Page 302 of Playing the Pucking Game

“Ignore her, she’s just yanking your chain,” Kodie says reassuringly.

“I’m sorry about tonight,” Rett says as he stares at the floor, not making it clear who he’s talking to. “And about last night, and this morning,” he adds before lifting his head, his eyes locking on Linc’s. “I was out of line. And I apologize.”

Briefly, Rett looks over Linc’s shoulder, and when I glance over, I find Coach Watson looking our way.

Suddenly, Rett reaches out, holding his hand out for Linc.

The air crackles as he waits to see if Linc will accept his peace offering.

It takes a couple of seconds, but Linc’s arm finally moves and his palm slides against Rett’s.

“Really, I should be thanking you.”

“Oh yeah?” Linc asks.

“Yeah. There isn’t any other man out there that I trust with my little sister more than you.” My breath catches at his words, and tears burn the backs of my eyes. “Just…don’t break her heart, okay? I’d really hate to spend the rest of my days in prison because I had to bury your ass.”

Linc swallows almost nervously as he nods at Rett.

“You have my word.”

75

LINCOLN

Istand in the middle of a storage unit I’ve rented and take in everything we’ve done.

“She’s going to lose her mind over all of this, you know that, right?” Rett states beside me.

His flight leaves in just over an hour, so he really needs to get moving, but he wanted to come and help with this. I think it’s his way of apologizing for the past couple of days.

He may have accepted that Parker and I are a couple now, but he’s still in a dark place.

“It’s nothing,” I muse, nerves already running rampant as I think about Parker’s reaction.

“No, Linc. It’s everything. She’s going to love it. And hey, you never know, you might even get laid. Shit…no. Fuck. Forget I said that,” he rambles as he combs his fingers through his hair. “Fuck.”

I can’t help but chuckle.

“I do really love her,” I confess, the words tumbling out of me without instruction from my brain.

“Yeah,” he muses, dragging his hand down his face. “I can see that. She loves you too.”

“I hope so,” I say with a shrug, which I pray looks less vulnerable than it feels.

I hate being out of control. All my life, I’ve known exactly what I’ve been doing. Playing in the NHL was the goal, and my sights were firmly set. But suddenly, everything is different. Sure, the game is still there, along with the strict schedule and traveling, but Parker is there too, and she changes the dynamic of everything.

For the first time in my life, I don’t really know which way is up, and I fucking love it.

“What did Coach say to you last night?” I ask. The question has been nagging at me since the moment they appeared together in the friends and family suite.

James has always been somewhat of a mentor to all of us. Growing up, he was there for us with advice just as much as our fathers were.

Rett shrugs one shoulder. “Just some shit I really needed to hear.”

“Care to elaborate?” I hedge.

“Just the usual stuff.” As he says the words, I know he’s lying. But I don’t push for more. Rett will talk when he’s ready and not a second sooner. We just have to be patient and hope he doesn’t make us wait too long. The sooner he gets himself over this hump, the better.