Page 39 of Puck You Not

“I know.”

“What can I do for you?How can I help?”he asked.“Do you need me to call Nash?”

That he’d offer up my best friend, a guy, spoke volumes.He’d do whatever I needed, give me whatever I needed.All I needed, though, was him.

I shook my head.“No.I just want you.Can I go with you to practice again this morning and watch?Get my mind off it?”I asked.Really, I just didn’t want to be away from him until I had to work.My sister’s surprise wedding was a blow I wouldn’t easily shake off.

“Yeah, you can come.I liked having you there yesterday.”As if on cue, his phone alarm went off.Still holding me, he reached down for his pants and grabbed the cell to turn it off.He tossed the device onto the bed but made no move to let me go.

“Are you going to comment on the post?”he asked.

“She tagged a ton of people along with me.I could say something about how horrible it was to find out this way and let everyone know how shitty she is to do this to her sister.But no, I don’t think I will.”I shook my head, not believing this turn.“If she doesn’t want me in her life, I’ll take the hint.I might be younger, but I can be the bigger person.She’ll regret it later.Maybe.But I won’t.”

“Well, you could eviscerate her without even making it obvious.You have a way with words.You sure kept me hooked on your emails for a year.”

I laughed, despite my sadness.“Well, I am an English major, and spoiler alert: we write a lot.Plus I write other stuff—something my siblings have told me for years is ridiculous.”

Actually, my brother had point blank said,don’t expect us to support you while you chase rainbows.

Clearly, he’d been trying to tell me something else, too.

“What do you write?”Parrish asked.

“Don’t laugh, okay?”

“I wouldn’t…unless.You’re not writing some sort of Draco and Hermione fanfic, are you?”

“No, I’m not writing Dramione fanfic.I write romantic fantasy—romantasy.Dragons.Warriors.Magic.That sort of thing.”

He stilled, and when I looked up at him, he was staring at me, his awed gaze full of interest.“I want to read it.”

“Maybe.”I shrugged.“When do you have to get to the rink?”

“About twenty minutes.Want to shower together?”He stood, putting me on my feet, then held out a hand to me.After dropping my phone onto the blankets near his, I clasped his fingers.

“Yes.”Maybe, we had time for more than just getting clean.A girl could hope.

His eyes scanned over me.“I like you in my clothes.You should wear one of my jerseys today.Show everyone you’re mine.”

“Okay.”I followed him into the bathroom and admired his sculpted ass while he reached into the shower to turn on the water.He smirked when he turned and caught me staring.Oh well, it wasn’t a secret I found him mouthwatering.Thankfully, he seemed to feel similarly about me.

He reached for the shirt I wore and skimmed it off.“Do you wanna go house hunting with me this weekend?”

“What?Where?”I asked in surprise as I shimmied out of my panties.“Don’t you need to wait and see what will happen with pros?”

He shook his head.“Baby girl, we’re going to Charleston.The Lynx are ready to sign me as soon as I graduate.I start training this summer.That’s the deal my agent worked out so I could finish college first.And that’s when I’ll get my signing bonus.Truthfully, I could already be playing out the season with the Lynx, but I needed to prove something to my family.My parents said I’d be a worthless jock.And I’m not.”

Shaking my head, I stepped close and loosely wrapped my arms around his waist.Going to my toes, I pressed a kiss to his jaw then leaned into him, my breasts flat to his chest as he held me there.

“You’re not,” I echoed vehemently.

“I’m glad I didn’t drop out to play.I wouldn’t have found you, if I did.”

A cloud of icy dread washed through me at the thought.Thank God, he’d been stubborn and needed to prove a point.

Parrish smiled softly before his forehead tipped to mine.“So…?Charleston this weekend?”

Because we would be together…which meant I’d live in Charleston, too.“Yeah.”

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