Page 84 of Playing the Pucking Game
I nod in agreement before turning my attention back to Parker, raising a brow.
Usually, I don’t have a problem interacting with fans, but tonight, this guy…no. Just no.
She rolls her eyes but refuses to point out that she’s the one who kept me on the bench to her little buddy.
“We’re heading back to the hotel. Did you want a ride?”
Parker’s lips part, but no words spill free. She looks at Brooke, then Leah, and finally the guy with stars in his eyes.
“No, we’re okay here,” she says confidently.
Holy shit. So this is what it feels like to be turned down.
Sure, I wasn’t propositioning her, but still.
“But—”
“No buts, Storm. Go back, ice your leg. Get some rest. Who knows, that idiot who benched you tonight might change their mind for the next game.”
I narrow my eyes, hating the way she’s talking about herself. I might have given her a hard time over the last few days, but we both know she made the right call. And as much as I hate to say it, my leg feels so much better. With her working on it and a more regimented icing regime, it’s almost as good as new.
“Don’t do?—”
“Go back to the hotel,” she insists. “I don’t need, and never have needed, a babysitter. I’m a big girl. I can look after myself.”
Fuck. She is. I know she is. She’s dated plenty over the years. Just…not right under my nose.
I really don’t fucking like the idea of this douche getting to spend the night with her.
“But—”
Brooke steps in front of me, her eyes holding mine despite the fact that she’s barely five feet tall.
“She told you to leave,” she states fiercely as someone steps up behind me.
“Come on, let’s go,” a familiar deep voice rumbles as a hand curls around my shoulder.
“Fletcher Ferguson. I’m a massive fan,” Douche says, holding his hand out for Fletch to shake.
Because Fletch is one of the best people I know and a fantastic captain, he shakes the guy’s hand and accepts his condolences over tonight’s loss.
“Our Uber is here,” Fletch says the second he can get a word in. “Let’s go.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he warns in my ear before practically dragging me away from Parker, leaving her with Douche.
Just before we walk around the corner to leave, I look back.
My heart jumps into my throat because Parker hasn’t forgotten all about me and turned back to him. Instead, her eyes are locked on mine.
The moment she realizes what she’s doing, she looks away and turns back to the group, a fake smile pulling at her lips.
“Fuck,” I breathe.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Fletch assures me.
But as we walk out of the club and hit the cool night air, I can’t help feeling like I’m doing the opposite.
