Page 174 of Playing the Pucking Game
Taking the next right, I head toward a place that I hope will bring her the kind of joy I got when I was a kid.
“McDonald’s?” Parker asks in surprise as I pull into the drive-thru line.
“Yep,” I agree, my heart beating out of my chest.
Will she remember?
“Your happy place,” she whispers to herself, and I can’t fight my smile.
“What would you like?”
“Your choice.”
Leaning on the door, I give the lady behind the window an XL version request of what I always used to enjoy before tapping my card and moving forward.
Parker doesn’t say anything, but when I glance over, she’s got a soft smile playing on her lips that I can’t help but mimic.
“Now what?” Parker asks once I’ve loaded her lap up with food.
“Now we eat, obviously.”
“In here?” she asks, looking around my spotless car.
“Hell yeah,” I agree as I pull into a space as far from everyone else as possible.
“But your car...it?—”
“It’ll be detailed at the arena tomorrow.”
Parker laughs, but she doesn’t hesitate in moving her seat farther back as I do the same to give us more space.
We divide up the feast between us and dive in.
“I can’t remember the last time I did this,” Parker confesses, her voice lighter than it was only a few minutes ago.
“Me either. I didn’t realize how much I needed it,” I say, dipping another nugget into some BBQ sauce and throwing the entire thing into my mouth as Parker slurps on a milkshake.
“Thank you for tonight.”
“Nothing to thank me for,” I muse, going for a handful of fries. “And it’s not over yet. There’s still time for a few more surprises.”
When I look up, her cheeks are glowing, and I can’t help but wonder what she thinks I might have up my sleeve.
Was our kiss only the beginning?
45
PARKER
“You don’t need to escort me in. I’m not going to shatter,” I say over my shoulder as Linc follows me into my bedroom, only seconds after we arrive home. But even as I say the words, I know they’re a lie. I’m barely holding it together, and if I’m being honest with myself, he’s the only thing stopping me from falling apart.
His touch.
That kiss.
Do not think about it, Parker.
“I know,” he says as he disappears into my bathroom.
