Page 25 of Playing the Pucking Game

She lifts it from the makeshift desk of her lap and shows me a drawing of two women and a girl, all kitted up and standing in the middle of an ice rink.

“It’s for Parker. I did one before, and she had it on her fridge, but it’s gone now.” Hearing the sadness in her voice for one of the most important people in her life makes my chest tighten.

“Aw, she’ll love that. If you get it finished, maybe you can take it up to her after our session.”

“You mean, after I’ve beaten you,” she counters with a fierce look in her eye.

“Yeah, Lil Riv. After you’ve beaten us.”

Kodie puts the car into drive, forcing me to turn back around and pull my seat belt on as a heavy sigh spills from my lips.

“That bad?” Kodie asks, looking over at me with concern written all over his face. It’s not something I’m used to seeing from him.

Sure, Kodie and I struck up a friendship when he was first traded to the Vipers last season, but it’s only been in the last few months that he’s really allowed me into his life. Casey unlocked something in him, and it’s only making him a better person and player.

“It’s…not great,” I say after a moment of hesitation. I’m achingly aware that Sutton is sitting right behind me andprobably listening to every word I’m saying. “It doesn’t sound like anything is going to be salvageable.”

“That sucks. At least insurance will cover it. That could take ages to come through, though.”

I bite down on my bottom lip, not wanting to spill what Parker told me earlier. Something tells me that she isn’t going to want everyone knowing about her little oversight. She’s already beating herself up about it as it is; the last thing she needs is judgment from the rest of us.

She’s left herself in a pretty shitty position, but we’ll figure it out.

“Casey is pissed at her dad,” Kodie suddenly says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Uh…why?”

“He’s already promised her old apartment to a new social media intern. Parker could have moved in there if this happened two days ago.”

“That sucks. It’s not Coach’s fault, though. It’s not like he could have seen this coming. I tried bringing her to you last night,” I explain. “She refused point-blank. Wanted me to take her to a hotel.”

“The fuck?”

“Daddy,” Sutton warns, making him roll his eyes.

“Why didn’t she want to come to us?”

“Because it’s your family home. Because Casey just moved in. She didn’t want to intrude.”

“She’d have been more than welcome. She always is.”

I smile at my friend and teammate. He never would have offered his home out to anyone a few months ago. Hell, it took me long enough even to get his address, let alone to come for a visit.

“She’s thinking of you guys,” I reason.

“Parker is a good person.”

She’s the fucking best, I think, but keep the musing to myself.

“How did you end up involved in all this, anyway? Last we saw, she was scowling at you from across the party, and you were heading out with the guys.”

“Yeah, my plans changed. I ended up giving Parker a lift home, and…”

“You changed your mind about going out?” Kodie asks as if it’s the most absurd thing he’s ever heard.

“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling it. I was sticky from her Jack and Coke and tired from our week, so…”

Kodie glances over at me, but he’s not buying a single word of it.