Page 250 of Playing the Pucking Game
“Open it.”
Turning, I rest the bag on the kitchen island and reach inside.
I swear my heart skips a beat when I pull out a black velvet jewelry box.
“Linc,” I breathe as I flip it open. “Oh my god.”
I blink a few times, unable to believe what I’m seeing.
“Do you like it?”
I look between his anxious expression and the beautiful tennis bracelet twinkling in the spotlights above us in awe.
“You…you bought me diamonds?”
“I didn’t know what dress you’d choose, so I kept it simple.”
“It’s…it’s…too much,” I blurt.
I dread to think how much this cost him.
“Never,” he states before stepping closer. “May I?”
The second I nod, he takes the box and places it on the counter before pulling the bracelet free. It’s so delicate and pretty, I’m terrified I’m going to break it and lose it.
“I know I’ve done everything wrong,” he says as he drapes the cool jewelry against my wrist. “But all I’ve tried to do is the right thing. When you walked away after that night, I convinced myself that you regretted it. That I’d ruined your night even more than he already had. So I tucked my hurt away and got on with life. You were always too good for me, anyway.”
“Linc, no—” I start, but he continues, needing to get his point out.
“I never thought I’d get this chance. And as much as I hate what you had to go through to get here, I’m so fucking grateful for the time we’ve had together.”
Tears pool in my eyes as he deftly secures the bracelet.
“This time, I want to do everything right. I don’t want to rush. I don’t want to give you a reason to run. I just…I want you to want to be here. I want you to want me as much as I have always wanted you.”
A sob erupts as he cups my jaw, tenderly brushing his thumb across my cheek.
“Linc,” I whimper.
“You don’t need to say anything. Not now. I’ll give you all the time and space you need.” I quirk a brow in question. He smirks. “Apart from at night, when I’m sleeping right next to you. Have you noticed how well I play after you’ve spent the night in my arms?”
Maybe, but I didn’t want to say anything.
Ice hockey players are superstitious as fuck, and as much as I’d love to become a part of Linc’s, it’s also terrifying. It’s a lot of pressure to put on a person.
“I’m just…I’m all in, Parker. I need you to know that. We can keep it under wraps for as long as you want. We can take it as slow as you want. Anything. Just…be mine. Please.”
The more he talks, the more bricks tumble from the walls I’d built around myself after prom night. I needed to keep him out; otherwise, I knew I’d never survive. But things are different now. He isn’t the only one who’s changed. I have, too. And maybe, just maybe, I am ready for this.
“We really need to go,” Linc says when I stay quiet.
My heart is in my throat. He takes my hand and leads me toward the elevator.
The second the doors open and we step inside, my breath catches at the sight of us in the mirror.
“We look good, huh?” Linc muses.
Yeah. We do.
