Page 143 of Playing the Pucking Game
“It’s been known to happen,” I mutter, cringing over all the things that are probably floating around about me on the internet. In the early days, I would search it out. But now, I actively avoid that and all the other bullshit troll comments about my performance. Nothing good can come from reading that shit about yourself.
“So why not tonight?”
“What’s with all the questions? Did you want me to go out and hook up?”
I glance over just in time to see Parker freeze, and I can’t help but smirk.
The thought of her being jealous of me with someone else lights something up inside me. I really shouldn’t like it as much as I do.
“You can do what you want, Linc. You’ve never needed permission from me before.”
A smirk pulls at my lips.
“If it’s okay with you, I think I’ll just stay in with my roommate tonight.”
Her chest expands as she sucks in a deep breath at my words.
“I’ve been looking at apartments,” she confesses. The thought of her leaving has my grip on the wheel tightening again.
“There’s no rush. You’re welcome to stay with me as long as you like.”
“I know. But I don’t want to cramp your style. We both know you can’t live life the way you used to with me there.”
“Do we?” I mutter.
She wants to say something, but she changes her mind and slumps back into the passenger seat again.
“Are you going straight to bed?” I ask as we ride the elevator up to my apartment.
Parker yawns again, but to my surprise, she shakes her head. “No. I’m exhausted, but I’m not ready to switch off yet.”
“What do you usually do to relax?” I ask, realizing that there is a hell of a lot about my best friend’s little sister that I don’t know.”
She shrugs one shoulder before saying, “Read, watch TV, doom scroll, anything really.”
“If you were to put Netflix on, what would be your go-to?”
I swear her cheeks heat a little as I wait for her response.
“Cheesy rom-com,” she admits quietly.
“Interesting,” I muse as the elevator's doors open and I take both of our suitcases in hand and walk out with them before she can reach for hers.
“I’m going to shower, then we can Netflix and chill if you want.”
She spins on my heels and glares at me.
“I know I’m a little younger than you, Storm. But I’m not stupid. I know what that means.”
Her nose is screwed up in the cutest way, and I can’t help but laugh.
“First one back to the couch gets to choose what we watch.”
“Jerk,” she mutters as she takes her suitcase from me and stomps the few feet to her room.
“Are you hungry? I can order in.”
She stills. “I could eat,” she admits, glancing over her shoulder.
