AllFreeNovel
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I’m a guy who has commitment issues, maybe some mild anger issues, and a job with a grueling schedule. Not to mention no track record of long-term relationships. My house is devoid of people, pets, and house plants. I barely even have any furniture in Charlotte. I’m not there enough to care, and I don’t care enough to even keep a succulent alive.
The weird thing is that when I ordered furniture from a store in Asheville that will deliver here and set it up, I bought more for my apartment than I own in myhouse.
FOCUS.
I pass the puck to Nathan, the one guy who keeps his mouth shut. Always.
Except now, of course. “Yeah, we can tell you’re not worried,” Nathan says. “That’s why you keep looking up there, looking scared.”
It’s the most words I’ve ever heard him say in a row.
“You’d better be worried. Someone like the Boss?” Eli flies by, stealing the puck from Nathan and sending it over the ice to Alec. “She’d beallI thought about.”
I barely hold back a growly response telling Eli hebetternot be thinking about Parker.
“Aw, Eli. You’re a closet romantic,” Alec says. “How sweet.”
Eli grins. “My romantic isn’t hidden in the closet. It’s right out in front. And if it weremewith Parker—”
“It’s not you with Parker,” I growl, unable to stop myself this time. It only makes Eli’s grin stretch wider.
More than a couple of the guys laugh and someone goesoooohhh. Yeah, I stepped right into that. I really wish Coach would finish talking to the trainers so we could start practice and the guys would all shut up. Good natured or not, I’m ready to focus on hockey. The rest I’ll process later.
“But if itwere,” Eli presses, like he’s unable to help himself, “I’d be locking that down.”
I grind my teeth, telling myself it’s not a good idea to trip Eli the next time he comes close.
“She’s not a diamond necklace you can stick in a vault,” Felix says, shaking his head. “She’s a person.”
“Exactly,” Eli says, obviously completely missing Felix’s point. But Eli doesn’t miss his next shot, which sails past Felix.
“Bring it in,” Coach barks. “None of you look ready for our first preseason game. Especially you, Barnes. Pull it together.”
I nod, still clenching my jaw. Coach is right—I need to pull it together. Still. I can’t help but glance up one more time. But Parker is gone.
* * *
It’s a sad day when I’m actually looking forward to filming videos for social media.
Though it has nothing to do with the videos and everything to do with Parker, who—in athletic pants, no makeup, and a loose Appies T-shirt with skates—looks as good or better than she did last night.
Turns out, Parker plus ice apparently equals perfection.
“Don’t look so glum, man,” Eli says, skating up beside me and ramming my shoulder with his. I’m sure he meant it to be just a nudge, but the guy has an excess overflow of energy and almost knocks me off my skates. “You’ll get your turn in the spotlight. One day.”
“I don’t want the spotlight,” I grumble.
What I do want—selfishly—is Parker’s attention. While I can’t seem to stop thinking about her or take my eyes off her, she’s all business, introducing the videographer, Ramesh, and running down the list of videos. I don’t play a big role in today’s filming, which is either per our fake date agreement or just because she had this already planned. Either way, not being the star means I hardly get more than a passing glance and tiny smile.
“It’s not so bad,” Van says. “You’ll warm up to it.”
I can sense from the way he’s skating back and forth, his eyes alight, that Van, like Eli, thrives on this kind of thing. Which is a little surprising. But then, people aren’t always what you’d expect.
“Or maybe you won’t warm up to it,” Felix mutters under his breath. “Maybe you’ll just tolerate it and wish it would be over as soon as possible.”
It will be tolerable—but only because I get to watch Parker. Otherwise, this is like a custom-designed circle of hell. But I’m not going to be a punk about it. For Parker’s sake.
“All right guys.” Parker claps her hands, skating backwards and slicing to a stop in front of us. Her eyes briefly flick to me, and there’s a tiny flash of warmth in her gaze before she goes back to the task at hand.
