Page 253 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
Closing my eyes, I can see her as clear as day, putting on a sexy dress and some fuck-me heels. My fists curl at the thought of other men leering at her. Something explodes within me the second I think about her dancing with someone, his hands all over her. I shoot to my feet, unable to remain sitting as the image plays out like a movie in my head.
Will she invite him back to her apartment? Will she let him fuck her in the same bed I did?
My heart races and my hands tremble as I remember us together, getting tangled up in her sheets. But it’s not my face; it’s a stranger touching what’s mine.
“I’m ready,” Sutton sings, bouncing into the room before diving onto her bed and snuggling under the covers.
Focus on your daughter, Kodie.
Focus on your job.
Ispend just over thirty minutes with Sutton. I read the final two chapters of her book before we spend ten minutes reviewing the characters and the plot. My girl is nothing but critical, but I love that she’s able to give constructive feedback. I’m not sure Coach feels the same, but he always humors her.
Seeing Casey coaching Sutton’s team the other day made me wonder just how much he really does understand. Was Casey the same when she was little? Sutton said Casey used to play, but did she also tell her dad and his coach how to improve their games like Sutton does?
After turning her night light on, I walk across her room and pull her door closed, wishing her a good night before heading back downstairs.
I’m aware that I’m probably about to walk directly into a one-woman firing squad, but locking myself in my bedroom will only make this all worse.
But when I get to the kitchen, it’s empty.
I frown, looking around to see where she’s hiding.
Movement in the yard catches my eye, and I groan the second I discover who was at my front door on a Friday night.
I step out to the sound of Mom’s voice. “Ah, here he is. You’ve got a friend,” she says as if I’m ten.
“I thought I said to get rid of whoever it was,” I mutter.
“Lovely,” Linc teases, lifting his bottle of beer to his lips, looking comfortable as fuck on my lounger. “Grab a beer, man. We’re chilling.”
“Are we?” I question suspiciously.
“Yes, you are,” Mom agrees, pulling a bottle from beside Linc’s lounger, popping the top, and passing it over. “I’m going out in twenty minutes, so you’ll have the place to yourself. It was great seeing you, Lincoln. Good luck tomorrow night.”
Mom spins on her heels and marches toward the pool house.
“Dude, I think your mom just winked at me,” Linc teases.
“For the love of God,” I mutter as I drop to the lounger beside his. “Why are you here?”
“You know, it’s so fucking awesome to feel wanted,” he deadpans.
“Mmm.”
“I thought it was for the best I come and bang your head against a wall so you can focus tomorrow night. We can’t lose our first game of the season on our own ice.”
“We won’t,” I assure him.
“We will if you can’t pull your head out of your ass. The fuck is going on? You and Casey fallen out already?”
“Don’t,” I warn.
“Try again. I’m not leaving until we’ve talked this out.”
“What are we? Thirteen-year-old girls having a slumber party?”
“I mean, I’m down for a pillow fight if you are.”
