Page 169 of Playing the Pucking Game
“You don’t need to do that,” I call after him.
He shakes his head but doesn’t say anything before he slips into his room.
Not two minutes later, he’s back, wearing a hoodie and a pair of sneakers, asking, “Do you need another suitcase?”
“I’m not sure I’m even going to need this one,” I say sadly. The truth of it is that everything could be destroyed. Being able to bring anything back here is wishful thinking.
Taking the suitcase from where it’s sitting at my feet, he shocks the shit out of me by grabbing my hand and then towing me toward the elevator.
The heat of his skin sears mine and burns all the way up my arm. I stare down at where we’re connected as we wait for the doors to open.
Is he…is he really holding my hand?
“Come on, we need to get this over with,” he says, pulling me inside at the first possible opportunity.
The second the doors close, I swear all the air is sucked from the enclosed space, and it only gets worse when he continues speaking.
“Why didn’t you say?”
I shrug my shoulder not connected to the hand he’s holding.
“Why would I?” I mutter, already knowing it’s the wrong thing to say.
“So I could do it with you. It’s a shitty thing to have to do alone, little P.”
I shrug again as I stare ahead, not able to find any words.
“What have they said?”
“Just that it’s safe for a short visit. They gave a couple of dates to get in, but tonight is the final one. We were traveling for the others.”
Linc exhales heavily but doesn’t comment.
“How long do we have?”
“By the time we get there, an hour, maybe less.”
He nods and strides out of the elevator like a man on a mission. With my hand still locked in his, I have no choice but to run along behind him.
The second we’re at his car, he opens his passenger door for me and waits while I climb inside before closing me in. After putting my suitcase in the trunk, he marches to the driver’s side and drops in beside me.
Silently, he pulls out of his space, and moments later we’re on the road, heading for my building. Or what was my building.
It’s taken quite some time to come to terms with the fact I’ve lost my apartment, even weeks on, the whole situation feels surreal, but I’m getting there.
Or at least, I think I am.
The second Linc pulls up outside the black and singed building, I realize that maybe I haven’t come to terms with anything.
A huge ball of dread sits heavily in my stomach as I stare up at the blown-out windows.
It’s worse than I remember.
My mouth waters as if I’m about to vomit, and I throw the passenger door open as I suck in a deep breath through my nose.
I startle as a large hand lands on my shoulder, and even more so when he speaks.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he assures me as he lowers to his haunches.
