Page 153 of Playing the Pucking Game
“Well, unfortunately, I’m a rule follower. It’s your choice.”
He chuckles as he opens a container and passes it over.
The second my eyes land on the burger before me, my stomach growls obnoxiously loud.
Linc chuckles.
“Thank you,” I mumble, taking the container from him.
Needing the distraction, I keep my eyes focused on my food instead of the man on the opposite couch, thanking my lucky stars that he decided against sitting next to me within touching distance.
He turns the TV on and loads up Netflix, but no sooner has the home screen come on than he clicks on something.
“What was that?” I ask.
“No idea. It’s number one, so it can’t be too shit.”
“Interesting concept.”
“Netflix roulette. You never played it?”
I shake my head. “Can’t say I have. I like to know what I’m about to watch.”
“Sometimes, you’ve got to live on the wild side,” he muses before taking a massive bite of his burger.
“If you say so,” I mutter, trying to figure out how to eat mine. It’s freaking huge.
The movie he selected turns out to be some kind of gangster thing. It’s full of fist fights, gun fights, and high-speed car chases. Not my thing at all. And that, along with the lingering tension between us, finally pushes me toward calling it a night.
“I can change it if you want to watch something else,” Linc says in a rush after I’ve announced my intentions.
“No, it’s okay. I’m tired. I’m gonna crash,” I say, depositing my trash in the kitchen.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?”
A sigh escapes me as I think about the Pilates class I’d intended to go to in the morning. As much as I want to, right now, I’m too exhausted to even think about it.
“Sleeping,” I say with a laugh. If only I could. I still barely have any possessions, and there’s been no news about my apartment building. They’re still trying to make it safe and waiting for the inspector’s confirmation that others can enter. Nothing I’ve heard so far gives me any kind of hope for my belongings. I just need to know now. Then, I can attempt to put it all behind me and move on.
“Are you coming to Fletch’s house for team dinner?”
“Uh…I’m, uh…not a part of the team,” I point out.
Linc barks a laugh. “You’re a bigger part of the team than some of the players.”
“That’s not true and you know it.”
“We’d be nothing without you,” he counters.
“It’s been two weeks,” I argue.
“Feels like longer. You’re one of us, babe.”
“Does anyone else go?” I ask. The thought of having to spend the evening with Mitchell scowling at me isn’t appealing in the slightest.
“Nah, just the team. Reese will be there, of course, seeing as it’s her house and all.”
“No other staff go?”
