“Excuse me?” I blink, confused.
“I can’t speak for you, but despite everything, I can’t help but wonder if you, both of you, are exactly what Rett needs.”
My mouth opens and closes, but no words come.
“I’ve always worried about him. His temper, his reluctance to let anyone in. I was so relieved when his trade here was announced. He was spiraling in Seattle, and I hated being so far away from him. But now he’s here, I’m not sure I could bear losing him again, being forced to watch him fall apart from afar.
“Hailee is right. If he doesn’t sort himself out, he will be traded again. The Vipers need him focused on his job, not constantly in the media for everything but his dedication to the sport.
“This…this could be exactly what he needs to turn everything around.”
41
EVERETT
“Oh shit, check this out,” Linc says as he holds his cell up for me to see. “They’re gonna look so good wrapped around my—the fuck, man,” he bellows after I shove him as hard as I can in the shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground.
I bring myself to a stop and glare down at my best friend.
“Shoulder. I was going to say shoulder,” he tries to argue. His smirk tells me otherwise, though.
My chest heaves as I continue staring at him, my heart racing even faster than it was a few minutes ago from our roller-skating session. It picked up speed the second Linc showed me the image of Parker’s nails.
It’s not unusual; she often has them painted, and I don’t think anything of it. Today, though, I know exactly who’s done them.
“Fuck,” I hiss, turning away from Linc and pushing off, leaving him sitting there like a sulking child.
“No need to help me up,” he calls. “I’ve got this handled.”
I keep moving forward, although I’m not going fast enough to stop him from catching up to me.
“You can talk to me, you know.”
I shoot him a glare.
“I know it’s not hockey, and there is fuck all I can really do to help, but I’m here and I’m willing to listen.”
Continuing forward, I keep my mouth shut.
“Come on, man. Parker’s worried, and I fucking hate seeing it in her eyes. All she did while we were on vacation was worry about you,” he explains. “Well, that and sunbathing naked and taking my?—”
“Stop. I get it, okay. I fucked up, I know I fucked up. Hearing that I ruined your vacation doesn’t fucking help.”
“Oh no, I never said that. It was a fucking fantastic vacation.”
“I hate you,” I mutter, but it’s so far from the truth it’s funny.
“Yeah, feeling’s mutual, asshole,” Linc quips.
Setting my sights on a bench, I push forward before dropping onto it. Linc follows not a second later.
His stare burns into me as I lean forward, rest my elbows on my knees and hang my head.
“It’s all…it’s just all got really serious, really fucking fast.”
“Getting someone pregnant will do that to you.”
“I thought you said you wanted to listen, not give sarcastic comments.”
