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“Are you okay?” I ask.
Her laugh is totally fake. So is the smile she gives me right after. “Totes okay.”
“Totes?”
Parker tugs the paper harder. I still don’t let go.
“Just give me your profile, Barnes. The faster we get this done, the better.”
When I don’t loosen my grip, she drops her side of the paper and glares.
Yeah, well. Maybe I don’t wantfast. Not when it comes to Parker. I enjoy her company too much.
I always felt most like myself around her or Brandon—andonlyher and Brandon. Until I didn’t. With Brandon anyway. Apparently, even after these years, I can still be myself with Parker.
Only now, there’s the crackle and spark of something new. Like the brief moment when I was tempted to kiss her last night.
Thatis new. And absolutely needs to be avoided at all costs.
For career reasons. And because I don’t want to screw up things with the one person I actually enjoy being around. It would be wrong to start something with Parker when I plan to leave. I can’t picture her as a casual dating kind of person.
In addition to all those very solid reasons, Brandon would track me down and murder me if I made any kind of move on his sister.
All the more reason I should drop the paper on her desk and head to the trainer’s office to get my knee checked.
Instead, I drop into the chair across from Parker’s desk, still clutching the paper. “Look. I get that this team is into social media and stuff. I’ll do what I have to. But as much as possible, I’d prefer to be in the background.”
Parker sighs, relaxing a little. “People are so excited you’re here, Logan. They want to see you. It’s good for the team. Good for the organization. Good for the town, who still claims you as its hero. The Harvest Hollow Happenings already has several posts with photos of you around town.”
“The what?”
“Just this gossipy Instagram account and—you know what? Never mind. The point is—this could be good for you too if you want to capitalize on it. A lot of the Appies have gotten pretty sweet gigs usually not offered to guys in the AHL.”
“I’m glad. But I don’t need that.”
Money isn’t a worry for me.
“Playing nice here will also help you get back to the NHL faster,” she says.
I’m not sure why I want to deny that this is my endgame. I mean, who would choose the AHL over the NHL? But I still have trouble saying it out loud. Maybe because it’s Parker, and already I’m feeling a surprising attachment to her.
One day is all it took for her to wiggle her way under my skin. Just like she did back then.
I stare at her across the desk—her big brown eyes, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, full lips pursed as we continue our silent standoff.
Okay, so NOT like back then.
I hold out the player profile again but still don’t let go when she takes it. Parker glares. The paper starts to crumple a little.
“I don’t want to make this a whole battle,” she says. “But social media and team videos are in your contract. Trust me when I say fans want to see one of the NHL’s best players drop onto our rink.”
“Oneof the best?”
Parker rolls her eyes. “I said what I said. Don’t get cocky.”
“Is it cocky if it’s true?”
“Shut up, Wolverine. Give me the paper like a good boy.”
