Chapter 34 Lincoln
LINCOLN
“Fuck,” I breathe as I fall back onto my couch.
“Yeah,” Parker agrees as she copies my move on the one opposite.
The coffee table is still against the wall, and the dance mats are still in place.
I told Monroe that he should take them home so he could get some practice in. He proudly stated that he didn’t need any and that they should stay here for next time.
Next time…
I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to do that all over again.
“I know hockey players are competitive, but that was something else.”
“I can’t believe Handsy. For a guy who was adamant he didn’t want to play, he was shockingly good.”
Parker giggles, and the sound warms me all the way down to my toes.
I’ve missed that sound this past week.
Hell, I’ve missed her.
I might have been with her at the arena almost every day, but it wasn’t the same as hanging out with her. Not like tonight.
I’m not quite sure how she became such a vital piece of my everyday life in only a few days, but it happened, and losing her again hurt.
It was like six years ago all over again.
No, it wasn’t that bad. Nothing could be that bad—or at least, I hope not.
“Cole Hansley has got the moves,” Parker sings, and when I twist my head to look over, I find her wiggling her hips and waving her arms in front of her. “Next time we all go out, I’m dragging him to the dance floor.”
“I’d love to see you try,” I deadpan. The thought of her trying to drag his six-foot-two body anywhere is laughable.
“I’ll make it happen,” she says confidently.
“If anyone can, it’s you, little P.”
She lets out an exhausted sigh.
“I should probably get to bed. But…” She lifts her head from the armrest and makes a show of glancing in the direction of our bedrooms. “They’re just so far away.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Do you need me to carry you to bed?”
The second the offer leaves my lips, Parker’s body tenses.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt before really thinking about what I want to say. “About that comment. About what happened last week, the things I did, the things I said. It was out of line, and I—”
“It’s okay,” she says softly.
“No, it’s not. I took it too far and pushed you away. That’s the last thing I want to do. You’re a part of us now, little P. We’ve got to work together, and the best way to do that is to be friends.”
The word fucking stings. I’ve never wanted to be just friends with Parker, but that’s where she’s always drawn the line. Hell, most of the time she doesn’t even call us that.
“Yeah,” she muses. “It is. I’m sorry for avoiding you this week.”
“Oh, have you? I hadn’t noticed.”
“You’re not funny, Storm.”
“Ah, but I am sometimes.”
“Annoying, more like.”
“I love it when you give me shit. It means everything is alright in our world.”
“Yep, you being an asshole is very normal.”
I chuckle and shift onto my side on the couch.
“Parker?”
“Yeah,” she responds before turning onto her side and staring across the dance mats at me.
“I like having you here. It’s less…lonely.”
She shakes her head. “You’re such a little liar, Lincoln Storm.”
I rear back. “I am not. I’ve never lied to you, Parker Donnelly.”
“Whatever you say,” she mutters.
“I’m serious.”
“Okay,” she mumbles, but it’s clear that she doesn’t believe a word of it.
“Ready for another travel day tomorrow?”
“Yep. I’ve never been to New York.”
“Are you serious?” I balk.
“It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. Just never had the chance.”
“What do you want to see?” I ask.
“Are you kidding? It’s New York; I want to see everything.”
“I’m not sure we’re staying long enough to see everything. But I guess we can see what we can do.”
“We’re there for one night,” I point out.
“There are a lot of hours in one night.”
She narrows her eyes at me, silently demanding to know what I’m thinking, but I keep my mouth shut as plans begin to play out in my mind.
“We should go to bed,” I say.
“Talk about abrupt change of subject.” She laughs.
“We’ve got a long day tomorrow. We should get some rest.”
She mumbles her agreement and throws her legs off the couch. “This is going to hurt tomorrow.”
“At least you don’t have to train.”
“True.”
“Did you want a lift in the morning? Save taking two cars.”
She hasn’t wanted to even consider car sharing before.
She doesn’t want anyone to see us together and jump to conclusions.
But it’s stupid to keep driving separately when we’re going to the same place.
And if someone has anything to say about it, then they can come and fucking talk to me so I can put them straight.
I’ve got morning skate first thing, which she needs to be there for, then we’re heading to the airport.
“Okay,” she agrees.
“Really?”
“Yeah, really,” she says, shooting her pretty smile my way.
“Okay then. My alarm is set for—”
“I know what time you get up, Linc,” she interrupts.
“Yeah. I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then.”
She pushes to her feet with a wince before lifting her arms over her head and giving me the pleasure of watching her do a full body stretch.
My mouth waters as her muscles ripple beneath the tight fabric of her leggings, and it only gets worse when her tank rides up enough to give me a shot at the sliver of skin between her waistband and her sports bra.
God, I bet her skin tastes so sweet.
“Goodnight, Storm,” she says on a yawn as she spins and begins walking away.
I tell myself to be good, but I can’t. My willpower just isn’t good enough, and my eyes drop to her ass, giving me enough of a fix to get me through the night.
“Fucking hell,” I groan, rubbing my hand over my semi. “Friends,” I muse to myself. “Just friends.”
I barely get any sleep. After jerking off in the shower to the thought of peeling those leggings from her body and feasting on her until she could no longer scream my name—very friendly thoughts—I spent a few hours researching for our whirlwind visit of NYC.
By the time I slipped under the sheets, my body was exhausted, and my brain was spinning.
I got a few hours, but when my alarm goes off the next morning, it’s nowhere near enough.
With swollen eyes, I drag my ass out of bed, freshen up, get dressed, and throw some clean underwear into my permanently packed suitcase then head out in need of coffee.
I make two shots for Parker’s iced coffee first before putting it in the freezer to cool down as fast as possible, then I make mine.
By the time she emerges from her room twenty minutes later, her coffee is chilled and ready for her. So is a bacon and cheese bagel.
“What’s all this?” she asks, looking at it with wide eyes.
It’s a far cry from the other mornings we’ve had since she moved in. But this is so much nicer than hiding from each other.
“Breakfast.”
“Y-yeah, I can see that.”
“So why are you asking? Iced coffee and a bagel. Is that everything?” I ask, nodding to the suitcase and bag sitting on top of it.
“Yep. Managed to drop a size from the last trip.”
“You’re learning,” I tease. “Now grab your breakfast, and let’s move.”
“What about you?”
“I’ve already eaten mine. You can enjoy yours as my passenger princess.”
“Princess, you say?” she asks as she lifts the travel mug from the side, quickly followed by the wrapped bagel.
“Come on, Donnelly, before I change my mind.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Want to test the theory?”
Apparently, she doesn’t, because she hurries after me as I maneuver all our luggage into the elevator.
“I could get used to this,” she muses as I struggle with everything and she sips her coffee.
“You always have been a bit of a princess,” I deadpan, making her roll her eyes at me.
The ride to the arena is relaxed. The awkwardness that surrounded us whenever we were in close proximity last week has been banished.
Instead, it’s easy, relaxed, with just a little crackle of chemistry.
It’s something I’ve become completely addicted to over the years.
If it ever disappeared, I’m not sure what I’d do.
“Shut up,” she snaps, but there’s no real bite behind it.
I have the best morning I’ve had all week. Thanks to Parker, I’m practically pain-free and back to being at the top of my game, hence our last few wins.
As we move around the rink, I’m achingly aware of her standing at the boards, watching us closely with her iPad in hand. I know she’s working. She’s studying our bodies and movements for signs of injuries and weaknesses, but that doesn’t stop my blood from simmering just beneath boiling point.
“What’s with the smile?” Fletch asks when he comes to a stop beside me when we pause for a drink.
“Nothing. Just happy.”
“Why do I get the impression it’s not because you beat both me and Handsy last night?”
“Fuck, that was good.”
“Not as good as Monroe.”
“That’s because no one’s as good as me,” the man in question says, appearing behind us. “What am I the best at today?”
“Having the biggest ego,” Fletch mutters.
“Dude, that’s a lie. We all know Storm here owns that.”
“True that,” Kodie pipes up. “Nice moves last night, Marilyn. Who knew your hips moved like that? They certainly don’t out here.”
“My hips work just fine, Rivers. My young body can get down in the splits faster than you can, old man.”
“Watch it,” Kodie warns.
“What’s that about your old hips?” Parker shouts over.
“Nothing. They’re as limber as an eighteen-year-old's,” Kodie barks back.
“Casey might buy that, but I’m not.”
“Oh, burn, bro.” I laugh.
“Whatever. Get back to work, ladies.”
“You can tell he didn’t dance last night; he’d be in a much better mood if he had,” Fletch points out as he gets back on the ice.
“I’ll figure out a way to get him to join. That man will do anything Casey says,” Parker says, having made her way over.
“Lovesick fool,” Killer mutters.
“Not a bad sickness to have,” Fletch agrees.
“We all good here?” Parker asks.
“You tell us, Doc. You seem to know our bodies better than we do these days.”
“Looking great out there. Just don’t push it too hard.”
“You got it,” Marilyn says with a salute before throwing his bottle to the bench and hitting the ice.
“You good, Doc?” I ask. “Not aching too much?”
“I’m great. I can handle more than a dance-off with a bunch of hockey players.”
“Good to know,” I muse, walking backward and away from her. “We’ll up the intensity of our workout next time.”
“Bring it on, Storm. I can’t wait to show you what I’ve got.”
We all hit the ice, but before we skate off, Fletch’s gloved hand wraps around my forearm.
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“What are you talking about?” I swallow thickly the second he looks over his shoulder at Parker. “Just make sure HR knows and keep it above board, yeah? I’d hate for either of you to fuck up your futures here.”
“Nothing is going on. We’re friends.”
“Yeah, and I remember being friends with Reese once upon a time. It was fun, until it got even funner.” He winks before he takes off. Before I know what I’m doing, I’ve spun around and I’m studying her again.
She’s wearing her Vipers’ issued jacket, her polo beneath, and a pair of leggings that make her ass look insane.
Being friends with Parker has always been fun, but I’ve had a taste of how much better it can be, and it isn’t something I’m ever going to forget.