Page 219 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
Ten minutes later, I’m the proud owner of a ticket for the first flight to LA, taking off in just over an hour.
Fuck.
I’m going home.
No, not home. I’m going to Casey. Right fucking now.
In a rush, I jump out of bed and pull on my suit before gathering up as much of my shit as I can find in the dark. Once I’m fairly confident I have all the important stuff, I throw my bag over my shoulder and tug my suitcase toward the door.
Linc doesn’t so much as stir.
With my palm pressed against the door, I close it slowly before pulling my cell out of my pocket and calling a car.
As I’m standing outside the hotel, I begin to second-guess my rash decision. But as the car pulls up, I figure it’s too late to back out now.
“Holy shit,” the driver gasps once I’ve climbed in. “You’re Kodie Rivers.”
“Hey,” I say, not really in the mood to talk.
“Shit, man. My kid loves you. Any chance you could sign something for me?”
“Sure thing.” He rummages around in his glove compartment before pulling out a battered old notebook. He finds a page and a pen and passes them back.
“Thanks, man. He’s not going to believe this. It’s going to make his whole year.”
I smile at him in the rearview mirror as I pass it back.
“Shit. Airport. Right, let’s go.”
As he sets off, I pull my cell out and open Instagram.
For my plan to work, I need some help, and there is only one person I can go to for it.
I glance at the time and cringe. If she doesn’t answer, I’m fucked, and all of this will be for nothing.
But if she does…
52
CASEY
Istir awake and roll over in bed, more than ready to drift back to sleep.
I don’t need to look at the clock to know that it’s still too early.
It might be reckless, but I did exactly what Kodie suggested and put in a last-minute request for annual leave tomorrow—or today now, I guess. Bianca messaged me straight back, letting me know that she’d accept it first thing this morning. I never, ever do anything last minute like this. I feel guilty as hell. But I’m not letting anyone down. I’ve got a to-do list as long as my arm, and it’ll still be there on my return.
Snuggling back down, I just begin to drift off when a noise has my eyes popping open.
My heart races as I listen, waiting for confirmation that whatever it was isn’t inside my apartment.
But that isn’t what happens; instead, there’s another noise and movement in my room.
My lips part, and a blood-curdling scream is about to rip from my throat when a large hand covers my face.
A familiar scent washes over me as the warmth of his palm burns my skin. “Don’t freak out. It’s just me.”
His hand slips free, allowing me to speak. “K-Kodie?” I rasp, my voice rough with sleep. “W-what are you?—”
