always the quiet ones, remember?”
“Let’s go dance. See if he’s brave enough to make a move.” Brooke finishes her drink and grabs my hand. “Let’s go and find you a man.”
“What about you?” I ask.
“Oh, don’t you worry about me.” Her eyes shoot over my shoulder, and I figure she’s already got a target in mind.
“Is it true what they say about flight crew?” I ask Leah as Brooke drags us to the dance floor in full sight of the cute guy.
“Depends on which rumor you're talking about,” she teases.
“That you have a lover in every place you visit.”
She smirks, telling me everything I need to know.
“Well, put it this way: it isn’t only the players who have little black books of names and numbers.”
“You do not?” I gasp.
She laughs. “Of course not. That’s old school. I have them in my phone, ranked by performance.”
“Shut up.”
“She does,” Brooke assures me.
“Yes, girl,” I cry. “I fucking love that. Where is your best state?”
“Well, there are a couple at the top of my list.”
“I’m going to need to hear all the details on a quieter night.”
Leah smiles. “You got it.”
Brooke’s plan to lure the cute guy over works perfectly, because we’re barely two songs in when both my dancing buddies look over my shoulders and watch someone approach.
Hands land on my hips as the heat of a body burns down my back.
“Can’t take my eyes off you,” a deep voice murmurs in my ear.
Goose bumps race across my skin as a smile pulls at my lips.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. You’re mesmerizing.”
Brooke gives me a wink, and I spin to face him.
My smile grows when I discover that he’s even hotter up close.
Throwing my arms over his shoulders, I continue to move to the beat of the music. He follows my lead, and we begin to move together like we’ve been doing it for years.
Good sign. Very good sign.
“Are you single, pretty boy?” I ask. I’ve learned over the years that it’s pointless, cheaters are generally the best kind of liars, but some have tells that give them away.
This guy, though...there’s nothing suspicious as he tells me that he’s very much single.
“Good to hear. So am I, by the way. And, I’m only in town for the night.”
His eyes flash with excitement. “Is that right?”
“Yep, one night to make the most of this city before I fly home.”
“And where is home?”
“Oh no, that isn’t the kind of conversation we need to be having,” I chastise. “One night, first names only. You in or you out?” His grip on my hips tightens, pinning our bodies together.
He chuckles. “Where have you been all my life?” he asks.
“Waiting for tonight, obviously.”
“My lucky night,” he muses before rolling his hips against mine.
Oh yeah, I can work with this.
Song after song passes as we dance together.
His hands begin to roam, but neither of us makes a move to push it further—not yet, anyway.
I’m too busy enjoying moving to the music and letting go.
Spinning back around, I wiggle my ass against his crotch, loving what I’m feeling behind the fabric.
When I look up, I find that both Brooke and Leah have found guys to dance with, and thankfully, I don’t see any other familiar faces.
If I’m lucky, the team has already moved on. Or even better, headed back to the hotel.
The song changes again, and so does the lighting, plunging us into darkness for a moment.
My eyes jump to the second floor where those in VIP can look down at us mere peasants dancing.
I freeze the moment Linc’s eyes collide with mine.
“Are you okay?” Pretty Boy asks, his hand tugging at my hips to keep me moving.
A heartbeat later, the lights come back on, and when I look up, Linc’s gone.
Was he even there in the first place?
I shake my head, fully feeling the effects of the alcohol consumed tonight.
“I need another drink,” I shout, hoping the girls can hear me.
They both look up and nod.
The six of us make our way to the bar, but despite finding the balcony empty, my skin continues to prickle as if I’m being watched.