Page 313 of Playing the Pucking Game

“Reach up and grab my wallet,” I say, jerking my chin toward where it rests on the sideboard behind the couch.

Parker frowns, but she does as she’s told and feels for it.

The second she wraps her fingers around the leather, she brings it between us.

As she holds it, her hand trembles lightly, letting me know that this is affecting her just as much as it is me.

“Behind the photo of me and Nova,” I say.

She opens it and looks in the pocket.

“There isn’t a condom in here,” she says, her frown deepening.

“I know. Pull the picture out.”

As she does, the front photo of me and my sister a few years ago at a Vipers game stays put while another one slides free.

I know the second she sees it because her breath catches.

“Linc,” she whispers, staring at the small photo as if it can’t be real.

“That’s been in my wallet since that day.”

“N-no,” she sobs. “Why? I left. I turned my back on you and?—”

“I wasn’t giving up on you, Parker. I’d never give up on you.”

I pluck the small image from her hand and look at it like I have done a million times over the years.

Parker stands with a wide smile on her face, wrapped in her stunning prom dress with the world at her feet. She was so beautiful that night. Hell, she’s beautiful every night. But while she might have bad memories of her prom, it was hands-down the best night of my life. Well, it was until right now. Something tells me what’s hopefully going to happen next will trump it.

“I’ve kept a little bit of you with me every day since.”

She shakes her head and she loses her fight with her tears as they trickle over her temples and soak into her hair.

“I love you,” she blurts.

Holy shit.

The words hit me like a bullet to the chest.

“Say it again,” I demand.

“Linc,” she breathes, gazing up at me with her big, watery eyes. “I love you.”

My lips slam down on hers. I abandon the photo and my wallet and focus entirely on her.

“There are condoms in my room if you want me to?—”

“No. I don’t want anything between us. Please, Linc. Let me feel you.”

Fucking hell. This woman…

“As long as you’re happy with that,” I force out.

“Please, Linc. I can’t wait any longer.”

“Fuck, yeah.”