Page 5 of Playing the Pucking Game
“He already knows, Parker,” she assures me as we come to a stop.
She steps in front of me, her body already swaying to the music.
Happiness radiates from her.
“He’s such an asshole,” I mutter, crossing my arms and pouting like a petulant child who didn’t get her way.
What did I want, though?
“Let it go, P. It’s a new year. A fresh start.”
A little bit of hope trickles in.
“And on top of that, you’re about to start your dream job. You did it, Parker,” she says, her smile growing impossibly wide. “Have I told you how proud of you I am?”
My arms drop, and the resentment I was clinging to begins to ebb away.
“Maybe,” I murmur. “But I could hear it again.”
Casey laughs before throwing her arms around my shoulders. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Parker Donnelly. You are going to be the best athletic trainer in the NHL, and you’re going to look hot as fuck doing it.”
Excitement tingles in my belly. Of course, I’m fucking terrified about landing the job I’ve been working toward since I was fifteen, but I can push that aside for a few days in favor of celebrating. Something tells me that I’ve got plenty of opportunities ahead of me where I’ll question my place in a man’s world.
“Fuck Storm. Fuck all of them. This is about you right now,” Casey says, swaying her hips as she loses herself in the music.
Her ability to forget everything for a few minutes helps me to do the same, and for a few songs, we dance together as if we’re the only two people in the room.
I startle as a small person bumps into me, and when I look down, I find Sutton beaming up at me.
“Can I dance with you?” she asks, looking between me and Casey as if we’re the most incredible women in the world. Man, this kid does good things for my confidence.
“Of course!” We take her hands in ours, lifting them above her head, dancing together as she giggles in delight.
Sutton may only be seven, but she is a force to be reckoned with. She’s going to go far, I know it. Her grit and determinationare up there with the ice hockey players we’re surrounded by. I have no doubt that the name Sutton Rivers is going to be hitting headlines in the years to come for her contribution to women’s ice hockey.
We dance and laugh until I have sweat dripping down my back.
Sutton is doing her best, but she’s getting tired.
Looking up, I spot Kodie, her dad, heading our way with a drink in his hand.
“Parker,” he says, handing me the glass. “I understand that someone is wearing your last one,” he teases.
“What?” Casey asks, a frown marring her brow.
Kodie barks a laugh as he lifts his daughter into his arms. She immediately snuggles against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
A few months ago, I wasn’t sure this man was capable of laughing. But since getting with my best friend, he smiles more than any of the Vipers’ family thought possible.
“Didn’t you notice Linc was wet?”
Casey spins around, searching for the man in question.
She stills when she finds him before turning back to me with a curious look in her eyes.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing you need to know about,” I say, trying to wave it off.
